ELSC Sunday Series Dates

· WILLS HANDICAP SERIES 14 RACES – 10 TO COUNT

· CAPTAINS FAST AND SLOW HANDICAP SERIES 12 RACES – 7 TO COUNT
Slow Fleet boats with a PY of 1646 including 1060
Fast Fleet boats with a PY of 1059 to 926 inclusive
The Slow Handicap Fleet will set off 4 minutes after the Fast Handicap Fleet

· 2 MAN AND 1 MAN SERIES 14 RACES – 10 TO COUNT
The1 man Fleet will set off 4 minutes after the 2 Man Fleet

· ELSC HANDI CAP SERIES 14 RACES – 10 TO COUNT
Juniors Seniors and Masters

· COMMODORES PURSUIT 14 RACES – 10 TO COUNT
Class races to be run concurrently with the Commodores

· FROST BITE SERIES 11 RACES – 7 TO COUNT

· ALL SHORT SERIES 11AM Start – 4 RACES – 3 TO COUNT

ELSC Wednesday Series Dates

* JUBILEE 11 RACES - 8 TO COUNT

* BBC 11 RACES - 8 TO COUNT

Click to enlarge	next week's weather

Racing takes place on Sunday afternoons, when up to three races are run over various courses around the reservoir. There is a spirit of friendly competition with some long running personal rivalries. The position of the reservoir and the variety of local wind conditions means that no two races are ever the same.

As the fleet is relatively small there is no class racing at the club and all races are therefore handicap, any boat with a PY is able to join in. Sailors who participate in races come from a wide range of ages and abilities, from beginners who are under 10 to those with 50 years or more experience on the water. Novice sailors are encouraged and helped to join in.

The Standard rules of racing apply but are not slavishly adhered to as the emphasis is very much on enjoyment. For the record the Racing Instructions can be found below.

RACING INSTRUCTIONS

1 GENERAL - All races will be sailed under IYRA, RYA and Class Association
rules except as modified by the following instructions.Changes to Sailing Instructions will be displayed on the Club Course Board. This will be deemed sufficient to satisfy the ISAF Rules (Management of Races).

2.RESPONSIBILTY AND INSURANCE - The application of these sailing instructions does not limit or reduce the complete responsibility of the owner/ competitor for his / her crew, his / her boat or the management including insurance thereof.
Personal floatation devices must be worn at all times when on the water. Wet / dry suits are not personal floatation devices.

It shall be the sole responsibility of each competitor to decide whether or not to start or to continue to race unless they are Juniors. Juniors must obey the instructions of the OD in this, as in every other safety matter.

3. COURSES - as displayed on the Club Course Board or suitably displayed from
the Committee Boat.
a) Starting Lines:-
Water based - a line between a mark and the mast of the Comittee Boat.
An inner limit mark, not necessarily on the line, may be laid.
Shore based - a line between a mark and the OD box or between the OD
box and the Comittee Boat.
b) Finishing Lines:-
Water based - a line between the Comittee Boat and any mark at right
angles to the last leg of the course.
Shore based - a line between the mark and the OD box.
c) Shortening Courses:-
A course may be shortened at the discretion of the Officer of the Day
accompanied by two sound signals when the leading boat approaches a mark.
Boats will, normally, proceed to the finishing line formed at the end of the
next lap of course. In special circumstances the finishing line
may be formed at a new position, again at the discretion of the OD.

4 SIGNALS:-
Warning Signal Sound Signal 10 minutes remaining
Preparatory Sound Signal 4 minutes remaining
Final Sound Signal 1 minute remaining
Start Sound Signal GO!

5. STARTING TIMES - races will start at the approximate times stated in the race programme. For a race to start, three or more boats (intending to race), must be on the water. Races will not be delayed for late starters.

6 RECALLS- a further sound signal after the start will indicate the
infringement and offending boats will return 'round the end'.Boat numbers
or names may be called out by the OD.

7. GENERAL RECALLS - two sound signals immediately after the start signal will signify, a void start. A third sound signal will indicate a new preparatory (4 min) period to be followed by the final (1 min) and start (GO!) signals.

8. CANCELLATION OR ABANDONMENT – four consecutive sound signals at any time will signify the cancellation or abandonment of a race. Racing on any occasion may be cancelled at the discretion of the OD.

9. ROOM AT MARKS – Mark Room shall be defined as x2 boat length circle around the mark.

10. TIME LIMITS - all boats that do not finish within 15 minutes of the first boat the same handicap or within 30 minutes of the first boat crossing the finish line will be automatically retired.

11. PENALTIES - The alternative penalty of turns shall apply in cases of rule infringement.

12. PROTESTS - must be lodged with the OD within 15 minutes of the last boat in the protester's fleet finishing. (£2.00 deposit prior to protest).

It is the responsibility of every helm/crew to help anyone in distress. In such circumstances, if positions in the race are lost, the helm is entitled to redress (same procedure as lodging a protest – no deposit required).

13. SCORING - RYA - low points system shall be used.
Points = finishing position after application of handicap

A boat that does not start, does not finish, retires after finishing or is disqualified shall be scored points for a finishing place one more than the number of boats entered in the series.

Average points will be awarded for Race Officers / assistants, Safety Boatmen / assistants for each race in a series when undertaking race duties. Average points will be the average points of all other races of the series including non starts, retirements and disqualifications, even if these are subsequently discarded.

14. NUMBER OF RACES AND ENTRANCE TO A SERIES - The number of races in a series will be the total number of completed races, bounded by the dates of the race series. The minimum number of races to be completed to enter a series and the number of discards in a series shall be:-

15. SERIES SCORES - each helms Series score shall be the total of his / her race scores excluding applicable discards for the series. If a helm has two or more equal worst scores, the score(s) for the race(s) sailed earliest in the Series shall be discarded. The helm with the lowest Series score wins and others shall be ranked accordingly.

16. SERIES TIES - If a Series result is tied, the winner shall be determined by application of Appendix A sections A8.1 and A8.2 of the ISAF Rules.

The applications of these sailing instructions does not limit or reduce the
complete responsibility of the owner / competitor for his / her crew, his /
her boat or the management thereof.

IMPORTANT NOTES

.* Everyone sailing on the reservoir must have insurance cover.
.* If there is no safety boat cover, there will be no racing.
. * If there is no Officer of the Day, there will be no racing.

Please remember to do your OD/Safety Boat/Catering duties.

SAFETY AND ORGANISATION

In the interests of All members, the Club will continue its endeavours to provide adequate Safety Boat and Officer of the Day coverage throughout the season’s racing programme. This will probably require members to undertake such duties on up to four occasions during the season. The usual rotas will be posted and it is hoped to supplement these with appropriate training opportunities as the season progresses.

It is also hoped that a greater variety of race starting schedules will be used during the racing programme, the principles of which will be included in the training opportunities referred to above.

Notes
Racing will start at 13:00hrs precisely. On “Short” days racing will start at
11:00hrs.

Racing on any occasion may be cancelled at the discretion of the OD.

Junior races are open to members who are under 18 on January 1st 2006.

Master races are open to members over 44 at the start of the racing season.

It shall be the sole responsibility of each competitor to decide whether to start or continue to race unless they are juniors. Juniors must obey the instructions of the OD in this, as in every other matter.