Sailing Instructions for the 2009-10 NSW Windsurfing Series

1. RULES
This Heat of the NSW Windsurfing Series will be governed by the current Funboard Racing Rules (FRR) (Slalom) and FW class rules, the Notice of Series, the Notice of Race for this heat and these Sailing Instructions except where altered by the Notice of Series, Notice of Race and these Sailing Instructions.

2. COMPETITION FORMAT
Subject to conditions, racing may involve Slalom, Marathon and or Course racing (Formula and FE+)
2.1. Marathon – The race committee has the option of conducting long distance racing at its discretion as part of the course racing results (1 marathon = 1 race result).
2.1.1 All competitors shall start and race in the one fleet unless amended at a briefing.
2.2 Slalom – It is the intention of the race committee to conduct Slalom racing in wind strengths of no less than 15 knots (35knot maximum) using a figure 8 or downwind ‘M’ course configuration. Depending on the number of competitors entered, racing may be conducted in one fleet or in heats of a slalom table. If two fleets are used then competitors will be randomly assigned to a Heat for each Race as per the Slalom Draw Sheet.
2.2.1 The Slalom Draw Sheet will be posted on the official notice board not less than 15 minutes before the slalom competition is scheduled to commence.
2.2.2 It is the competitor’s sole responsibility to determine the Heats they have been assigned.
2.3. Formula Windsurfing – It is the intention of the race committee to conduct Formula racing in wind strengths from 7 – 25 knots using a course configuration which generally has a windward component. All competitors shall start and race in the one fleet.
2.4 FE+ – It is the intention of the race committee to conduct Course racing using a course configuration which generally has a windward component. All competitors shall start and race in the one fleet.
*****All Course racing will cease if Slalom racing in conducted.

3. MINIMUM WIND CONDITIONS
The sole judge as to suitable conditions for racing to commence and or to continue and the course to be sailed will be the principal race officer (alters FRR 91.5 and 91.8).

4. EVENT SCHEDULE (Subject to wind conditions)
It is intended to sail as many races as time and weather permit.

Day 1 Registration 10.00 – 11.00am
First Briefing (adjacent to the registration area) – 11.00am First race 11.30pm
Day 2 First race 10.30am

5. NOTICES TO COMPETITORS
5.1 Notices to competitors will be posted on the official notice board. The official notice board will be located adjacent to the registration area or as described at the Briefing.
5.2 The location of the slalom scoreboard will be described at the relevant Briefing.
5.3 Three sound signals will mean – ‘a notice to competitors has been posted on the official notice board’. No visual signal will be used (alters FRR Race Signals).
5.4 Repeated short sound signals (more than three) will mean – ‘a Briefing will be held adjacent to the registration area in 5 minutes’. No visual signal will be used (alters FRR Race Signals).

6. CHANGES TO SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
Changes to sailing instructions will be posted on the official notice board not less than 30 minutes prior to the first race affected by such change.

7. SIGNALS MADE ASHORE
7.1 Signals made ashore will be displayed on the official flag pole located adjacent to the registration area or as described at the Briefing.
7.2 Answering pendant (AP) displayed with two sound signals will mean – ‘racing postponed’. When the AP is lowered accompanied by one sound signal it will mean – ‘the warning signal for the next race will be made in not less than 15 minutes’ (alters FRR Race Signals).

8. SIGNALS MADE AFLOAT
8.1 Slalom – when racing in Heats, the number for the next Heat to start will be displayed on the start boat no later than the warning signal for that Heat and will be removed at the starting signal for that Heat (alters FRR Race Signals).
8.2 Formula / FE+ – When numeral pennant 2 is displayed on the finish boat at the finish of a race it will mean – ‘it is intended to start another race as soon as practical after the last competitor of the present race finishes or the time limit for that race expires, whichever is sooner’ (alters FRR Race Signals).

9. THE COURSE
The course location, its configuration and marks to be used will be described at the relevant Briefing.

10. THE START
10.1 The starting line will be described at the relevant Briefing.
10.2 Slalom – Races or Heats will be started in accordance with the following procedure (alters FRR 26)
2min warning Yellow flag up with one sound signal
30 seconds to start Yellow flag down
Start Green flag up with one sound signal
10.2.1 The interval between the starting signal of one race or Heat and the warning signal of the next race or Heat will be at the discretion of the race committee.
10.3 Marathon – Races will be started in accordance with FRR 26.1(a).
Six minute warning Red flag up with one sound signal
Four minute Red flag lowered
Three minute prep Yellow flag up with one sound signal
One minute Yellow flag down
Start Green flag up with one sound signal
10.4 Formula / FE+ – If wind is above 7knots and it is the first start of a race period:
6 mins Red flag up one sound signal
4 mins Red flag down
3 mins Yellow flag up one sound signal
1 min Yellow flag down
0 mins Green flag up one sound signal – Formula start
10.4.3 If there is a General Recall in the first start the entire sequence will begin again. If there is a General Recall THEN the preparatory signal for a new start shall be made one minute after the First Substitute is lowered

11. RECALLS
11.1 Slalom – Recalls will be in accordance with FRR 29.1 and 29.3.
11.1.1 After a general recall, FRR 29.1 will apply if a black flag is displayed on the start boat at or before the warning signal for the next start of that race or Heat. The new warning signal will be made 30 seconds after the general recall signal is lowered (alters FRR 29.1 and 29.3). FRR 29.2 shall not apply in this case.
11.1.2 No individual recalls will be signalled. A competitor who is on the course side of the starting line at the starting signal shall be scored OCS (alters FRR 29.2).

11.2 Formula / FE+ – Recalls will be in accordance with FRR 29.2 and 29.3.
11.2.1 After a General Recall, FRR 29.1 will apply if a black flag is displayed on the start boat at or before the preparatory signal for the next start of that race (alters FRR 29.1 and 29.3). FRR 29.2 shall not apply in this case.

12. THE FINISH
12.1 The finishing line will be described at the relevant Briefing.
12.2 Competitors shall not sail through the finishing line except when finishing.

13. TIME LIMIT
13.1 Slalom – FRR35.3 applies. 5 minute limit. 13.2 Marathon — limit will be set at the briefing.
13.3 Formula / Raceboard – The time limit for all races will be 20 minutes for the first finisher. The target time for races is 10-15 minutes. Rule 35 applies.

14. PROTEST
14.1 Competitors intending to protest shall inform the finishing boat (Formula, FE+) or the on-shore scoring official (Slalom) at the time of finishing or retiring of their intention giving the sail number(s) of the protested competitor(s) and witnesses involved. (alters FFR 61).

14.2 Protest forms will be available at the registration area.
14.3 Protest forms shall be lodged at the registration area.
14.4 Slalom protest shall be made verbally.

14.5 Time limit for lodging protests is 30 minutes after the last finisher in the last race of the day (alters FRR 61.3).

15. SCORING
The low point scoring system in accordance with FRR Appendix A will apply.
1 Marathon race will constitute a result for the heat. (Included in the course racing results)
1 Formula race will constitute a result for the Formula class.
1 FE+ races will constitute a result for the FE+ class.
1 Slalom race will constitute a result for the Slalom class.
There shall be one discard for every four races completed in each discipline. (amends FRR A2 b)). First place will be scored 0.75 points (amends FRR A2)

16. SAFETY
16.1 A competitor whilst racing who fails to wear as intended a buoyancy vest or harness complying with AS1499 or one which is approved by the race committee will be ranked as a non-starter. The requirement of FRR 40 to display flag Y will not apply.

16.2 Clothing or equipment which is either designed to or can be used to increase a competitor’s body weight shall not be used.

16.3. Each competitor intending to race shall personally sign-on for racing before the start of any racing period and shall personally sign-off from racing within 30 minutes of the last finisher in the last race of that racing period or as soon after retiring as possible.
16.4 Failure to sign-on will result in disqualification without a hearing (alters FRR 63.1) from the first race of the relevant racing period while failure to sign-off will result in similar disqualification from the last race of the relevant racing period. Failure to both sign-on and sign-off will result in disqualification from all races of the relevant racing period. A racing period may consist of one or more races.

16.5 The location of the sign-on/sign-off area will be adjacent to the registration area or as described at the relevant Briefing.

16.6 The race committee, at its discretion, may vary the time permitted to sign-off. Notice of such variations will be posted on the official notice board and the requirements of SI 6 will not apply.
16.7 Should the race committee abandon the race, all competitors shall sign-off as soon as possible.

17. PENALTIES
Rule 44 – 360-degree turns will apply.
18. ENTRY DISCLAIMER.
In accepting my entry, I agree to be bound by the rules governing this event. I acknowledge and accept that I am solely responsible for deciding to enter and continuing to participate in this event. I further acknowledge and agree that participation in this event can be dangerous and shall accept that my participation is at my exclusive risk in every respect. By way of my entry being accepted, I hold harmless the organising authority, its officers, members, servants, agents and all other participants in respect of all liability for injury to my person and or loss or damage to my property howsoever arising from my participation or intended participation in this event. I acknowledge and accept that the organising authority, its officers, members, servants, agents and other participants accept no responsibility in respect of loss of life, personal injury or loss or damage to property which may be sustained by reason of my participation or intended participation in this event or arising for whatever reason in connection with this event.’