Bald Head Island Regatta

April 4-6, 2008

Bald head Island, North Carolina

Preliminary Sailing Instructions

03.19.08

 

1              Rules

The regatta will be governed by the “rules” as defined in the 2005-2008 Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) and the prescriptions of US Sailing and class rules for boats racing in One Design Classes. If there is a conflict between the Notice of Race and these Sailing Instructions the SI shall prevail.

2              Eligibility and Entry

The regatta is open to One Design boats and PHRF boats at least 20 LOA, but less than 60 feet LOA that meet the Coast Guard and NCDNR requirements, and by delivering a completed entry form and paying the appropriate entry fee prior to the Competitors Meeting, no later than Friday, April 4, 2008, 1000.  

3              Notices to Competitors

                Notices to competitors will be posted on the official notice board located harborside at Regatta Headquarters at the BHI Sailing Club.  Any changes to the

                Sailing Instructions will be posted before 1200 on Friday, 0900 on Saturday, and 0800 on Sunday except that any change in the schedule of races will be posted by 2000 on the day before it will take effect. 

4              Signals Made Ashore

                Signals made ashore will be displayed from a flagpole located at Regatta Headquarters.  When flag AP is displayed ashore, “one minute” is replaced with “not less than 60 minutes” in the race signal AP. 

5              Schedule of Racing

                A competitors meeting will be held at Friday, April 4, 2008 at 1200 at Regatta Headquarters (Bald Head Island Mariners Port Sailing Center)

                The warning signal for the first race will be at 1355 on Friday, 1055 on Saturday and 0955 on Sunday.    Subsequent races each day will be held as soon as possible after the end of the previous race.  On the last day of racing, no warning signal shall be made after 1455. 

6              Class Flags

                A,             #1            B,            #2            C,            #3            D,            #4            E,             #5           

                For the first race each day, classes will start in the following order:

                                Ocean Course:

                                River Course: 

7              Racing Area

                The racing area for the ocean course will the Atlantic ocean and Cape Fear River in and around Bald Head Island and Southport, NC and be to the south of Bald Head Island, East of the Cape Fear River mouth entrance. A river course may be set to best accommodate conditions at race time.  Depending on conditions, the Ocean and River Courses may be combined onto one Course either in the Ocean or the River.   

8              Courses & Marks

                The Ocean Course will be in the near inshore area just south of Bald Head Island, east of the Cape Fear River mouth.  The River Course will be set to the prevailing conditions in the river between the river mouth and the ADM docks.  All marks will be left to port unless otherwise described during the competitors meeting.  Courses will be windward/leeward or other.  “W’ flag indicates a windward/leeward course, “T” a triangular course, “T” over “W” a modified Olympic course, “W” over “2” a windward/leeward twice around course.

9              Start/Finish

                The start/finish lines will be between an orange flag on the signal boat at the starboard end and the port end starting mark.  Races will be started using rule 26 with the warning signal given five minutes before the starting signal.  As a courtesy to competitors an attention signal (5 (five) sounds) will be made one  minute before the warning signal for the first class to start unless the AP flag has been displayed.  Boats whose warning signal has not been made shall avoid the starting area after the first class warning flag has been shown and until their class flag is shown, or face disqualification.

 

If any part of a boat’s hull, crew, or equipment is on the course side of the starting line at her starting signal and she is identified, the Race Committee will  attempt to broadcast her sail number on the designated VHF channel. This changes rule  29.1.  Failure to make a broadcast , or to be heard, or the order of announcement, shall not be grounds for a request for redress.  This changes rule  62.1(a).  The “X” flag will be displayed at the start until all boats have started properly or for four minutes, whichever is greater.

10            Time Limit

                The time limit for each class will be 90 minutes for the first boat in that class to sail the course and finish.  Boats finishing more than 30 minutes after the first boat that sails the course finishes will be scored DNF without a hearing.  This changes RRS 35, 63.1, A4, and A5. 

11            Protests

                Protests shall be delivered to Regatta Headquarters within 30 minutes after the race committee boat docks.  The protest time limit and a list of protests received will be posted on the notice board.  Hearings will be held as soon as possible after racing each day in the Bald Head Island Sailing Club Office. 

12            Scoring

                The Low Point scoring of Appendix A will apply.  Five races are scheduled.  One race constitutes a regatta.  Scoring will utilize Time on Time handicapping. Each boats elapsed time will be multiplied by a time correction factor, equal to 650/(550+phrf), to determine her corrected time.

13            Trophies

                Trophies will be awarded in each of Fleets A, B, C  for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, Fleets D, E for 1st, 2nd, and trophies will be awarded in the B36.7, J24 classes for first place.  The overall winner will be named on the Bald Head Island Cup Perpetual Trophy and receive a weekend stay on Bald Head Island. 

14            Disclaimer of Liability

                Competitors participate in the regatta entirely at their own risk.  See rule 4, Decision to Race.  The organizing authority, sponsors, any involved municipalities, other public entities, any and all volunteers will not accept any liability for material damage or personal injury or death sustained in conjunction with or prior to, during, or after the regatta and each participating boat shall be insured with valid third-party liability insurance.