General Regulations of Races
GENERAL REGULATIONS OF RACES
Clyde Cruising Club is the Organising Authority
The notation "DP" in a rule in these regulations means that the penalty for a breach of that rule may, at athae discretion of the protest committee, be less than disqualification.
New adjustments to these regulations are indicated in red.
1. RULES
1.1 Races will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS), the Prescriptions of the RYA, IRC Rules Parts A, B and C, World Sailing Offshore Special Regulations (OSR), CYCA Handicap System, all as modified by Sailing Instructions for specific events. This alters RRS 63.7.
2. ADVERTISING
2.1 Yachts may be required to display advertising chosen and supplied by the Organising Authority. DP
2.2 Competitors automatically grant to the Organising Authority and their sponsors without payment, the right in perpetuity to make, use and show any photographs, motion pictures and live, taped or filmed television of, or relating to, the event.
3. ELIGIBILITY, ENTRY AND FEES
3.1 Races are open to:
For the Inshore Championship races, yachts in the following classes:
Class 1
IRC ratings >= 1.000 and above and CYCA 0 < 12.00
Class 2
Class 2 IRC ratings <= 0.999, CYCA >= 12.00 and Two-handed yachts with no restrictions
Class 3
CYCA handicaps Restricted Sail Class: these yachts may set headsails but may not set a spinnaker, both as defined in RRS 50.4, minimum crew 2 persons.
If a yacht intends to race restricted sail or be eligible for a Two-handed result, the Club office must be notified in writing or by email no less than 48 hours before the start.
In the case of a yacht's IRC and CYCA ratings falling in different Classes, the CYCA rating shall determine the Class.
For other races including the Ladies and Juniors, yachts with CYCA handicaps.
3.2 Classes may be divided or combined at the discretion of the Race Committee.
3.3 Each yacht shall display on its backstay the numeral pennant of the class in which it is racing. This numeral pennant will be the class warning signal unless otherwise stated. DP
3.4 Entries should be made via the Club's website but can be made using the entry form found later in the Yearbook; entry fees are detailed on both.
3.5 Yachts in IRC classes shall provide to the Club Office a copy of its IRC certificate before racing. DP
3.6 For races where the Individual Sailing Instructions so state, each competing yacht shall be helmed throughout by a member of the Clyde Cruising Club except for short periods for personal needs.
3.7 Yachts shall not race single handed.
4. SCHEDULE
4.1 The events and races for the year are set out elsewhere in the Yearbook and the Club website.
4.2 The Inshore Championship shall comprise the following 5 races and approximate distances (NM):
Bute Race 35
Tobermory Race 1 25
Tobermory Race 2 38
Tarbert Race 27
Closing Muster 22
4.3 The Ailsa Craig Two-handed race will be approximately 57NM.
5. MINIMUM EQUIPMENT AND CREW LIMITS
5.1 Yachts shall not carry anchors over the bow stemhead fitting. DP
5.2 Yachts shall comply wiht OSR Appendix B; unless otherwise specified by class rules for yachts racing in one design classes, in Appendix B 5.01 the personal flotation device shall be an inflatable lifejacket defined in the starred sections of 5.01 of the main regulations, and carry a marine VHF transceiver complying with 3.29.05 of the main regulations.
5.3 The Club strongly recommends that yachts which can comply with OSR Cat 4 do so.
5.4 IRC 22.4.2 is deleted and replaced by "The maximum number of crew that may sail aboard a yacht shall be as detailed below. There is no weight limit, crew number limit or restrictions on crew changes".
5.5 Crew is limited to 2 persons on board if the Individual Sailing Instructions apply GR5.5.
5.6 The Race Committee reserve the right to inspect any yacht to verify that the regulations have been complied with.
6. COURSE AND MARKS
6.1 Marks shall be rounded in the order stated in the Individual Race Sailing Instructions. (P) indicates a mark to be rounded to Port, (S) indicates a mark to be rounded to Starboard.
6.2 Marks described as "Racing Marks" will normally be an inflatable or semi rigid buoy laid specifically for the purpose unless otherwise stated in the Individual Race Sailing Instructions.
6.3 In addition to "Racing Marks", courses set out in Individual Race Sailing Instructions may use marks as described on the page entitled Course Marks.
7. COMMUNICATIONS WITH COMPETITORS
7.1 At the Start the Race Committee will use VHF Channel 77.
7.2 Any fleet broadcasts during the race will be made on VHF Channel 77.
7.3 At the Finish the Race Committee will monitor VHF Channels 16 and 77.
7.4 Where the Committee Vessel cannot otherwise be identified the call sign of the Race committee will be "CRUISING ONE".
7.5 Committee vessels may display a large flag with CCC thereon.
8. THE START
8.1 The Start Line for each Race will be described in the Individual Race Sailing Instructions.
8.2 Rule 26 is altered to 10, 5, go with the class warning signal at 10 minutes before a class start signal. In a sequence of starts, the preparatory signal will be lowered at the start of the last class.
8.3 The normal starting sequence will not be interrupted by a general recall. The First Substitute will be lowered after 5 minutes. No additional sound signal will be given. This changes RRS 29.2.
8.4 The warning signal for the class which has had a general recall will normally be displayed again at the starting signal of the last class to start correctly. If the recalled class was the last start of the sequence, its warning signal will be displayed again 5 minutes after the recalled start. If more than one class is subject to a general recall, the warning signal for the second of these classes will be displayed at the preparatory signal of the first and so on. This changes RRS 29.2.
8.5 A yacht arriving late in the vicinity of the starting area and having broken Rule 42.1 (PROPULSION) by remaining under power or tow after her preparatory signal must, after stopping her engine or casting off her tow, complete the "TWO TURNS" penalty (RRS 44.2) on the prestart side of the starting line or its extensions. This penalty must be taken after the yacht's starting signal is made. Such a yacht shall keep clear of all other yachts until she has completed her turns and has started. DP
8.6 A yacht starting later than 20 minutes after her starting signal will be scored Did Not Start without a hearing. This changes RRS A4 and A5.
9. SAILING DURING THE HOURS OF DARKNESS
9.1 Between the hours of nautical sunset and sunrise, the rules contained in RRS Part 2 will cease to govern the Race which will be continued under the IRPCS.
10. THE FINISH AND DECLARATIONS
10.1 The Finish Line for each Race will be described in the Individual Race Sailing Instructions.
10.2 Yachts finishing should identify themselves to the Officials particularly during the hours of darkness and ensure that the Officials have checked them in as having finished; they should also check and record their own time as they cross the finishing line, in case they may not have been seen by the Officials due to darkness, severe weather, or the line being unmanned; where possible, record the names of yachts which finish immediately ahead and astern.
10.3 Altering RRS 32, a Shorten Course at a mark of the course may be broadcast on VHF CH77 and boats should take their own times at such a mark for any subsequent Declaration.
10.4 Where individual Sailing Instructions so state, completed Declaration Forms as printed in this Yearbook shall be handed to the race officials after the race or the equivalent information sent electronically to racing@clyde.org. To allow the results to be calculated and posted on the website quickly, please also text your boat name and your finishing time to the Cruising Secretary
11. TIME LIMITS
11.1 Any time limits and extensions will be set out in the individual Race Sailing Instructions.
12. PROTESTS AND RULE INFRINGEMENTS
12.1 Protests shall be intimated to the Race Officials at the Finishing Line and shall be made on the proper form and delivered to the Race Officials at the Finish within 2 hours of the time the last yacht in the race finishes. A time and venue of any hearing will thereafter be advised.
12.2 Altering RRS 64 the penalty for a breadh of a rule may, at the discretion of the Protest Committee, be less than disqualification.
13. SCORING
13.1 If only one yacht in a class comes to the start area, there will be no race for that class and no points or trophies will be
awarded for that class in that race. The yacht may however have its class combined with another class in that race and will
be eligible for race prizes and (subject to 13.2) trophies in the combined class.
13.2 If two yachts in a class come to the start area, they will be eligible for race prizes and points in the championship class
they have entered, in accordance with RRS 90.3(a), but not for any trophies for that race.
13.3 A yacht which does not come to the starting area will score points equal to the number of starters plus 10. This
alters RRS A9.
13.4 For the Inshore Championship, a yacht's best 3 races will count for points. Ties will be broken in accordance with RRS
Appendix A.
13.5 In the Inshore Championship, any yacht whose handicap is altered and thus moves to a different class after it has sailed
in one or more Championship races shall continue to race and receive points in its original class but its revised handicap will
apply.
13.6 Race officers on duty for an Inshore Championship race
will receive points for that race equal to the average of their best 2 results in that Championship.
13.7 Yachts entering Classes 1 or 2 of the Inshore Championship will be scored under both IRC and CYCA, if eligible.
14. PRIZES
14.1 Overall trophies for inshore and offshore races will be awarded to the yacht having the best corrected time on CYCA. Trophies and other prizes will be awarded at the discretion of the Race Committee.
15. CLYDEPORT OPERATIONS LIMITED
INSTRUCTIONS NARROW CHANNELS
15.1 Attention is drawn to the International Regulations for the Prevention of Collision at Sea 1972 (IRPCS). Particular notice shall be taken of Rule 9b which states "a vessel of less than 20 metres in length or a sailing vessel shall not impede the passage of a vessel which can safely navigate only within a "Narrow Channel or Fairway".
15.2 Whilst racing or on passage in the Firth of Clyde north of Cumbrae Head, yachts shall regard "Recommended Channels" marked as dotted lines on Hydrographic Office charts as a "Narrow Channel" within the meaning of the IRPCS 9b. Furthermore Clydeport Operations Limited has decreed that any waters of the Firth of Clyde where vessels by virtue of size, draught, speed or proximity to land, hazards and other vessels are unable to manoeuvre freely must be regarded as a "Narrow Channel".
15.3 Whilst racing, any yacht which is unable for reasons of lack of wind or other cause, to sail clear of a large power driven vessel shall start her engine and/or paddle in order to clear and thereafter shall report full details to the Race Committee.
15.4 Competitors are reminded of the Clydeport Operations Limited Byelaw which prohibits yachts and other craft from manoeuvring within 100 metres of any ferry terminal. Particular regard shall be paid to this when in the vicinity of the Caledonian MacBrayne and Western Ferries facilities at Dunoon, McInroy's Point, Hunter's Quay, Largs, Cumbrae, and Wemyss Bay.
15.5 Military vessels routinely transit the race area and can be accompanied by a security escort. Yachts and support boats should not shape a course to approach any military vessel or in any case pass closer than 200m to a warship or 400m to a surfaced submarine nor should high speed support shape a course, at speed, in the direction of a military vessel. The escorting security forces, if they consider any vessel is approaching a military vessel, will intercept and warn to keep clear. Yachts and support vessels should manoeuvre as requested.
16. RISK STATEMENT
16.1 Rule 4 of the Racing Rules of Sailing states: "The responsibility for a boat's decision to participate in a race or to continue racing is hers alone." See also World Sailing Offshore Special Regulation 1.02. Sailing is by its nature an unpredictable sport and therefore involves an element of risk. By taking part in the event, each competitor agrees and acknowledges that:
a) They are aware of the inherent element of risk involved in the sport and accept responsibility for the exposure of themselves, their crew and their boat to such inherent risk whilst taking part in the event;
b) They are responsible for the safety of themselves, their crew, their boat and their other property whether afloat or ashore;
c) They accept responsibility for any injury, damage or loss to the extent caused by their own actions or omissions;
d) Their boat is in good order, equipped to sail in the event and they are fit to participate;
e) The provision of a race management team, patrol boats, umpires and other officials and volunteers by the organiser does not relieve them of their own responsibilities;
f) The provision of patrol boat cover is limited to such assistance, particularly in extreme weather conditions, as can be practically provided in the circumstances;
g) It is their responsibility to familiarise themselves with any risks specific to this venue or this event drawn to their attention in any rules and information produced for the venue or event and to attend any safety briefing held for the event.
h) They are responsible for ensuring that their boat 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 is familiar to the crew.
17. INSPECTIONS
17.1 The fact that the race committee may conduct inspections of a boat does not reduce the responsibilities of each competitor set out in these General Regulations.
18. INSURANCE
18.1 The owner/skipper is required to ensure that the yacht has adequate insurance and in particular to hold insurance against third party and passenger claims in the sum of at least £3,000,000 per incident.
PRIVACY STATEMENT
19.1 The personal information you provide to the organising authority will be used to facilitate your participation in the event. If you have agreed to be bound by the Racing Rules of Sailing and the other rules that govern the event (the rules), the legal basis for processing that personal information is contract. If you are not bound by the rules, the legal basis for processing that personal information is legitimate interest. Your personal information will be stored and used in accordance with the OA's privacy policy. When required by the rules, personal information may be shared with the RYA and/or World Sailing. The results of the event and the outcome of any hearing or appeal may be published.
Last updated 14:54 on 12 June 2023
