2010 Sail Race Handbook

TABLE OF CONTENTS

RACING RULES Top

All Michigan City Sail Races will be conducted according to the 2009 - 2012 rules as published by US Sailing (as amended by this manual and instructions provided at skippers meetings). The current US SAILING rule book will form the basis for race management, starting and finishing procedures, sailing rules, and protests except where otherwise noted in these sailing instructions.

SKIPPERS MEETING Top

• For races started from Michigan City:

In making decisions on race abandonment or postponements, the safety of all racers will be considered. However, each skipper or owner must assume full responsibility for his/her yacht's safety.

Safety Equipment Top

MARKS CHART Top

 

Not to Scale-Not For Navigation.

 

Mark #	Latitude Degrees        Minutes		Longitude Degrees               Minutes
0	N 41	45.200	W 86	54.700
1	N 41	46.000	W 86	54.700
2	N 41	45.760	W 86	53.950
3	N 41	45.200	W 86	53.640
4	N 41	44.640	W 86	53.950
5	N 41	44.400	W 86	54.700
6	N 41	44.640	W 86	55.450
7	N 41	45.200	W 86	55.760
8	N 41	45.760	W 86	55.450
WH Crb	N41	39.465	W 87	7.366
WH 8	N41	40.667	W 87	4.751
WH 6	N41	41.661	W 87	2.428
WH 4	N41	42.617	W 87	0.019

DISTANCES BETWEEN MARKS Top

Note (Port courses shown. Starboard courses are a mirror image of port courses)

ANNOUNCING THE COURSE Top

The announcing of the course will come in four parts:

Part 1- The Pattern: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I or J

Part 2- The 1st Mark in the pattern: 1, 2 , 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8

Part 3- The turning direction:  Port or Starboard

Part 4-Number of times the pattern is sailed  (i.e. x1-sail the course once, x2-sail the course twice)

 

Example 1: C-4-Starboard-x1

Example 2: D-1-Port-x2

Port rounding races: the starting line will be a line defined by mark "0" on the Port end and a temporary mark dropped by the race committee on the Starboard end.

Starboard rounding races: the starting line will be a line defined by mark "0" on the Starboard end and a temporary mark dropped by the race committee on the Port end.

Boats shall keep clear of the starting area until their starting sequences have begun.  Only the Race Committee can lodge protests for this breach.  A scoring penalty of 20%, per rule 44.3 shall apply.  The starting area is defined as extending one-half the length of the starting line beyond each end of the starting line and one-half the length of the starting line behind and in front of the starting line. For Offshore races, the starting line may be moved closer to the finishing port location based on expected weather conditions. Once started an offshore race will not be stopped and restarted.

If the Race is finished at mark “O” and going the direction of the start, the Start line is also the finish line. All other cases:

·        If practical the race committee will set a temporary mark to define the finishing line.

·        If a boat approaches a finishing mark and a finishing line has not been set by race committee, the boat shall take it’s time when it crosses a line projected from the finishing mark 100 feet and perpendicular to a straight line course from the last mark.

·        For offshore races, an intermediate gate may be a part of the course.  This will be a provisional shortening point.  If instructed at the skippers meeting, boats shall record their time when passing through the gate.  The race may be shortened after some boats have already passed through the gate.  Such announcement will be made on VHF radio.

 

PHRF JAM 2: Ratings 180 and higher

PHRF JAM 1: Ratings < 180

PHRF Spin: All Ratings

(Note: Subject to change based on participation)

All races will be scored using the PHRF Time 0n Time rating system. The following is the TOT conversion formula that will be used to convert the standard PHRF TOD handicap into a TOT Time Correction Factor (TCF).  

650 TCF = ------------------               B + PHRF	B Factor	When used
	480	Heavy air or all off the wind
	550	Average conditions
	600	Very light air or all windward work

 

It is strongly suggested each boat produce a valid LMPHRF rating certificate. Any boat that does not have a valid LMPHRF rating certificate will be assigned a provisional rating by the Race Committee.  A small penalty may be built into provisional ratings.  LMPHRF and provisional ratings shall be final and not accepted as grounds for a protest of MCYC sponsored races.

SCORING Top

Series races will be scored on a low point basis with 1 point being awarded to the first place boats, 2 to 2nd, 3 for 3rd, and so on.  If a boat registers and is in the starting area, but did not start (DNS) or did not finish a race (DNF), it’s score for that race will be the number of  boats in the race (including itself) plus 1.  If a boat is disqualified (DSQ), it’s score for that race will be the number of boats in the race plus 1.  If a boat does not compete in a race, it’s score for that race will be the number of boats in the fleet for that series. 

The first abandoned race in a series counts as one drop. There will be a minimum of 1 drop in all series. (note: At least 2 races will be included in the offshore series)  No make up race for 1st abandoned race BOY series. No Make up races in other series.

DEFINED SERIES Top

There are 5 series that will be scored. They are the following

• Boat of Year Series - 13 races - drop 4 (Keep at least 1 Offshore Series race)
• Spring/Fall Series - 6 races - drop 2
• Summer Series - 6 races - drop 2
• Offshore Series - 4 races - drop 1
• Special Series - 4 races - drop 1

Note: Which races are in a series are defined in the schedule section 1.0.

COMMODORE’S CUP Top

MCYC DUNES CUP INVITATIONAL Top

Summary: Non-MCYC fleets will cruise to Michigan City on Friday, June 25th. The fleets will race around buoys on Saturday, June 26th. The Dunes Cup will be awarded to the winning yacht club. There will be a party at MCYC on the evening of June 26th. Refer to notice of race posted at MCYC website for more details.