Walton & Frinton Yacht Club will be the Organising Authority for dinghy racing from the club. A racing programme giving the details of the races, including dates and times, will be published on the official notice board and the website. In addition, information on specific events and series may be published in Twizzle Tattle

Events are governed by the rules as defined in the current Racing Rules of Sailing.

The club Standard Sailing Instructions change or adopt the following rules of the RRS: 

1. Penalties shall be as in RRS 44.1 with the addition that any boat coming into contact with a moored vessel or the tackle to which it is attached shall take a Two-Turns Penalty as described in RRS 44.2, report the incident to the race officer at the first opportunity and enter details in the club incident book.

2. Personal flotation: Rule 40.1 applies at all times whilst afloat.

3. RRS A5.3 applies [long series]

The following apply to all club dinghy racing:

1. Wet or dry suits are mandatory between 1st November and 31st March inclusive.

2. A painter, minimum length 3m, shall be provided in each dinghy to facilitate towing.

3. The Race Officer or Safety Boat Helmsman has the right to insist that a boat / crew returns home if deemed necessary for health or safety reasons.

4. The following restrictions to racing areas shall apply:

   Horsey Island Barges

   No boat shall pass between the barges to the northeast of Horsey Island and Horsey Island itself.     

   Titchmarsh Marina West Pontoon

   No boat shall pass to the south of the unconnected pontoon to the west of the entrance to Titchmarsh Marina.

In general, racing is open to all club Full Members and Cadet Members. However, published information for a specific event or series may include restrictions.

W&FYC dinghy racing is run under the RYA Portsmouth Yardstick Scheme current at the commencement of the series, Mixed handicap racing is open to all Dinghies with PN higher than 900 and lower than XXXX,  with adjustments as allowed for by Class Associations. The Sailing Committee reserves the right to adjust the yardstick of any class of boat to compensate for mix of boats and local waters (Using the RYA number adjustment procedure at pys.org.uk). Competitors may request a yardstick adjustment before a series if they wish to sail in non-class trim. Handicaps and class splits will be published on the Official Notice Board before the race or the first race of a series.

The racing programme identifies the start time for each race.

For Dinghy Week Appendix A Supplement to Notice of Race applies as well as this Notice of Race.

Dinghy Week and Cadet Week are open to non-members. Online entry and payment of fees are required. Details of both are published on the website.

For certain events, including the Snowball Race and Pier Race, non-members may compete but are not eligible for the trophies.

The registered competitor shall be on board while racing. Changes of boat, rig configuration or competitor will constitute a separate entry in a series.

For racing when no entry form is required, all competitors shall before going afloat complete the signing on form in the boatshed with their boat type, sail number and helm before racing in any series.

Competitors need not repeat this for subsequent races in the same series unless there are changes.

By signing on, sailors:

1. agree to be bound by the Racing Rules of Sailing, Notice of Race, Sailing Instructions, and any supplementary notices.

2. confirm that their boat is adequately insured, with cover of at least £3 million against third party claims.

Competitors shall inform the race committee of retirement or other declaration.

Sailors are reminded that it is their responsibility to ensure their equipment complies with their class rules. Sailors who take part in a race shall be deemed to be confirming that their boats conform to class rules.

The club Standard Sailing Instructions are published on the official notice board and the club website.

The course may use club racing marks, navigation marks and any other marks or land masses as detailed and are generally within the Walton Backwaters. A chartlet of the race area is published on the website. The courses for each day will be displayed on the official notice board at least one hour prior to the first start of the day and may also be published on the club’s Dinghy Sailing WhatsApp group.

Risk Statement

Rule 3 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.”

Sailing is by its nature an unpredictable sport and therefore inherently involves an element of risk. By taking part in any of the events covered by this notice of race, each competitor agrees and acknowledges that:

1. 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.

2. They are responsible for the safety of themselves, their crew, their boat and their other property whether afloat or ashore.

3. They accept responsibility for any injury, damage or loss to the extent caused by their own actions or omissions.

4. Their boat is in good order, equipped to sail in the event and they are fit to participate.

5. 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.

6. The provision of patrol boat cover is limited to such assistance, particularly in extreme weather conditions, as can be practically provided in the circumstances.

7. 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.

Privacy Statement

The personal information you provide to the organising authority will be used to facilitate your participation in the events. 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 organising authority’s privacy policy. When required by the rules, personal information may be shared with the RYA, your national authority and/or World Sailing. The results of the event and the outcome of any hearing or appeal may be published.