SailingNews

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Race Officer Notes: (a) Most courses bring the fleet back through the Finish line part way through the race, giving you the chance to shorten if necessary. Mileage at this point is shown in brackets. (b) You are advised to consider the likely depth of water when selecting a course, particularly at the MG mark. (c)When using the OLM/W the committee boat shall lay at the Eastern most buoy and when using the OLM/E the committee boat shall lay at the Western most buoy.

1- Quest Motor Group 2- J Gosling (Insurance Brokers) Ltd 3- Swift Boats 5- Voxige Communications

OLM(W)- Green Target Ltd OLM(S)- Dabchicks Sailing Club OLM(E)- Space Work Place Ltd

Navigation Buoys: BH - Bench Head CB - Colne Bar EAG - Eagle IBH - Inner Bench Head KN - Knoll NWK - North West Knoll THT - Thirslet Spit WSp - Wallet Spitway Buoy Through F.L. - Through the Finish Line

Your Sailing Committee for 2010 were voted into their posts at the AGM on Saturday 30 January. There were two new members, Sue Clifford and Mike Berry, filling the vacancies left by Kay Linscott and Simon Clifton. The 2010 Sailing Committee are

Please forward any sailing matters (racing and cruising) and suggestions, in the first instance, to Alan.

In the Club on Thursday 11th March, starting at 7.30pm, we will run two short sessions,

led by our Commodore Brian Bolton. The first of these will cover the Sail 100 computer

programme, through which all race results are calculated. Following on from this,

Brian will give us the benefit of his experience on the subject of Course Selection - a

All are welcome to attend one or both of these sessions, which will certainly prove

If you attended the Race Officer Course which the Club ran a while ago, do come along

if you are able. During the 2010 season, the Committee are keen to see additional

members out on the water undertaking Race Officer duties, probably gaining experience

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Malcolm Peter, John Fisher, Jim McNaughton, Laurie Pearson.

2010 DRAFT PROGRAMME
Simon Clifton presented next year’s draft programme and asked for comments. Discussion ensued on several subjects.
1) LH Series – reintroduced in 2009, but support disappointing. Ideas sought to generate increased numbers. Dave Lewis – purely for this series, let the people racing set their own handicaps. Richard Hayden (Handicap Committee Chairman) against this – it should be the boat which is handicapped, with no account taken of full water tanks, dirty bottoms etc. However, suggested that for the series alone, we might try experiment of helms receiving an adjusted handicap according to their ability/experience.
2) Additional passage (perhaps as feeders for Felixstowe or Crouch Sail East) and/or pursuit races discussed, but not included for 2010.
3) Heybridge Pursuit date changed (swapped with Ladies Regatta). Main cruise dates then confirmed by Mike Berry:-
1st/2nd May – Shakedown Cruise, incorporating a Pursuit Race to Brightlingsea
5th June and onwards – Harwich Pursuit Race, followed by Suffolk Rivers Cruise
10th/11th July – Heybridge Pursuit weekend
15th July onwards – cruise to London via Queenborough
4) Sonatas. Match racing weekend re-introduced; Lorraine Cope offered to be OOD and Nick Glanvill offered Smile as Committee Boat. Julian Lord suggested that an active Fleet Captain and a winter fleet meeting might get more Sonatas competing in more than Friday Night and Mersea Week races.
5) Part of email from Malcolm Peter read, advocating some longer races. Some support for this – even from skippers of smaller boats, provided courses chosen with no really long legs. Three dates agreed for approx 25 mile races going beyond Bench Head – one race from each of Spring (Uncle Stanley’s Mug), Summer (DSC trophy to be advised) and Autumn (Ellis Cup) series. Course constraints caused by weather on the day recognised.
6) Friday Series – widely regarded as a “brilliant series” and thanks voiced to OOD and Committee Boat crew. Paul Gosling reported that Denny Dodds was keen to continue providing Zaidinha as Committee Boat. Lorraine Cope mentioned the need for more support on the boat on windy nights to help pick up moorings etc. Paul Gosling to organise a rota from competitors with large ribs/dorys to take the Committee Boat crew to/from Zaidinha before/after each race.
7) New Racers Day – continued for 2010, but slightly later in the season with the hope of attracting more participants who will then go on to race in the other LH Series races. List to be put up seeking volunteers to sail with new racers.
8) Short Handed Series – better turnouts in 2009 (its second year) and support voiced for its continuation.

COMMITTEE BOATS/OODs
Brian Bolton with Horizon of Mersea would again undertake a number of OOD duties. The remainder would be allocated to those boats which raced reasonably regularly in 2009.
A number of people have participated in OOD courses, most with limited actual racing experience. It was agreed that it would be good to invite these to gain practical experience in 2010 by assisting with OOD duties. Brian Bolton to provide Julian Lord with a list of names of people who undertook the ‘Club Plus’ course.
Race Officers to announce over VHF which Club was hosting the day’s race(s), as shown in the Racing Programme – and where competitors should congregate afterwards.

SAFETY DECLARATIONS
It had been agreed by the Sailing Committees that in 2010, Safety Declarations should be submitted solely to the WMYC Secretariat, who would copy details to DSC on a weekly basis.
It was proposed Nick Glanvill, seconded Roger Sydenham that, given the importance of the declarations, no boat would be scored a result in any race until a completed, signed declaration has been submitted. Agreed unanimously.

MERSEA WEEK
Richard Hayden mentioned the success in establishing an IRC Fleet in this year’s Mersea Week. This would be continued in 2010, with efforts made to attract more visiting boats in all the main Cruiser and Classics classes.

Members should always call the launch, channel 37 Callsign YC1, from the Club or from their own VHF, or to the Club mobile phone 07752 309 435.

Mooring Strops

Would members please advise the launchmen before their boat is launched, thus ensuring clean strops on the mooring buoy.

At the Crouch Yacht Club on Bank Holiday Monday, Jo Barker presented the prizes at a Stella Dinner for the Classes’ 50th Anniversary Championships. Jo kindly accepted the role, in memory of her father Sonny Cole, who had sailed La vie en Rose, sail number 1, to a resounding victory 50 years ago.

Then owned by Dickie Bird, La Vie is owned by a WMYC member Peter Haldane. Dickie’s second Stella ‘Centaur’, sail number 100 is also based at West Mersea owned by member Sebastian King.

As with our Stella, Peacock, when a design reaches 50 years the owners become custodians and just hope to stay ahead of the maintenance.

After an eleven race series, which started at the Suffolk Yacht Harbour Classics then continued throughout Mersea week and finished over the Bank Holiday Weekend at Burnham, ‘Scorpio’, Richard Mathews won the series. Second was ‘Estrella’, Tom Taylor Jones, who beat ‘Peacock’ on count-back of their scores.

‘Scorpio’ scored 8 points (firsts) whereas ‘Estrella’ and ‘Peacock’ scored 22 points each. Put into perspective, at the concluding race in Suffolk, ‘Peacock’ finished 2nd after a light wind, long race. ‘Scorpio’ finished 1hr. 5 min. ahead!

The series saw appearances by 19 racing Stellas from the tropics of the Orwell to the arctic Medway! For non-racers a lock–in at Heybridge was arranged by Trevor Spero, which was well attended and included a curry at the Blackwater Sailing Club.

The class has enjoyed a very good resurgence for the 50th anniversary of its design. There are a number of good Stellas for sale and looking for good homes. Visit www.stellasail.org.uk where you will also find a humorous account of Estella’s visit to The British Classics in Cowes where Tom, not only won class 3, but came 1st overall in the 'Round Island Race'. Did you know that there are 7 Stellas owned by WMYC members and one (Munter) undergoing restoration? Ignoring the jokes about log racing, this year I have enjoyed some of the best one–design racing, ever.

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The winds were brisk all weekend, and the courses as demanding as Burnham Week regulars have come to expect. "Vlissingen number one, port; Outer Scheveningen, starboard; Crouch Gate" came over the radio in my lurid
nightmares after Saturday's five hours, which had beenfollowed by an epic nine hour Stella barbecue.

Nine Stellas met at Burnham to duke it out for the title of World Champion in the final round of the three regatta circuit. In truth it had been settled already, with the legendary Richard Mathews' Scorpio scoring a
bilgeful of one-pointers at Levington and West Mersea, despite parking up spectacularly on his home water, but the competition for top boat this weekend was wide open.

No one makes money betting against Mick Willett in a Stella on the Crouch and although he no longer has Polaris to hand, he drove the perennially cheerful Neil Pitman's Rollicker to the winner's podium with two firsts and
a second. With no discards over the three races, you had to be in it to win it, and the boatspeed and handling of the lightweight flyers Scorpio and Estrella (Tom Taylor-Jones) was for nothing, as navi-guessing errors cost
them a race each. In the first Taylor-Jones made a spirited attempt to claim that leaving a passing mark to the wrong side qualified for a 2% time penalty since there was no material advantage, which gambit failed, to the
relief of Ed & Fran Maggs in Polaris, who self-diagnosed the same mistake and went back (it took a very long time).

The dark horse of the whole series was Alan Jones' Stella Peacock, very fetching in her buttermilk livery and shocking pink kite. Only once counting more than four, he sailed every race of the series, was always there or thereabouts and only lost second place overall on countback to the sporadically brilliant Estrella. It could of course have been any one point over the series that finished it, but one can't help thinking of the epic
struggle on the last beat (admittedly a six mile foultide beat) between Rollicker and Peacock on the Monday. Rollicker went right in to play with the seals on the Maplin shore while Alan stayed on the rhumb line, but it
didn't work, and Peacock still had a couple of lengths in hand at the Gate. Like heavyweight boxers they slugged it out side by side as Willett found inch by inch of speed to ride over them to weather.

On Saturday Roger Reid's Persephone found the fast button upwind and shot back into the Crouch to score a third in that race, her best of the weekend, although she wasn't to trouble the scorers over the rest of the regatta.
Polaris with her crack Sydney crew (lions led by a donkey) showed good downwind speed at times, but they still have to learn how to take Stellas uphill and depended for their third for the weekend on the kindness of others.

Vreny couldn't recapture her Levington form, having left their tactician AJ Gregory in his pram this weekend. Stardust had problems that kept her indoors for the first two days before adding to the spectacle on Monday.
Polaris alone stayed on for the week, battling through Big Tuesday (30 knots) and Fat Friday (40 knots).

Mathews accepted the overall gong at the CYC prizegiving, entertaining the audience with beautifully delivered accounts of great Stella moments from the past. His prize was the beautiful West Buxey Trophy, beautifully presented by the beautiful Burnham Siren Jo Barker.

"The Bard of Creeksea"

In recent months it has become apparent that there is increasing interest in the development of One Design keelboat racing at West Mersea. As well as invigorating the round-the-cans racing with close boat for boat competition, it could widen the participation on the water by opening up possibilities of other formats such as team and match racing and inter-club challenges.

This initiative intends to identify and nominate a suitable class of boat, and then promote it as a One Design fleet, aiming to get the fleet "launched" for the 2010 season, racing initially as part of the IRC fleet.

It is proposed to have an informal meeting to which all are invited to discuss the varied requirements that, collectively, we might have of such a fleet, and then to nominate a suitable class. This meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday July 14th, 8pm at WMYC.

The Sailing Committee is researching possible candidate classes. In order to simplify the discussion/debate, it is intended to present data at the meeting on a shortlist of 5 or maximum 6 classes, from which the nominated class will be chosen. In nominating a suitable class of boat, various options exist from the Sonatas across to sports boats to larger keelboats. From the comments received to date, controlling cost is going to be paramount to the success of an OD fleet, so realistically we are looking at older but still reasonably active classes that will generate cheap second hand boats on a regular basis.

If you have an idea of a class of boat you think might be suitable for consideration for the shortlist, then please let me know by June 30th. Provide as much data as you can, in particular: purchase cost, running costs, crew numbers/weight, activity of class association, numbers at National Champs, total numbers built, IRC/PY, accommodation etc. displacement and sail areas.

Please also get in touch beforehand to express any interest you might have in One Design sailing at Mersea. If you don't have a particular boat in mind, explain the sort of boat you would be interested in, budget, accommodation etc.

I look forward to receiving your thoughts, and seeing you on July 14th if not before.

James Bollingbroke was recently presented with this award,
nominated by the RYA, and provided by Asda/Colchester.
It is part of a wider initiative called ASDA Sporting Chance SportsAid
which aims to increase participation in sport across Britain as well
as supporting those selected.
Obviously he was delighted to receive it and once his GCSEs are
completed he will be participating in Kiel Week, The Worlds
on Lake Garda and the Nationals at Hayling island not forgetting
his local cadet weeks with his crew Matt Heathcote.

The 2009 RORC/EAORA East Coast Race started in Harwch bay at 2100 hours on 19th June and set off on a 130 mile course to the Netherlands port of Ijmuiden. With a NW wind it was a fast race with the first yacht finished in 12 hours and 17 minutes. But our interest was in the biggest Class - the Class 3 yachts and finishing in 16 hours and 32 minutes, towin the class, was the WMYC yacht "Dark & Stormy" owned and skippered by Richerd Bailey.

Thats not all - because in second place was the Elan 333 "Boatox" of Richard Hatden & Kay Linscott.... and then in Class 1 - David & Ann Chatterton's "Resting Goose" was third. A triple result for West Mersea - well done everyone.

Local handicap Racing for the 2009 Season

This season sees the return of Sunday morning racing for the local Handicap fleet. Our own start times, courses, series and cup. A six race series (3 spring and 3 autumn), with 2 discards, that is 4 races to count for the Captain’s Cup.

The local handicap for your yacht will be based on the P.Y. system to generate close and exciting racing for the whole fleet. This will also encourage racing to be enjoyed in that Corinthian spirit, for which local handicap racing is justifiably and enviably renowned!

This year we are privileged to have amongst the L.H. fleet a number of beautiful Stella yachts. This elegant craft celebrates its 50th Anniversary in 2009 and it is great to see them so well maintained and actively raced by our own club members – Kim Holman would be very proud.

Any members who have cruising yachts, or a gentleman’s day boat, which is not I.R.C. rated, is eligible to race. Simply list your boat below to request a handicap and join in the fun. The more ‘runner and riders’ we have, the better.

For those who would like some guidance, the aim to is pair you with a ‘racing buddy’ - an experienced racer to sail with you on your boat and guide you through.

If you’re interested please contact Mike Allpress via the WMYC Office, email mikeallpress@btinternet.com or call 07826 340 668

He’ll then provide you with a Course Card and the other information you’ll need, and, if possible, link you up with a ‘racing buddy.’

If your boat doesn’t have a local handicap number, this isn’t a problem. Just tell Mike, and he’ll arrange for the Handicap Committee to allocate a number when they meet.

RACING RULES OF SAILING 2009-2012: GUIDANCE FROM THE RYA
MAIN CHANGES THAT AFFECT COMPETITORS AND PROTEST
COMMITTEES

Rule 3(c) reverts to a previous version that holds that the decisions of protests committees and of the national

authority in any appeal are final, and are not to be contested in a court of law or in any other tribunal.

Rule 17.2 is deleted; so an off-wind boat and a close-hauled boat are now on the same footing. Any windward

boat can bear away below a proper course towards any overlapped leeward boat as long as the windward boat

keeps clear. And a boat clear ahead can bear away below a proper course into the intended course of a boat

clear astern steering to pass to leeward, as long as she complies with rule 16.1. Rule 17.1 is therefore now just rule 17.

The words are substantially different, but their meaning is substantially the same.

There is detailed guidance on the new Section C (as well as all other changes) on the RYA

When Section C applies, Section A still applies (rules 10 to 13), although this is not explicitly stated.'
In general, the Section C rules give rights to a keep-clear boat and restrict the rights of right-of-way boats
The concept of there being obligations when boats are `about to round' before any zone is reached is
no longer explicit. However, the obligation to give room to an inside keep-clear overlapped boat at the
zone is one that must be complied with immediately on zone entry, so a boat must act before then, if
necessary, in order to be able to comply
The `zone' at a mark moves from two to three hull lengths, although sailing instructions can change this
to two or four hull lengths (subject to conditions)
There is. no zone at an obstruction (as long as the obstruction is not a mark). The ability to give room
at an obstruction is a matter of fact - if an outside overlapped boat can do, she must. If she cannot, and
never could, she is not expected to do the impossible
The room that has to be given at marks is newly defined as `mark-room'. This is:
Room for a boat to sail to the mark, and then
Room for her to sail her proper course while at the mark, including
Room for a windward inside-overlapped boat to tack
Room for a keep-clear boat to sail to the mark and then to sail a proper course at the mark may now be
a slightly more generous entitlement than under the old rule

With one small exception in rule 19.2(c) which

may change the right of way at a continuing obstruction

The obligation of an inside overlapped right-of-way boat to gybe at a gybe mark does not apply
when it is a gate mark - the boat can sail across to round the other mark
The definition Obstruction now says that a vessel under way, including a boat racing, is never
a continuinq obstruction: so when a keep-clear clear astern boat is closing on boats ahead, her
right to become overlapped between them is NOT dealt with by the 'continuing obstruction' rule,
which requires a gap between them she can sail through. She may now be entitled to room if she
intervenes, even if the gap is smaller, as long as another boat can give room.
It is now even clearer that hailing for room to tack breaks a rule when safety does not require a
substantial course change to avoid the obstruction: but if such a hail is made, the hailed boat
cannot ignore it - she must either tack, or hail 'You tack' and then give room. If unhappy, she
can then protest that the other boat was not entitled to hail.

The description of the one-turn penalty (was rule 31.2) is moved to rule 44 to be with the two-turns penalty,

A boat (including her crew) that receives outside help because she is in danger breaks rule 41.

A boat can use her engine 'or any other method' in circumstances stated in the sailing instructions

(to get off when aground, or to cross a shipping lane, for example), but only when the sailing instructions

A protest committee can once again protest a boat based on information she herself has given

When a boat is unhappy about an adverse protest or redress decision, her only option (apart from appealing)

is to ask for a reopening, where the decision to reopen is at the discretion of the protest committee. She can

Good practice is now part of the rule - protest committee members must declare any possible 'self-interest'

When a boat has taken the penalty applicable to the rule she broke (turn(s), retirement), she cannot then

be disqualified in a protest. However, if it finds that she also broke rule 2, Fair Sailing, the penalty she took

will not prevent her being given a DNE disqualification (and a turn(s) penalty remains ineffective when

The rule is now clear on how to deal with situations where the competitor cannot or will not attend, or when a

The term overlap can apply to opposite-tack boats when sailing more than ninety degrees from the wind, but it is significant

only at obstructions. Fetching is now a defined term. As already explained, there is a new definition, Mark-Room,

and a vessel under way, including a boat racing, is never a continuing obstruction. The zone at a mark has its own definition.

WEST MERSEA YACHT CLUB & DABCHICKS SAILING CLUB
NOTICE OF RACE
&
SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
2009

WEST MERSEA JOINT CRUISER RACING 2009
NOTICE OF RACE
1. ORGANISING AUTHORITY
The races are organised jointly by West Mersea Yacht Club and Dabchicks Sailing Club.
2. RULES
The races will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing 2009-2012, the RYA Prescriptions thereto, this Notice of Race, the Sailing Instructions and any Appendices issued.
3. ADVERTISING
All racing will be conducted under Regulations 20.3 and 20.5 of the ISAF Advertising Code.
4. ELIGIBILITY
Any boat owned or chartered to a member of any RYA recognised Yacht Club or Sailing Club may enter theses events subject to the following conditions:-
4.1 IRC Fleet - A boat racing in this fleet must be in possession of a valid 2009 IRC certificate. A copy of this certificate must be lodged with the Sailing Secretariat of both WMYC and DSC. Both clubs must be advised of any alteration of the rating during the season. Dayboats in possession of an appropriate IRC certificate shall be eligible to enter those races in the IRC series that do not include race marks to the east of the Knoll buoy.
Owners of all yachts sailing under IRC one-design certificates are reminded that, under IRC Rules 17.7 and 27.4.2, they are required to comply with their respective class rules, including crew weight/number restrictions.
4.2 LH Cruiser Fleet, LH Series, LH Fleet in Centenary Regatta and Commodores Regatta, Short Handed Series, Ladies Regatta Cruiser Race and DSC Friday Night Series - The handicaps used will be those issued by the Joint Handicap Committee, based on the RYA Portsmouth Yardstick System. These handicaps are subject to amendment by the Joint Handicap Committee during the course of the season.
4.3 Competitors sailing in either fleet must, before racing, deposit with both clubs a Safety Declaration, as per the attached form.
4.4 It is a condition of entry that yachts may be required to provide a committee vessel, OOD & start party for a designated race or races. Owners are reminded that if their yacht is so designated it is their responsibility to ensure these duties are carried out preferably by themselves and their regular racing crew. Failure to perform these duties or to provide an adequate substitute is a serious matter and suitable penalties may be applied.
5. SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
This Notice of Race applies to the following series:-
Mersea Spring Points Series 6 races
Mersea Autumn Points Series 8 races
WMYC Points Championship 14 races (WMYC Members only)
WMYC LH Cruiser Series 6 races (WMYC Members only)
WMYC Centenary Cup 3 races
Short Handed Series 4 races
DSC Commodores Regatta 4 races
Ladies Regatta Cruiser Race
DSC Friday Night Series 14 races
Details of dates and start times of individual races are set out in the sailing programme published by each club.
6. DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY
6.1 Competitors participate in the races entirely at their own risk. See RRS Rule 4, Decision to Race. The organising authority will not accept any liability for material damage or personal injury or death sustained in conjunction with or prior to, during, or after the races
6.2 The Race Organisers shall not be liable for any loss, damage, death or personal injury howsoever caused to the owner/competitor, his skipper or crew as a result of their taking part in the race or races. Moreover every competitor warrants the suitability of his boat for the race or races. A boat is entirely responsible for its own safety, whether afloat or ashore, and nothing whether in the Notice of Race or Sailing Instructions or anywhere else, reduces this responsibility. It is for boats to decide whether it is fit to sail in the conditions in which it will find itself. By launching or going to sea, the boat confirms that it is fit for those conditions and that its crew is competent to sail and compete in them.
6.3 Nothing done by the organisers can reduce the responsibility of the boat nor will it make the organisers responsible for any loss, damage, death or personal injury, however it may have occurred, as a result of the boat taking part in the racing. The organisers encompass everyone helping to run the race and the event, and including the Organising Authority, the Race Committee, the Race Officer, patrol boats and Beach-masters.
6.4 The provision of patrol boats does not relieve the boat of its responsibilities.
6.5 The owner or owner’s representative of all boats is responsible for ensuring that she is equipped and seaworthy so as to be able to face extremes of weather; that there is a crew sufficient in number, experience and fitness to withstand such weather; and that the safety equipment is properly maintained, stowed and in date and that the crew know how to use it.
7. SAFETY OF BOAT & CREW
The safety of a boat and her crew is the sole and inescapable responsibility of the owner or owner’s representative. He shall do his utmost to ensure that the boat is fully found, thoroughly seaworthy and manned by an experienced crew (sufficient in numbers) who are physically fit to face bad weather.
He shall ensure the soundness of the hull, spars, rigging and equipment. He shall also ensure that all safety equipment is properly maintained and stowed ready for use in positions known by all those on the boat. Crews shall know the recommended way to use the safety equipment.
IT IS ALSO STRONGLY RECOMMENDED THAT HE SHALL REQUIRE EVERY PERSON ON BOARD TO WEAR A LIFEJACKET IN APPROPRIATE CONDITIONS.
8. INSURANCE
Each participating boat shall be insured with valid third party liability insurance with a minimum cover of £2,000,000 per event or the equivalent.

SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
1 RULES
1.1 Races will be sailed under the Rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing 2009-12 (RRS), the RYA prescriptions thereto, the Notice of Race, and these Sailing Instructions, together with any subsequent amendments to these Sailing Instructions.
2 NOTICES TO COMPETITORS
2.1 Notices to competitors regarding the DSC Friday Night Series and the DSC Commodores Regatta will be posted on the official notice board at DSC.
2.2 Notices to competitors regarding all other races will be posted on the official WMYC notice board located in the entrance hallway of WMYC.
3 CHANGES TO SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
3.1 Written changes will be posted on the relevant official notice board. When changes are issued within the 24 hour period immediately prior to the start of a race, they will be signalled by displaying Code Flag L on the mainmast at the relevant clubhouse and may be communicated by VHF radio from the Committee Boat using Channel 77 callsign ‘MOLLIETTE’.
3.2 Oral changes may be made from the Committee Boat using VHF Channel 77 callsign ‘MOLLIETTE’. When oral changes have been issued, the Committee Boat will display Code Flag L over Flag O.
4 SIGNALS MADE ASHORE
4.1 Signals made ashore regarding the DSC Friday Night Series and the DSC Commodores Regatta will be flown from the mainmast at DSC and details will be posted on the DSC notice board.
4.2 Signals made ashore regarding all other races will be flown from the yardarm in front of WMYC and details will be posted on the WMYC notice board.
5 SCHEDULE OF RACES
5.1 Races are scheduled in accordance with the 2009 WMYC and DSC Sailing Programmes.
5.2 Unless an amendment notice or an appendix to these Sailing Instructions is applicable, there will generally be only one race, starting at 10.30am. However, on days when there is a LH Series Race, the schedule of races will be:
IRC Race – start 10.30am
LH Series Race – start 10.40am
Unless otherwise instructed, all boats will sail the same course, as designated by the Race Officer on the day.
5.3 In any fleet, the minimum number of yachts required for a race to be started is three.
5.4 Results will be published separately for all yachts that have an IRC handicap.
5.5 All yachts will be given an LH handicap by the Joint Handicap Committee and results will
also be published including every yacht that raced on each occasion. This is to enable yachts with no IRC rating to join in the Mersea Spring and Autumn Points series races.
5.6 Points will be awarded on the following basis:
* Mersea Spring Points, Mersea Autumn Points and WMYC Club IRC Championship – points will only be awarded to yachts holding a valid 2009 IRC rating.
* LH Series – points will only be awarded to yachts holding an LH handicap allocated by the Joint Handicap Committee, but no IRC rating.
5.7 When the OOD has abandoned or postponed a race and it cannot be sailed on its original day the Sailing Committee(s) will convene an appropriate meeting to decide what action to take. They will take into account the individual circumstances and the knock-on effect on any of the race series.
6 CLASS FLAGS
6.1 The following Class Flags will be used :-
IRC Fleet Numeral Pennant 1
LH Fleet Numeral Pennant 5
Friday Night Series
Boats with PY numbers 999 and lower Code Flag R
Boats with PY numbers 1000 and higher Code Flag F
6.2 Class flags must be flown from the backstay for Joint IRC and Cruiser Races. Penalties may be imposed for non-compliance.

7 RADIO COMMUNICATION
7.1 For reasons of clarification, the transmission or receiving of information at any time before, during or after the race concerning Sailing Instructions, matters affecting the management of the race, or all or part of the course to be sailed shall not be grounds for protest under RRS Rule 41 (Outside Help) nor grounds for redress under RRS Rule 62.
7.2 Since information regarding the race may be broadcast on VHF Channel 77 callsign MOLLIETTE, competitors are strongly advised to monitor that channel before and during the race.
8 COURSES
8.1 DSC Friday Night Series courses will be displayed on a blackboard from the Committee Boat. The course will be the same for all divisions.
8.2 For all other races, unless amendments or alternative sailing instructions are given, courses will be taken from the 2009 WMYC and DSC combined Course Card. The number of the course to be sailed will be that displayed on the rail of the Committee Boat at the Fleet warning signal. The course number may be removed after the One Minute Signal and replaced with the course for the following fleet. If the number of the Course displayed on the Committee Boat is followed by X2, this denotes that 2 laps of that course should be sailed, X3 denotes that 3 laps of that course should be sailed, etc.
8.3 If course number 77 is displayed then the OOD will broadcast the course to be sailed on VHF Channel 77, call sign “Molliette”. The broadcast will be issued approximately 15 minutes before the start of the first race of the day.

9 MARKS
9.1 The majority of racing marks are yellow can shaped buoys that may additionally have a black flag. The marks are identified as: 1 Quest, 2 Gosling Insurance, 3 MFOB, 5 Voxige Communications, 6 Fox’s Chandlery & Outdoor, 10 Fox’s, 12 www.victoryatmersea.com, 14 Essex Woodcraft, 17 Mossglen, and MG Middle Ground. Their approximate positions are shown on the Course Card.
9.2 If a mark is damaged or missing it may be replaced temporarily by a mark of a different appearance.
9.3 All other race marks shown on the Course Card are charted navigation marks.

10 THE START
10.1.1 The starting sequence will be in accordance with Rule 26 of the 2009-12 Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS). The following starting sequence will therefore be used.

Signal Flag and Sound Minutes before starting signal
Warning Class Flag hoist & one sound signal 5
Preparatory Code Flag “P” (or other appropriate signal detailed in Rule 26) hoist & one sound signal 4
1 Minute Preparatory flag down & one long sound signal 1
Start Class Flag down & one sound signal 0

10.1.2 The countdown sequence may be broadcast on VHF channel 77, call sign ‘Molliette’. This broadcast will be advisory only; competitors should refer to the start signals.
The Start Line
Either: 10.2 The Nass Line - defined as a line between the main mast of the Committee Boat moored to the North of the Nass Beacon and the OLM displayed on a board on the Committee Boat. When the Nass start line is used, the Nass Beacon is designated an Inner Limit Mark at the start, but is not necessarily on the line.
10.2.1 If the board displays ‘S’ then Outer Limit Mark ‘S’ - DSC - (Yellow Buoy with a Black Flag) will be the OLM.
10.2.2 If the board displays ‘E’ then Outer Limit Mark ‘E’ – Outer Space - (Yellow
Buoy with a Red Flag) will be the OLM.
10.2.3 If the board displays ‘W’ then Outer Limit Mark ‘W’ – Green Target - (Black Buoy with a Green Flag) will be the OLM.
Or: 10.3 a line between the main mast of the Committee Boat moored adjacent to either Outer Limit Mark ‘S’ (Black Flag), Race Mark 1 Quest, Race Mark 5 Voxige Communications or Race Mark 14 Essex Woodcraft and the chosen mark. When this start line is used, the Committee Vessel may lay an inner distance mark. This mark will be described by the Race Officer as part of the start line details and must be treated strictly as a mark of the course.
Which start line to be used shall be decided by the OOD and this information will be transmitted on VHF channel 77 using the call sign “Molliette”, approximately 30 minutes before the start of the race.
10.4 When the Committee Boat is on station at the designated start line she will display an orange flag 10 minutes before the first start, accompanied by a single sound signal. This is to show that she is ready to begin the start sequence for the next race.
10.5 Competitors shall start in the direction of the first mark of the designated course.

11 CHANGE OF COURSE AFTER THE START
RRS rule 33 is changed:
11.1.1 Should a Race Committee Boat, positioned at a turning Mark of the course, display Code Flag C and make a repetitive sound signal, then the course has been changed and the course to be sailed is as follows:
11.1.2 Round the Mark at which a Committee Boat displaying Code Flag C is positioned as required by the course displayed at the start of the race, then:
11.1.3 If the original finishing direction from the last mark of the course was westerly, then leave MG Buoy to port and finish in a westerly direction.
11.1.4 If the original finishing direction from the last mark of the course was easterly, then leave 14 Essex Woodcraft Buoy to starboard and finish in an easterly direction.
Shortened course
11.2 The Race Officer may still choose to shorten a course in accordance with RRS 32.

12 THE FINISH
The Finishing Line
12.1 For all races except those in the DSC Friday Night series, the finishing line will be between the main mast of the Committee Boat moored to the North of the Nass Beacon and the Outer Limit Mark ‘S’ (Black Flag) to the South of the Nass Beacon.
DSC Friday Night Series Finish Line
12.2 The finish line will be shown from the Committee Boat on the board used to display the course.
Committee Boat Off Station
12.3 When finishing, in the event of the Committee Boat not being on station, boats shall pass between the Nass beacon and Outer Limit Mark ‘S’ (Black Flag) and record the time when the Nass Beacon bears due North Magnetic. The timepiece used shall be presented to the Race Committee as soon as practical when ashore.

13 TIME LIMITS
RRS 35 is changed for all races:-
13.1 For DSC Friday series races, the time limit will be at the discretion of the Race Officer, taking into account prevailing conditions and yachts entered for the race.
13.2 For all individual trophy races, the time limit is 4½ hours. Any boat finishing within this time limit shall make the race valid. Any other boat not completing the course in a further hour (i.e. a total of 5½ hours) will be deemed to have retired, and will be scored DNF.
13.3 For all other races, the time limit is 3 hours. Any boat finishing within this time limit shall make the race valid. Any other boat not completing the course in a further hour (i.e. a total of 4 hours) will be deemed to have retired, and will be scored DNF.

14 PROTESTS AND REQUESTS FOR REDRESS
14.1 A boat, which wishes to lodge a protest, shall verbally inform the OOD aboard the Committee Boat as soon as possible after finishing or retiring. Protests shall be lodged in writing to the relevant Clubhouse by 18.00hrs on the day of the race, or within two hours of finishing, whichever is later.

15 SCORING
15.1.1 The Low Point System as defined in Appendix A4.1 will be used. Races will therefore be scored as follows:
1st place – 1 point, 2nd place -2 points, 3rd place – 3 points, 4th place – 4 points and so on.
15.1.2 A boat which comes to the starting area but does not start, does not finish, retires after finishing or is disqualified shall be scored points for the finishing place one more than the number of boats that come to the starting area for that race. A boat that does not come to the starting area shall be scored points for the finishing place one more than the number of boats entered in the series. This changes Appendix A4.2.
15.1.3 OODs who normally race will receive their average points for the races in which they have competed during that series, for any race missed in that series while serving as OOD, calculated at the end of the series.
Position in race and series
15.2.1 In a series, each boat’s score shall be the total of her race scores, excluding the number of her worst scores as specified in 15.6.1 below. The boat with the lowest series score wins and others shall be ranked accordingly.
15.2.2 In DSC Friday Night Series races and in the second race of the DSC Commodores Regatta, positions will be calculated by amalgamating the corrected times for all divisions.
Ties in races and series
15.3.1 Boats with the same corrected time in a race will be awarded equally the position as if one boat had that corrected time. Subsequent boats will be allocated positions as if tied boats ahead had been placed with different corrected times. This changes RRS Rule A7.
15.3.2 When there is a tie in a series, the tie will be broken in accordance with RRS Rule A8.
Extracting results for other series
15.4 For WMYC and DSC series within combined races each boat will have its points calculated for the relevant event as if only boats for that particular event had been racing.
Number of Races and Number required to make a Series
15.5 The number of races scheduled in each series and the minimum number required to make a series in each case is set out in the following table:-

SERIES NUMBER of RACES MINIMUM REQUIRED
MERSEA SPRING POINTS 6 3
SHORT HANDED SERIES 4 2
MERSEA AUTUMN POINTS 8 4
WMYC POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP 14 7
LH CRUISER SERIES 6 3
DSC FRIDAY NIGHT SERIES 14 7

Discards Allowed
15.6.1 The number of scores that will be excluded for each boat in a series will be determined by the number of races completed in that series in accordance with the following table:-
Number of Races Completed Less than 3 3-6 7-9 10-12 13-15
Number of Scores Excluded None 1 2 3 4

15.6.2 For the DSC Friday Night Series, the best 7 scores of each boat will be counted.

16 PRIZES
16.1 In general, prizes will be awarded in relation to the number of entries for each Race, Series, Division or Fleet as appropriate.
Up to 4 entries 1st Place only will be awarded.
5 to 8 entries 1st and 2nd places will be awarded.
Over 8 entries 1st, 2nd and 3rd places will be awarded.
16.2 Trophies and prizes will be presented at each Club’s laying up supper.

17 SAFETY REGULATIONS
17.1 A boat that retires from a race shall notify the OOD as soon as possible.
Safety Declaration
17.2 Before competing in any race boat owners shall submit to both WMYC and DSC a signed Safety Declaration as per the attached form.
Safety Equipment
17.3.1 All boats (except those complying with 17.3.4 below) shall carry the following safety equipment:
a) Lifejackets for all crew members
b) Lifebuoy
c) 4 red flares, and 2 orange smoke flares, all to be in date
d) Fog horn
e) Echo sounder
f) Fire extinguisher
g) Anchor, 2m of chain and a minimum of 30m of cable
h) First Aid kit
i) Compass - marine type, properly installed and adjusted
j) Manual bilge pump, permanently fitted and operated from cockpit
k) Stout bucket and lanyard
l) VHF Radio
m) Bolt croppers or other effective means of cutting rigging
n) Heaving Line and Towing Line
o) All boats should have the capability to shorten sails in a seamanlike manner
17.3.2 Recommended items: (a) Safety harnesses (One for each crew member)
(b) Kedge Anchor and Warp
(c) Storm Jib
17.3.3 This list represents a minimum, and is not the basis of any definitive safety at sea recommendation by WMYC or DSC.
17.3.4 Boats racing under one-design IRC Certificates whose class rules include safety & equipment requirements may as an alternative to 17.3.1 above comply with the relevant requirements of their class rules.
Inspections
17.4 WMYC and DSC reserve the right to board any boat before or after any race to check safety equipment. A boat found not to comply may be disqualified from that race.

18. DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY
18.1 Competitors participate in the races entirely at their own risk. See Rule 4, Decision to Race. The organising authority will not accept any liability for material damage or personal injury or death sustained in conjunction with or prior to, during, or after the races.
18.2 The Race Organisers shall not be liable for any loss, damage, death or personal injury howsoever caused to the owner/competitor, his skipper or crew as a result of their taking part in the race or races. Moreover every competitor warrants the suitability of his boat for the race or races. A boat is entirely responsible for its own safety, whether afloat or ashore, and nothing whether in the Notice of Race or Sailing Instructions or anywhere else, reduces this responsibility. It is for boats to decide whether it is fit to sail in the conditions in which it will find itself. By launching or going to sea, the boat confirms that it is fit for those conditions and that its crew is competent to sail and compete in them.
18.3 Nothing done by the organisers can reduce the responsibility of the boat nor will it make the organisers responsible for any loss, damage, death or personal injury, however it may have occurred, as a result of the boat taking part in the racing. The organisers encompass everyone helping to run the race and the event, and including the Organising Authority, the Race Committee, the Race Officer, patrol boats and Beach-masters.
18.4 The provision of patrol boats does not relieve the boat of its responsibilities.
18.5 The owner or owner’s representative of all boats is responsible to ensure that she is equipped and seaworthy so as to be able to face extremes of weather; that there is a crew sufficient in number, experience and fitness to withstand such weather; and that the safety equipment is properly maintained, stowed and in date and that the crew know how to use it.
18.6 IT IS ALSO STRONGLY RECOMMENDED THAT THE OWNER OR OWNER’S REPRESENTATIVE OF ALL BOATS SHALL REQUIRE EVERY PERSON ON BOARD TO WEAR A LIFEJACKET IN APPROPRIATE CONDITIONS.
19. INSURANCE
Each participating boat shall be insured with valid third party liability insurance with a minimum cover of £2,000,000 per event or the equivalent.

20. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
20.1 The replacement buoy for Middle Ground, M.G. was funded by West Mersea Yacht Club in memory of the late Maurice Griffiths. The mark MG will continue to lie at the entrance to Mersea Quarters in his memory.
20.2 We are most grateful to those companies and organisations that have kindly sponsored the remainder of our racing marks for the 2009 season.

Mark Name Mark Number Sponsored by
Quest No. 1 Quest Motor Group
Gosling No. 2 Gosling Insurance
MFOB No. 3 MFOB Owners Association
Voxige Communications No. 5 Voxige Communications
Fox’s Chandlery & Outdoor No. 6 Fox’s Chandlery & Outdoor
Fox’s No. 10 Fox’s Marina & Boatyard
www.victoryatmersea.com No. 12 Victory at Mersea
Essex Woodcraft No. 14 Essex Woodcraft Joinery
Mossglen No. 17 Richard Hayden, Mossglen Ltd
OLM ‘S’ DSC ~ Dabchicks Sailing Club
OLM ‘E’ Outer Space ~ Space Workplace Ltd
OLM ‘W’ Green Target ~ Green Target Ltd
Committee Boat mooring buoy ~ Black Prince Holidays
Committee Boat mooring buoy ~ Warehouse Solutions (East Anglia) Ltd
.

In accordance with the Joint Sailing Instructions, all yachts racing must sign and submit to both Clubs a copy of this Safety Declaration.
A. INSURANCE - I confirm that my yacht named ...................................... has a minimum of £2 million third party insurance cover.
B. SAFETY EQUIPMENT - I confirm that my yacht carries the following equipment:-
Lifejackets for all crew members
Lifebuoy
4 Red Flares and 2 Orange Smoke Flares, all in date.
Fog Horn
Echo Sounder
Fire Extinguisher
Anchor, 2m chain and a minimum of 30ft cable
First Aid Kit
Compass - Marine type, properly installed and adjusted
Manual Bilge Pump permanently fitted and operated from cockpit
Stout Bucket with lanyard
VHF Radio
Bolt croppers or other effective means of cutting rigging
Heaving line & Towing line
Capability to shorten sails in a seamanlike manner

OR: I confirm that my yacht complies with the safety & equipment rules of the
................................................ One-design Class.

Signed _______________________________________ Owner

Date _________________________

DABCHICKS SAILING CLUB

COMMODORES REGATTA

APPENDIX TO 2009 WMYC AND DSC JOINT NOTICE OF RACE & SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

1. RULES
Races will be sailed under the Racing Rules of Sailing 2009-12 (RRS), the RYA prescriptions thereto, the 2009 West Mersea Yacht Club & Dabchicks Sailing Club Joint Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions and this Appendix, together with any subsequent Amendments issued to those Sailing Instructions and this Appendix.
2. CHANGES TO SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
2.1 Written changes will be posted on the official notice board situated at the Dabchicks Sailing Club. When changes are issued within the 24 hour period prior to the start of a race they will be signalled by displaying IC Flag ‘L’ on the DSC mainmast and may be communicated by VHF radio from the Committee Vessel using Channel 77 callsign ‘Regatta One’.
2.2 Oral changes may be made from the Committee Vessel using VHF Channel 77 callsign ‘Regatta One’ prior to the warning signal. When oral changes have been issued the Committee Vessel will display IC Flag ‘L’ over ‘O’.
3. SCHEDULE OF RACES
The event comprises the following races:
Thursday 2nd July Race 1 Combined Fleet Start 19.00
Friday 3rd July Race 2 Friday Slow Fleet Start 19.00 Friday Fast Fleet Start 19.10.
Saturday 4th July Race 3 IRC Fleet Start 10.30 LH Fleet Start 10.40
Race 4 IRC and LH Fleet Starts as soon as practicable after Race 3 finishes, with the IRC Fleet starting a minimum of 10 minutes before the LH Fleet.
(NB Race 3 for the LH Fleet is also the third race in the season long Mersea LH Series)

4. COURSES
4.1 Race 1 and Race 2 will use Courses as defined in the 2009 West Mersea Yacht Club & Dabchicks Sailing Club Sailing Instructions, section 8.1.
4.2 Race 3 and Race 4 will use courses as defined in the 2009 West Mersea Yacht Club and Dabchicks Sailing Club Sailing Instructions, Section 8.2 or 8.3. If 8.3 applies, the Committee Boat will use the callsign “Regatta One” and not “Molliette” as specified in 8.3.
5. TIME LIMITS
Races 1 and 2
The time limit for these races will be at the discretion of the Race Officer, taking into account the prevailing conditions and yachts entered for the races.
Races 3 and 4
The time limit for these races will be two hours. Any boat finishing within the time limit shall make the race valid. However any other boat not completing the course in a further one hour (that is a total of three hours) will be deemed to have retired. This changes RRS 35.

6. NUMBER OF RACES TO MAKE AN EVENT & DISCARDS ALLOWED
6.1 Two races must be completed to constitute a series.
6.2 If all four races are completed, one discard will be allowed. If three or fewer races are completed, no discards will be allowed.
7. PRIZES
7.1 Prizes will be presented at a prize giving in the Dabchicks Sailing Club Clubhouse on Saturday evening after the last race
7.2 The Commodores Regatta Trophy will be awarded to the highest placed IRC Fleet yacht.
7.3 The Commodores Cup will be awarded for the highest placed LH Fleet yacht.
7.4 There will be glassware for placed yachts in each fleet and prizes of a bottle of wine for individual race winners.

1. RACING RULES
Races will be sailed under the Racing Rules of Sailing 2009-12 (RRS), the RYA prescriptions thereto, the 2009 West Mersea Yacht Club & Dabchicks Sailing Club Joint Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions and this Appendix, together with any subsequent Amendments issued to those Sailing Instructions and this Appendix.

2. ENTRIES, FEES & ELIGIBILITY
2.1 The Centenary Regatta is open to any boat entered by a member of any RYA recognised yacht or sailing club and complying with the general entry requirements.
2.2 All boats with a valid 2009 IRC certificate shall race in the IRC racing fleet, and all other boats shall race in the LH fleet.
2.3 Entries may be made on the line prior to racing if the boat has a current IRC rating or a current LH rating issued by the Joint Handicap Committee. When entering on the line, it is the competitor’s responsibility to ensure that the OOD has acknowledged the entry.

3. SCHEDULE OF RACES
Schedule and Start Times; Races are scheduled as follows:-
Saturday 6th June Race 1 IRC Fleet 10:30am LH Fleet 10.40am
Race 2 IRC & LH Fleets - as soon as practicable after the finish of Race 1, with the IRC Fleet starting a minimum of 10 minutes before the LH Fleet.
Sunday 7th June Race 3 IRC Fleet 10:30am LH Fleet 10.40am (NB This LH Fleet race is also the second race in the season long Mersea LH Series)
4. COURSES
4.1 The course to be sailed will be either
A course displayed on a board on the Committee Boat prior to the warning signal for the start of the race.
OR
A course taken from the 2009 WMYC and DSC combined Course Card. The number of the course to be sailed will be that displayed on the Committee Boat prior to the warning signal for the start of each race for each fleet.

4.2 The IRC and LH Fleets may be given different courses for each of their races.

5. MARKS
5.1 An additional temporary inflatable buoy may be laid, referred to as mark ‘A.’

TIME LIMITS
6.1 The time limit for each of these races is three hours. Any boat finishing within this time limit shall make the race valid. Any other boat not completing the course within a further one hour (i.e. a total of four hours) will be deemed to have retired and will be scored DNF.

7. DISCARDS ALLOWED
6.1 All three races will count towards each boats overall position. No discard will therefore be allowed.
8. PRIZES
7.1 The Centenary Cup will be awarded to the overall winner of the IRC Class.

7.2 The Coronation Challenge Cup will be awarded to the overall winner of the LH Class.

APPENDIX TO 2009 WMYC AND DSC JOINT NOTICE
OF RACE & SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

1. Rules
Races will be sailed under the Racing Rules of Sailing 2009-12 (RRS), the RYA prescriptions thereto, the 2009 West Mersea Yacht Club & Dabchicks Sailing Club Joint Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions and this Appendix, together with any subsequent amendments issued to those Sailing Instructions and this Appendix.

2. Eligibility
The ethos of this Regatta is that it is a Regatta for Lady Helms who are members of West Mersea Yacht Club or Dabchicks Sailing Club, and only helmswomen who have reached or will reach their nineteenth birthday before 1st September 2009 are therefore eligible to win the four trophies detailed in Section 11 below.
However, commemorative glassware will also be awarded to the leading helmswoman in each of the four categories detailed in Section 11 below who will reach their nineteenth birthday on or after 1st September 2009.

3. Handicaps to be used
Cruisers - see Section 4.2 of 2009 West Mersea Yacht Club and Dabchicks Sailing Club Notice of Race.
MFOBs - TCFs from the current MFOB Association list will be used.
Dinghies – 2009 PY numbers will be used.

Start Time Line Flag
Cruisers 10.30 Nass Line Numeral 1
Mersea Fisherman’s Open Boats 15.30 Club Line Numeral 1
Dinghies 15.40 Club Line Numeral 5

5. Start and finish lines
(i) CRUISERS – The start line to be used will be one of the lines defined in the 2009 WMYC and DSC Joint Sailing Instructions Section 10.2. The finish line to be used is as defined in the 2009 WMYC and DSC Joint Sailing Instructions Section 12.1.

(ii) DINGHIES AND MFOBs – the WMYC Club Line will be used. This is a line defined by the Flag Pole on the WMYC lawn in line with a white line on the roof of the Clubhouse. The outer limit mark is a black/white pole with a black flag on the Middle Ooze.

6. Start Sequence
CRUISERS
The sequence as defined in the 2009 WMYC and DSC Joint Sailing Instructions Section 10.1.1. will be used.

MFOBs
15.25 Warning Signal - Numeral Pennant 1 hoisted, with one sound signal.
15.26 Preparatory Signal - Code Flag P hoisted with one sound signal.
15.29 One Minute Signal – Code Flag P lowered with one long sound signal.
15.30 Start Signal – Numeral Pennant 1 lowered with one sound signal.

DINGHIES
15.35 Warning Signal – Numeral Pennant 5 hoisted, with one sound signal.
15.36 Preparatory Signal – Code Flag P hoisted with one sound signal.
15.39 One Minute Signal – Code Flag P lowered with one long sound signal.
15.40 Start Signal – Numeral Pennant 5 lowered with one sound signal.

7. General Recall
Rule 29.2 applies. That is to say, in the event of a General Recall, the Warning Signal for a new start for the recalled class shall be made one minute after the First Substitute is lowered (one sound signal) and the starts for any succeeding class shall follow the new start.

8. Courses
Cruisers – the course will either be
a) taken from the 2009 WMYC/DSC Course Card. The number of the course to be sailed will be displayed on the rail of the Committee Boat facing the start line at the fleet warning signal, or
b) displayed on a board on the Committee Boat.
The course may also be broadcast on VHF channel 77 using call sign, ‘Molliette’.
Dinghies and MFOBs – the course to be sailed will be displayed on the WMYC Clubhouse Patio windows.

9. Time limits
The time limit for each of these three races is 2 hours. Any boat finishing within this time limit shall make the race valid. Any other boat not completing the course in a further one hour (i.e. a total of 3 hours) will be deemed to have retired and will be scored as DNF.

10. Signing on and off
Dinghies and MFOBs are required to sign on before starting and to sign off immediately after finishing at WMYC. The signing on and off sheets will be placed on a table in front of the WMYC Clubhouse. Failure to do so may result in disqualification.

11. Prizegiving and Trophies
The prizegiving will take place at the Clubhouse at approximately 19.30 on the day of the Regatta.

Trophies to be awarded:
Cruisers – Molliette Bowl MFOBs – Brig Trophy Dinghies – Thornfleet Bowl
Combined (Cruisers and either Dinghies or MFOBs) – Cobmarsh Bowl

Commemorative glassware will be awarded to the leading helms in each of the above four categories.

1. RACING RULES
Races will be sailed under the Racing Rules of Sailing 2009-12 (RRS), the RYA prescriptions thereto, the 2009 West Mersea Yacht Club & Dabchicks Sailing Club Joint Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions and this Appendix, together with any subsequent amendments issued to those Sailing Instructions or this Appendix.

2.1 This series will consist of four races, as detailed in the 2009 Sailing Programme published by each club.
2.2 The series is open to boats sailing double handed or single handed. Double handed is defined as being crewed by a maximum of two people, including the helmsman.
2.3. Boats sailing single handed will not receive an adjustment to their elapsed time to recognise the fact that they are single handed. However, if three or more boats sailing single handed compete in the minimum number of races needed to qualify for a series result, the leading boat in the series sailing single handed will be awarded a prize.
2.4 Before competing in the series, boats may declare that they will not set a spinnaker or cruising chute at any time whilst racing in the series. If they make such a declaration, their handicap will be adjusted by the Joint Handicap Committee. They must not then set a spinnaker or cruising chute at any time whilst racing during the series.

2.5 For the purposes of the Short Handed Series, the corrected times of boats sailing single or double handed in the final race of the series (the Wallet Cup race) will be recalculated, ignoring the adjustments detailed in Section 3.3 below. These revised results will then score appropriate points from that race in the Short Handed Series.

3.1 This is the final race in the Short Handed Series, and is open to boats crewed by one, two, three or four people, including the helmsman.
3.2 Competitors in this race must denote their intention to race and state the number of people on board their boat by completing the Signing On sheet which will be in the entrance hallway of West Mersea Yacht Club.
3.3 Before the TCF (Time Correction Factor) is applied to the elapsed time of boats which have completed the course, the following adjustments will be made to the elapsed time of those boats:

Boats sailing single handed – 10% of the elapsed time will be deducted.
Boats sailing with 3 people on board – 10% of the elapsed time will be added
Boats sailing with 4 people on board – 20% of the elapsed time will be added

(NB Boats sailing double handed will have no adjustment made to their elapsed time)

4.1 Handicaps – see 2009 West Mersea Yacht Club & Dabchicks Sailing Club Joint Notice of Race, Section 4.2.
4.2 Class Flags – Numeral Pendant 5 class flag shall be flown from the backstay of yachts competing in these races.
4.3 The time limit for each of these four races is three hours. Any boat finishing within this time limit shall make the race valid. Any other boat not completing the course in a further one hour (i.e. a total of four hours) will be deemed to have retired and scored as DNF.
4.4 RRS 52 Manual power is changed, in that only the use of autohelms is not permitted whilst racing at any time during the Short Handed Series, including the Wallet Cup race.

As well as being the final race in the 2009 Short Handed Series,
the race on Saturday 1st August is for the Wallet Cup.
An appendix attached to the 2009 Sailing Instructions provides
details about both the Series and this trophy race. The main
details for the Wallet Cup are:

· The race is sailed on LH Handicaps. If you intend
competing and do not have a 2009 Mersea LH Number,
please contact Richard Hayden, Chairman of the Handicap
Committee (07973-141120, email richard@mossglen.co.uk)
with full details of your boat.

· The race is open to boats crewed by one, two, three or
four people (including the helmsman).

· Competitors must denote their intention to race and state
the number of people on board their boat by completing
the signing on sheet which will be in the entrance hallway
of WMYC.

· Boats sailing single handed will have 10% of their elapsed
time deducted before their corrected time is calculated.
Boats sailing double handed will have no adjustment made
to their elapsed time before their corrected time is
calculated. Boats sailing with three people on board will
have 10% of their elapsed time added before their corrected
time is calculated. Boats sailing with four people on
board will have 20% of their elapsed time added before
their corrected time is calculated.

The first race of the 2009 Short Handed Series will take place on Sunday 14th June, with a 10.30am start.

The series is open to any boat sailing with a maximum of two people on board, and uses West Mersea LH numbers, so an IRC Rating isn’t needed in order to compete. Indeed, slightly smaller, more cruisery boats are perhaps most suited to this form of racing, although the more boats competing the better!

Autohelms are not permitted to be used at any time in this series. If your boat doesn’t have a 2009 LH number, please contact Richard Hayden, the Chairman of the Handicap Committee (07973-141120 or email Richard@mossglen.co.uk )

With no Summer Points Series arranged this year, it is hoped that the Short Handed Series will attract increased support.

Racing single handed is also permissible, and if three or more single-handers qualify for a series result, a separate prize will be awarded to the leading boat.

Before competing in the series, boats may declare that they will not set a spinnaker or cruising chute at any time whilst racing in the series. They will then receive a adjustment to their Handicap from the Handicap Committee.

The other three races in the series (each with a programmed 10.30am start time and a three hour time limit) are scheduled to be held on :-

Buoy Location

On Thursday 22nd November, well known Club member Jim McNaughton was recognised for his dedication to our sport when he was presented with the RYA’s Lifetime Commitment Award for the Eastern Region by HRH The Princess Royal, the association’s president. Our Commodore was also invited to attend the presentation and the Commodore’s Reception that followed.

It is estimated that through Jim’s enthusiasm and leadership, well over 1000 successful candidates have been enthused and made competent, safe sailors through the courses run here at the Club.

The longevity of Jim’s absolute commitment to sail training is staggering. Now in his 76th year, he continues to manage and deliver both shore based courses and practical examinations. To acknowledge his exceptional service to sailing, in 2002 Jim was made an Honorary Life Member of the Club.