Note that racing will be governed by

1. the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing

2. the W&FYC Dinghy Sailing Notice of Race

3. these Sailing Instructions and any changes thereto

Notices, Signals Ashore and Changes to Sailing Instructions

1. Notices will be posted on the Official Notice Board and/or in the Boatshed.

2. The Race Office will be in the Tower Bar upstairs in the clubhouse. Entry to the Race Box is restricted to authorised persons.

3. Signals ashore will be flown from the club mast.

4. Any changes to Sailing Instructions will be posted at least 30 minutes prior to the first start and code flag Lima will be flown.

Preparation

1. When a briefing is scheduled it will take place by the boatshed unless otherwise specified. Start times given are for the first start of the sequence.  The number of starts and the interval between starts will be given at the briefing or in the course.

2. The launching slipways will be kept clear with only boats ready to launch using the slips. Rigging or washing in this area is not permitted.

3. Please allow at least 30 minutes to get from the Club to a start line near the Spit Buoy in the Twizzle.

Signing on, Safety and Declarations

1. Signing on before the start

   See Notice of Race 11.

2. Signing off after racing

   The requirement to sign off after racing is currently suspended but competitors shall inform the race committee of retirement or other declaration (such as a collision with a moored boat) by completing a form in the Race Office.

Signals

The start sequence for each fleet shall be as follows:

Courses

1. Up to date information on buoys and other marks will be on the Official Notice Board prior to racing.

2. Details of the courses to be sailed will be provided by the Race Officer at the latest by the Attention Signal for the race and may be published in advance on the Dinghy Sailing WhatsApp group.

3. The course may use club racing marks, navigation marks and any other marks as detailed at the briefing.

4. The Spit Gate is defined as between Spit Buoy and Romany Rye Buoy. When used in the course the gate shall be passed through in the direction dictated by the previous and following marks of the course. If the course is shortened at Spit Gate the two buoys will form the finishing line.

5. The following restrictions to racing areas shall apply:

   1. Horsey Island Barges:

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

   2. Titchmarsh Marina West Pontoon:

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

   Boats found in violation of these restrictions may be subject to disqualification.

Club Line

The line between the centre of the white cross on the east wall of the clubhouse, below the race box, and the transit marks on the opposite bank.

Start Line

The location of the start line will be defined in the course. For a committee boat start, it will be between a staff displaying an orange flag on the committee boat and either a racing mark or transit marks on shore or another staff displaying an orange flag.

Finish Line

1. The Club line or

2. between a staff displaying an orange flag and a racing mark or

3. as designated by the Race Officer.

Shorten Course

In addition to Rule 32.2, if a support boat is displaying S over H and a repeated sound signal at a mark of the course, take that mark as designated in the course and return directly to the Club line to finish. If a support boat is displaying S over F at a mark of the course, and making a repeated sound signal, take that mark as designated in the course then return directly to the Committee Boatline to finish.

Time Limit

1. The time limit for dinghy races is three hours. Boats failing to finish within the time limit will be scored Did Not Finish

2. At the discretion of the Race Officer, on two race days the second start sequence may be before all boats have finished the first race.

Protests and requests for redress

1. Protests and requests for redress shall be delivered in writing to the Race Office

   1. for a club finish: - within one hour, or

   2. for a downriver finish: - within two hours of the last finishing time of the day.

2. The time and location of the hearing will be posted on the Official Notice Board as soon as possible.

Prizegiving and Trophies

1. Prizes and trophies will normally be awarded at the annual Prizegiving.

2. For special races, there may be a prizegiving after the race. This will be published in the race information.