Sailing Instructions

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Download Sailing Instruction PDF

7^th January – 12^th January 2019

ORGANIZING AUTHORITY

The Regatta is organized by the RLIR 2019 Organizing Committee in conjunction with the Malaysian Sailing Association (MSA – National Authority) under the patronage of the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club. With cooperation of provincial authority of Langkawi, and Kedah State of Authority, Malaysia.

SAILING INTRUCTIONS

1. RULES & REGULATIONS

Sentences in italics within the Sailing Instructions are guidance notes for information only.
[DP] denotes a rule for which the penalty is at the discretion of the Protest Committee. This changes RRS 64.1.
[SP] denotes a rule for which a standard penalty will be applied by the race committee without a hearing.
This changes RRS 63.1, Appendix A4 and Appendix A5 and RRS 62.1(a).
[NP] denotes that a breach of this rule will not be grounds for protest by boat. This changes RRS 62.1(a).

1.1.
The regatta will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) including:
The IRC Rules 2018 Parts A, B and C;
The Platu 25 International Class Rules, amended by the National Class Association of Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.
The principals of the RYA NHC Regatta Performance System for Club Classes.

The Notice of Race and these Sailing Instructions.

1.2.
The IRC Rules Parts A, B and C.

• 1.2.1 For the purposes of IRC Rule 21.1.5, this is a regatta run on consecutive days (The sails on board shall remain the same throughout).
• 1.2.2 IRC Rule 21.1.5 (f) is modified to the extend that no replacement sails are permitted on any multiple race day.
• 1.2.3 As permitted by IRC Rule 21.1.5 (f), boats shall obtain permission from the race committee before replacing damaged sails. In granting permission, the race committee may limit the races for which a replacement sail may be used.
• 1.2.4 There will be no limitations on crew number or weight except as required for boats rated as one designs or under a standard onedesign rating certificate, which shall comply with IRC Rule 22.4.1
• 1.2.5 Boats shall submit a copy of their IRC Certificate not later than 17.00 on 7^th January 2019. No alteration in a boat’s TCC will be permitted after this date, except as a results of a rating protest, to correct a Rating Office error or in the case of substantial damage being caused to the boat, which would significantly affect her performance.

1.3.
RRS 52, Manual Power, shall not apply for yachts racing in the Club and Multihull Classes.

• 1.3.1. The use of stored power for the hoisting of mainsails, or the reefing or furling of sails need not be declared.
• 1.3.1. Multihull Boats using stored power for the adjustment or operation of running rigging shall declare this to the OMR Rating Authority.

1.4.
No National prescriptions shall apply.

1.5.
If there is a conflict between languages the English text shall prevail.

1.6.
All boats joining the regatta shall register all participating crew at time of registration and pay the relevant crew fee as indicated in the Notice of Race. Boats racing with unregistered crew may be subject to protest. [NP]

1.7.
Changes to the RRS and Rating Rules are as detailed in the Notice of Race or these Sailing Instructions. This changes RRS J1.2(1).

2. NOTICES TO COMPETITORS

2.1.
Amendments to the sailing instructions, schedule of races and notices to competitors will be promulgated as follows:
(a) On the Official Notice Board located on the Weather Deck, situated on the lower ground floor of the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club.
(b) As hard copy from the Regatta Office.
(c) Posted on the official website.

2.2.
It is the responsibility of competitors to obtain the latest amendments. It is recommended that the text of all amendments is written into all copies of the Sailing Instructions being used by the boat.

3. CHANGES TO SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

3.1.
Any change to the sailing instructions will be posted before 07.30 on the day it will take effect, except that any change to the schedule of the races requiring an earlier start will be posted by 20.00 on the day before it will take effect.

3.2.
To alert boats on the water that late changes to the sailing instructions have been made, Flag ‘L’ may be displayed on the starting vessel and information passed by radio.

4. SIGNALS MADE ASHORE

4.1.
Signals made ashore will be displayed on the flag pole near the marina ramp in front of the marina security post.

4.2.
When flag AP is displayed ashore, ‘one minute’ is replaced with not less than 60 minutes in the race signal AP. This changes RRS Race Signals AP.

4.3.
When a signal is displayed over a class flag(s), it applies to that class(es) only.

5. SCHEDULE OF RACES

5.1.
The Schedule of Races for each class is shown in Attachment A and will
consist of 5 days racing.

5.2.
A maximum of 3 races per class per day may be sailed.

5.3.
The schedule time of the first warning signal for each race day is 0930 hrs except for Nominated Classes on the “Around the Island” Race, whose start will be between 0745 to 0845 hrs.

5.4.
When there has been a postponement and when more than one race (or sequence of races, for two or more classes) will be held on the same day, the warning signal for the first race and each succeeding race will be made as soon as practicable.

5.5.
To alert boats that a race or sequence of races will begin soon, the orange flag shall be displayed for at least five minutes before a warning signal is made.

5.6.
On the last day of regatta, no warning signal will be made after 1400 hrs.

6. CLASS FLAG & IDENTIFICATION [NP]

6.1. Class flags shall be:

CLASS	FLAG
Racing	White
IRC 1	White with Red Cross
IRC 2	White with Pink stripe
Sports Boat	Yellow with Black stripe
Multihull Racing	Pink
Premier Cruising Multihull	Pink with Black stripe
Club Cruising	Purple
Ocean Rover	Purple with White stripe
White Sail	Purple with White cross

 
6.2.
A class flag will be provided to each boat in each class and shall be flown from the backstay while racing. If the boat does not have a backstay, the flag shall be flown in the area that can be noticeable to Race Committee.

6.3.
All boats shall carry an identifying sail number of at least 2 digits on the mainsail, at all times while racing.

6.4.
A boat shall not display a different sail number on sails other than the mainsail, unless specific permission has been granted by the RC.

6.5.
Hull numbers will be provided for each boat and shall be placed on the port and starboard bow for further identification.

7. RACING AREA

7.1.
Attachment B shows the location of racing areas. The illustrations are not to scale.

7.2.
A laminated course book will be issued at registration.

• (a) It is purely diagrammatic and should not be used for navigation.
• (b) While every effort is made to ensure that buoys are depicted in their proper places, no responsibility is taken for any errors thereon.

8. THE COURSES

8.1.
The diagrams in Attachment B show the courses, the order in which the marks are to be passed or rounded, and the side on which each mark is to be left.
The GPS details included in the course descriptions are provided using the WGS84 datum.
These details are approximate and no request for redress will be considered for a minor deviation of position. This changes RRS 62.1.

8.2.
Course boards
The course to be sailed and approximate compass bearing of the first leg will be displayed shortly after the warning signal. The class for which the course is being displayed will be indicated by the display of a course board representing the class flag together with the course. This changes RRS 27.1.

8.3.
The race committee shall also announce the course choice on VHF Channel 71.

8.4.
When there is a gate, boats shall sail between the gate marks from the direction of the previous mark and, unless otherwise specified in the course diagrams provided in Attachment B, round either gate mark.

8.5.
Windward leeward courses may be superimposed on coastal courses.

8.6.
If the letter “G” is displayed with any Course 1 description. This will denote that a GATE (Ls,Lp) will replace MARK L. When there is a leeward gate, boats shall sail between the gate marks from the direction of the previous mark and round either gate mark (Ls or Lp).

8.7.
The race committee may change a course if the weather circumstances are not suitable for the scheduled course. The change will be signaled by the display of flag C, 15 minutes prior to the first warning signal or the removal of “AP”.The race committee may also announce the changes on VHF Channel 71 prior to the warning signal.

8.8.
If there is any discrepancy between a course diagram and the written description, then the written description shall prevail.

9. CHANGE OF THE NEXT LEG OF THE COURSE

9.1.
To change the next leg of the course, the race committee will lay a new mark (or move the finishing line) and remove the original mark as soon as practicable. When in a subsequent change a new mark is replaced, it will be replaced by an original mark.

9.2.
For Course 24 Only – Removal of Marks 3 and 4.
If the Race committee vessel at 2-g displays flags black over red, delete marks 3 and 4 from course description, Round Mark 2to Starboard and continue with amended course.

10. MARKS

10.1.
The marks of the course will be inflatable buoys or islands as identified in the course diagrams.

10.2.
The inflatable buoys will beorange, yellow, red, blue, greenor black buoys, which may display sponsor branding.

10.3.
The port-end starting mark will be an Orange and White (checked) cylindrical buoy or a staff displaying an orange flag on a race committee vessel.

10.4.
The port end finishing mark will be a checked cylindrical buoy.

11. THE START

11.1.
Races will be started by using RRS 26 with the warning signal made 5 minutes before the starting signal.

11.2.
The starting line will be between a staff displaying an orange flag on the starting vessel at the starboard end and the course side of the port-end starting mark.

11.3.
Boats whose warning signal has not been made shall avoid the starting area during the starting sequence for other races. [NP]

11.4.
A boat starting later than 10 minutes after the starting signal for her class will be scored Did Not Start (DNS) without a hearing. This changes RRS A4 and A5.

11.5.
If any part of a boat’s hull, crew or equipment is on the course side of the starting line during the two minutes before her starting signal and she is identified, the race committee will attempt to broadcast her sail number on VHF channel 71. Failure to make a broadcast or to time it accurately will not be grounds for a request for redress. This changes RRS 62.1(a).

11.6.
Committee vessel inner distance mark.
An inner distance mark (IDM) may be laid near a start line committee vessel. Any IDM that is laid shall rank as a starting mark.

Boats shall not cross the line between the IDM and the adjacent
committee vessel at any time.

A boat infringing this rule may exonerate herself by rounding the nearby
committee vessel before starting.

Boats shall not cross the line between the IDM and the adjacent committee vessel at any time.

A boat infringing this rule may exonerate herself by rounding the nearby committee vessel before starting.

12. THE FINISH

12.1.
The finishing line will be between the staff displaying an orange flag on
the finishing vessel at the starboard end and the course side of the portend
finishing Mark A committee vessel used for finishing may hold
position using her engines.

12.2.
Identification at the finish [NP][DP]
General recall (all classes):
After a general recall, the new warning signal for the recalled class will be made one minute after code flag ‘First Substitute’ is removed (one sound).

• Every boat when finishing shall ensure that its sail number is clearly visible to the Race Committee.
• When a boat infringes 12.2(a) and is nonetheless identified, the race committee may impose a penalty of 1% of her elapsed time without a hearing. This changes RRS 63.1. [DP]

12.3.
If the race committee is absent when a boat finishes, she should report her finishing time, and her position in relation to nearby boats, to the race committee at the first reasonable opportunity.

13. SHORTENING OR CHANGING COURSE COURSE

13.1.
To change the next leg of the course, the race committee will lay a new mark (or move the finishing line) and remove the original mark as soon as practicable. When in a subsequent change a new mark is replaced, it will be replaced by an original mark.

13.2.
The race committee may shorten course in accordance with rule 32 and/or as changed by these Instructions. Boat shall finish by passing between the committee vessel and the nearby mark of the course from the direction of the last mark.

13.3.
A committee vessel used for finishing may hold position using her engines.

13.4.
If the course is shortened at an island or point of land, the race committee may lay a finishing mark just offshore to indicate the finishing line. Boats shall finish between the mark and the committee vessel. Where there is no mark, the finish line shall be between the committee vessel and the nearest point of land. This changes RRS 32.2

14. PENALTY SYSTEM[NP]

14.1.
For all class(es) RSS 44.1 is changed so that the Two-Turns Penalty is replaced by the One-Turn Penalty.

14.2.
Unless otherwise prescribed in these Sailing Instructions, the International Jury may apply any penalty, including no penalty, for a breach of a rule. This changes RRS 64.1.

14.3.
Where these Sailing Instructions allow the race committee or protest committee to penalize a boat without a hearing, the competitor shall nonetheless be entitled to a hearing upon request. However, the level of penalty following a hearing may be more severe than that initially imposed.

15. TIME LIMITS and TARGET TIMES

15.1.
The absolute time limit for each racing day Tuesday 8th – Friday 11^th January will be 17.00 hrs. This changes RRS 35 and A4 and A5.

15.2.
The absolute time limit for racing day Saturday 12^th January will be 15.00 hrs. This changes rule 35 and A4 and A5.
This overrides the provisions in SI 15.3,(a),(b),(c),and (d).

15.3.
The time limits for the first boat in each class are,

(a) For Kuah Harbour courses 14 to 20-3 hours.
Boats failing to finish within 1 hour after the second boat in each class sails the course and finishes will be scored Did Not Finish without a hearing. This changes RRS 35, A4 and A5.

(b) All Coastal courses(2 to 12 inclusive) – 5 hours.
Boats failing to finish within 1.5 hours after the second boat in each class sails the course and finishes will be scored Did Not Finish without a hearing. This changes RRS 35, A4 and A5.

(c) For the Windward/Leeward and Triangle courses,
– 2.5 hours.
Boats failing to finish within 1 hour after the second boat in each class sails the course and finishes will be scored Did Not Finish without a hearing. This changes RRS 35, A4 and A5.

(d) For Round The Island and West Coast courses,(21 to 25
inclusive) – 6.5 hours
Boats failing to finish within 2 hours after the second boat in each class sails the course and finishes will be scored Did Not Finish without a hearing. This changes RRS 35, A4 and A5.

15.4.
The race committee may, at its absolute discretion award finishing points (FPA) to the last few stragglers in a class. Boats may be given a notional finishing position and points one or more than the last placed boat to finish within the time limit. The abbreviation FPA will appear in the results when this has been done.

Boats who are informed of this decision shall immediately return to the start area, if there is a second race, or return ashore if that was their last race of the day.

15.5.
When no boats or less than 20% of a class finish within the required time limit, the race committee may use their discretion under SI15.4(FPA) and award scores to some or all of the remainder of the class. The race committee may use the relative finishing positions at previous marks. A boat scored FPA will not be scored better than a boat which finishes.

15.6.
Boats that have been awarded points in accordance with 15.4 shall not be eligible to receive a prize for that race.
This changes rule 35, A4 and A5

16. SAFETY REGULATIONS

16.1.
A boat that retires from a race shall notify the race committee as soon as possible. [NP]

16.2.
No anchor shall be carried forward of the stem or with any part of it outboard, except when anchoring. [NP]

17. PROTESTS AND REQUESTS FOR REDRESS

17.1.
Protest forms are available from the Jury Secretary at the RegattaOffice. Protests and requests for redress or reopening shall be delivered there within the appropriate time limit.

17.2.
For each class, the protest time limit is 60 minutes after the last boat in that class has finished the last race of the day, the race committee signals no more racing todayor from the time of the abandonment of the last race of the day for that class, whichever is later. This changes RRS 61.3 and 62.2.

17.3.
Rating protests and protests relating to alleged non-compliance with IRC, OMR or One-design rules:
(a) Shall be lodged within 24 hours of the reason for the protest becoming known to the protestor and,
(b) Not later than the end of protest time on Saturday 12th January.

17.4.
Notices will be posted within 30 minutes of the protest time limit to inform competitors of hearings in which they are parties or named as witnesses.
(a) If both parties to a protest are present and ready to proceed, the jury may be willing to hear a protest before the time limit expires.
(b) Hearings will be heard in the approximate order of receipt, in the Jury Room, located behind Charlie’s Place, at the times posted.

17.5.
Notices of protests by the race committee, technical committee or jury will be posted to inform boats under RRS 61.1(b)

17.6.
Sailing instructions marked [NP] shall not be subject to protest by a boat. This changes RRS 60.1(a).

17.7.
On the last scheduled day of racing a request for redress based on a protest committeedecision shall be delivered no later than 30 minutes after the decision was posted. This changes RRS 62.2.

17.8.
Decisions of the International Jury will be final as provided in RRS 70.5

17.9.
Results of protests will be posted on the Official RLIR Notice Board.
Results of Protests may also be posted on the regatta website (www.langkawiregatta.com).

18. CREW LIMITATIONS

18.1.
Substitution of competitors will be allowed subject to prior written approval of the race committee.

18.2.
Except as detailed below, there shall be no restrictions on crew numbers during the Regatta.

18.3.
A boat sailing as a one-design or racing with one-design rating certificate shall comply with her class crew limitations.

18.4.
Accredited journalists, photographers or cameramen who are not regular crew and are registered as official media may only join an individual boat for no more than one racing day.

18.5.
Accredited journalists, photographers or cameramen may join and/or leave a boat at any time during a race by any means so long as theirdoing so does not directly affect another competitor and they play no part in the racing of the boat. This changes RRS 47.2.

19. SCORING

19.1.
For all classes, a minimum of two completed races are required to constitute a series. If a race is cancelled or abandoned by the Race Committee, the above minimum may be adjusted accordingly.

19.2.
The maximum number of races for each class in a series will be 10.

19.3.
When fewer than 5 races have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores

19.4.
When 5 or more races have been completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores excluding her worst score.

19.5.
In the OMR rated classes, no owner requested alteration to the boats’ TCC will be permitted during the regatta except as a result of a rating protest, to correct rating office errors or to allow for the use of substitute equipment as a result of serious damage. However, the Race Committee may grant special dispensation for boats carrying media representatives for an individual race.

19.6.
To request correction of an alleged error in posted race or series results, a boat shall complete a scoring enquiry form available at the race office and submit to the Scoring Officer within the protest time limit of their class.

19.7.
Boats in the Club and Open/Cruising Multihull classes will be allocated a handicap by the Race Committee based on the principals of the RYA National Handicap for Cruisers, which is a performance handicap scheme. This handicap may be adjusted daily during the regatta. Calculation and adjustment of handicaps for these classes is not grounds for redress or protest. [NP]

20. EQUIPMENT AND MEASUREMENT CHECKS

20.1.
Officials from the technical committee may inspect boats at any time during the Regatta.

20.2.
A boat that is found to be in contravention of the safety regulations, IRC, OMR or One-design Class rules or fails to comply with any reasonable request of an official scrutineer may be protested by the technical committee.

21. OFFICIAL BOATS

21.1.
Mark boats and Committee Vessels, when on station, will fly a white regatta rectangular flag with the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club logo.

22. RADIO COMMUNICATION

22.1.
All boats shall carry an operational marine band VHF radio and monitor
the designated channels from 30 minutes before any scheduled start until
after finishing.

22.2
Except in an emergency, a boat shall not make or receive radio
transmissions while racing unless those transmissions are available to all
boats or specifically permitted by these sailing instructions.

22.3.
The following VHF channels will be used during the regatta:-
a) Channel 67 RLYC marina working channel
b) Channel 69 RLYC calling channel
c) Channel 71 Race channel for all classes

22.4.
The following communications may be made by the race committee using the
designated VHF Channel in addition to any Race Signals. This changes RRS 29,
32, 33, 41.

(a) Courses, including the bearing and distance to the first mark.
(b) Postponements and abandonments.
(c) Boats identified as OCS and general recalls.
(d) Changing courses or marks and identify marks
(e) Shortening the Course
(f) Time limits
(g) Safety
(h) Advise the approximate time of the warning start signal for an additional race.

23. PRIZES

CLASS TROPHIES AND PRIZES

The Prime Minister’s Challenge Trophy
Will be presented to the yacht with the lowest score for the series, competing in Racing Class and that yacht will be declared the overall winner of the The Prime Minister’s Challenge Trophy.

The Lada-IRC Challenge Trophy
Will be presented to the yacht with the lowest score for the series competing in IRC 1 class and that yacht will be declared the winner of the 2019 LADA IRC Challenge Trophy.

The Langkawi Sports Trophy
Will be presented to the yacht with the lowest score for the series competing in Sports Boat class and that yacht will be declared the winner of the 2019 Langkawi Sports Trophy.

The Malaysian Multihull Challenge Cup
Will be presented to the yacht with the lowest score for the series competing in Multihull class and that yacht will be declared the winner of the 2019 Malaysian Multihull Challenge Cup.

The RLYC Commodore’s Challenge Cup
Will be presented to the yacht with the lowest score for the series competing in Club Cruising class and that yacht will be declared the winner of the 2019 RLYC Commodore’s Challenge Cup.

DIVISION TROPHIES AND PRIZES
Where a class has been divided into divisions the RLIR Organizing Authority and its sponsors will award trophies, in each class and division as follows:

• First, Second and Third overall;
• First, Second and Third each day

TUNKU ABDULLAH SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
A special award in memory of the Founder Chairman and first Commodore Tunku Tan Sri Abdullah will be presented for the best team in sportsmanship, both on water and land in the 2019 Regatta.

24. TRASH DISPOSAL

24.1.
Trash should be taken ashore and may be placed in containers provided at the Marina.

25. RISK STATEMENT

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.” Sailing is by its nature an unpredictable sport and therefore inherently 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 and other officials and volunteers by the event 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.