2013 Wednesday Night Racing

March 13, 2013 - October 30, 2013

NEW ORLEANS YACHT CLUB

NOTICE OF REGATTA AND SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

1. Organizing Authority
   • New Orleans Yacht Club, 403 N Roadway Drive, New Orleans, LA 70124.
   • Co-Organizers: Lake Pontchartrain Women's Sailing Association (Series 3), Corinthian Sailing Association (Series 6)
2. Crew Table
   • The Lake Pontchartrain Women’s Sailing Association will be hosting a crew table on most Wednesdays as a service to the public and the sailing community.
   • All competitors are strongly encouraged to make one or more spots available for guests of the community. All persons looking to crew or willing to accept crew should speak with the LPWSA representative.
3. Rules The regatta will be governed by the rules as defined in the 2013-2016 Racing Rules of Sailing, including US Sailing prescriptions, the Gulf Yachting Association PHRF bylaws and class rules as implemented through the GYA PHRF bylaws, this notice, and any posted notice to competitors.
4. Eligibility
   1. This regatta is open to all boats. It is the intention of the organizer(s) to allow any sailboat to race, including X-PHRF boats and multi-hulls not eligible for a PHRF certificate..
   2. Those eligible for a GYA PHRF, S-PHRF, or X-PHRF certificate are required to apply for and maintain current certification. The race committee will assign a provisional rating for boats without a current certificate; however a (6) six second penalty will be imposed on provisional ratings after two weeks unless there are extenuating circumstances.
   3. For boats which are not eligible for a GYA PHRF rating, the race committee may assign a permanent rating using Portsmouth ratings or other available data.
   4. Provisional ratings under this section may not be protested. A permanent rating may be appealed to the NOYC Race Chairman, and using US Sailing appeals procedures if desired.
5. Advertising ISAF Regulation 20.5.3 is changed to continue the grandfathering policy which expired December 31, 2012.
6. Entry Fee There is no entry fee.
7. Schedule of Events

   Date	Series	Race	Host	Warning Signal
   ¹These are not sponsored or run by NOYC. Please see the SYC / CSA race instructions.
   ²This make-up race may be used for either Series 1 or 2. Please check the bulletin board and NOYC's website before the race.
   3/13	WNR 1	1	NOYC	18:30
   3/20	WNR 1	2	NOYC	18:30
   3/27	WNR 1	3	NOYC	18:30
   4/3	WNR 1	4	NOYC	18:30
   4/10	WNR 1	5	NOYC	18:30
   4/17	WNR 2¹	1	SYC / CSA¹	19:00¹
   4/24	WNR 2¹	2	SYC / CSA¹	19:00¹
   5/1	WNR 2¹	3	SYC / CSA¹	19:00¹
   5/8	WNR 2¹	4	SYC / CSA¹	19:00¹
   5/15	WNR 2¹	5	SYC / CSA¹	19:00¹
   5/22	WNR Make-up / Champagne²		NOYC²	19:00²
   5/29	WNR 3	1	NOYC / LPWSA	19:00
   6/5	WNR 3	2	NOYC / LPWSA	19:00
   6/12	WNR 3	3	NOYC / LPWSA	19:00
   6/19	WNR 3	4	NOYC / LPWSA	19:00
   6/26	WNR 3	5	NOYC / LPWSA	19:00
   7/3	WNR Make-up / Champagne		NOYC	19:00
   7/10	WNR 4	1	NOYC	19:00
   7/17	WNR 4	2	NOYC	19:00
   7/24	WNR 4	3	NOYC	19:00
   7/31	WNR 4	4	NOYC	19:00
   8/7	WNR 4	5	NOYC	19:00
   8/14	WNR Make-up / Champagne		NOYC	19:00
   8/21	WNR 5	1	NOYC	19:00
   8/28	WNR 5	2	NOYC	19:00
   9/4	WNR 5	3	NOYC	19:00
   9/11	WNR 5	4	NOYC	19:00
   9/18	WNR 5	5	NOYC	19:00
   9/25	WNR 6	1	NOYC / CSA	18:30
   10/2	WNR 6	2	NOYC / CSA	18:30
   10/9	WNR 6	3	NOYC / CSA	18:30
   10/16	WNR 6	4	NOYC / CSA	18:30
   10/23	WNR 6	5	NOYC / CSA	18:30
   10/30	WNR Make-up / Champagne		NOYC	18:30

8. Registration Registration is required for each race and shall include the Skipper/ Owner name, sail number, rating, boat name, boat type, and division (spinnaker, non-spinnaker). The preferred method of registration is online at noyc.org. Registration may also be completed at the NOYC bar, or via phone at (504) 283-2581. All registrations must be completed forty-five (45) minutes prior to the first warning signal.
9. Notices and Changes in Sailing Instructions Notices to competitors will be posted on the official notice board near the north (rear) entrance to NOYC. Any changes to the sailing instructions will be posted no later than 3:00pm on race day, or may be given on the water.
10. Signals Made Ashore Signals made ashore shall be displayed on the NOYC flag pole.
11. Safety Each competitor is responsible for his/her own safety. Moreover, each skipper is responsible for the safety of the crew and for the seaworthiness of his boat.
    1. USCG approved life jackets shall be properly worn by persons on all single-handed boats from the time they leave the dock until return to the dock. On all other boats, it is the responsibility of the skipper and crew to determine when life jackets will be worn. New Orleans Yacht Club does not assume this responsibility and no signals governing the wearing of life jackets or other such devices will be made. This changes rule 40.
    2. All boats shall have functional navigation (running) lights. Boats 7 meters or less in length shall have lights which meet the requirements for sailboats which are 8 meters in length. Navigation lights shall be used as required by law. This changes rule 40.
    3. All boats shall carry a functional VHF and monitor channel 69. The Race Committee will monitor channel 69. This changes rule 40.
    4. A boat withdrawing from the race shall notify the Race Committee, as soon as possible when doing so. Failure to do so may result in being scored DSQ for the entire series. This also applies to a boat that has registered to race and does not race. This changes rule 40 and A5.
12. Non-Spinnaker Sail Restrictions Non-spinnaker boats may not carry a spinnaker as defined by RRS 50.4 or in Appendix B of the GYA PHRF Bylaws. Whisker poles are to be no longer than the yacht's spinnaker pole length (SPL), which is usually equal to the "J" measurement and found on the PHRF certificate. Whisker poles must follow RRS Rule 50.2.
13. Classes and Class Flags
    1. Class flags will be the standard NOYC PHRF Flags as displayed on the official notice board and may be posted to the noyc.org website. In the case of loss or damage, a numeral pennant may be used as a replacement for a missing class flag.
    2. Classes and class breaks will be posted on the official notice board no later than 5:00pm on the day of the first race of a series, and will not change during a series.
    3. The starting order of classes may be changed at the discretion of the race committee.
    4. Multi-hull boats will start with their applicable class according to class breaks and spinnaker or non-spinnaker.
14. Course
    1. The course shall use fixed marks. The Race Committee will post the course on the Committee Boat. See noyc.org/images/chart.pdf NOYC website for the fixed mark names, their position, bearing and distances. If the course is includes "J-H-A" or "J-H-B", for that portion of the course boats shall round the offset after rounding the "J" mark, and if the course is not shortened at "H", boats may pass "H" on either side. If the "J" mark is used in a triangle different course, the offset is not part of the course. If "J" mark or its offset are missing, round the remaining mark.
    2. If a course designation is followed by a numeral, the course shall be sailed as laps equal to the numeral. The course may be changed or shortened at any mark of the course. Distances are not subject to protest.
    3. All mark roundings of the course shall be to port. If the course to be sailed requires that the marks to be rounded to starboard, the Race Committee shall indicate such by displaying a green flag prior to the Warning Signal for each class to start.
15. Start The starting line will be between an orange line flag on the Race Committee boat and the adjacent mark. The Race Committee may use a temporary inflatable orange or yellow mark in lieu of a missing fixed mark for the start.
16. Recalls RRS Rule 29.2 (Individual) is changed to include that the race committee may also attempt to hail the sail numbers of recalled boats, and may further attempt to hail each boat after it has returned to the pre-start side of the starting line. Failure to hear a hail is not grounds for protest.
17. Finish
    1. The finish line will be between an orange line flag on the Race Committee boat and the adjacent mark. The Race Committee may use a temporary inflatable orange or yellow mark in lieu of a missing fixed mark for the finish.
    2. In the absence of the Race Committee at the finish, a boat shall take her own time by passing as close as practical to the finish mark of the course and report it to the Race Committee as soon as possible, providing race time has yet to expire.
    3. Pending USCG approval, a white 60 second strobe may be used when the committee boat is on station to finish boats.
18. Time Limit time limit for each class is two and one-half (2½) hours. Boats failing to finish within 30 minutes after the first boat in her class finishes, or after the time limit, whichever is sooner, will be scored TLE (Time Limit Expired) and will be assigned points equal to the number of boats finishing within the time limit plus two points. Boats to be scored TLE will be hailed by the Race Committee on VHF 69 and must respond to be scored. Boats that have left the course and improperly claim TLE will be scored DSQ for the entire series. This changes rules 35, A4.1, A4.2, and A5.
19. Protests and Requests for Redress
    1. This regatta will be sailed using the US Sailing Prescriptions APPENDIX T - ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURES FOR DISPUTE RESOLUTION. Sections A, B, and C shall apply.
    2. Protests maybe filed with the PRO, scorer, or at the bar no later than forty-five minutes (45) after the Race Committee Boat docks.
    3. RRS T4.6 is deleted
20. Scoring - Individual Races and Series Scoring will be according to Appendix A using the GYA administered PHRF handicapping system. One race constitutes a series. If four (4) or more races are scored, there will be one score excluded as per Rule A2.
21. Scoring - Boat of the Year The NOYC Twilight Boat of the Year perpetual trophy shall be awarded using a modified High-Point Percentage Scoring System, an alternative scoring method for scoring long series. This system is promulgated by US Sailing, and more information may be found at their website.
    1. Races to Count and Minimum Required All races sailed under this notice and these instructions count towards Boat of the Year – including “champagne” races. To qualify for inclusion in the standings a boat shall compete in (i.e., come to the starting area for) at least 80 percent of the races completed (rounded down).
    2. Race Scores Define 'N' to be the number of boats that compete in a particular class in a particular race. Each boat finishing that race and not thereafter retiring or being disqualified will be scored as follows:

       Finishing Place	Score
       First	N
       Second	N-1
       Third	N-2
       Fourth	N-3
       Each place thereafter	Subtract 1 point

       All other boats that compete in that race, including any that finish and thereafter retire or are disqualified will score 0 points. Boats that do not compete will not be scored (DNC).
    3. Special Allowances
       1. Coastal Series - Boats which participate in the summer coastal series (New Orleans to Gulfport, Gulfport to Pensacola, and Challenge Cup) may reduce their required number of races by one plus the number of coastal races in which they competed.
       2. Race Committee - Boats which serve as Race Committee for an entire series and do not race, will receive a score of "N" for each race in the series. Boats which serve as race committee for a Champagne race will receive a score of "N" for that race. In either case, N will be equal to the number of boats which competed, not including the race committee. A boat may receive this credit for a maximum of five (5) races.
    4. Boat of the Year Scores
       1. The BOTY score for each boat will be a percentage calculated as follows: divide the sum of her race scores by the sum of the points she would have scored if she had placed first in every race in which she competed; multiply the result by 100 and round to the nearest tenth.
       2. To the extent that a boat competes in more races than the minimum to be scored, each race competed in beyond the minimum shall allow for a competitor to exclude one race from their boat of the year score calculations.
    5. Ties and Other Rules Race ties will be handled using rule A7. Rules A1, A3, A5, A6, A10 and A11 also apply. In the case of a tie in the Boat of the Year standings, all boats with the same score shall share in the Boat of the Year award.
22. PrizesPrizes will be awarded in each class for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each race and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd overall in a series. Boat of the Year will be awarded to the person with the highest percentage score as calculated using these instructions.
23. Contacts

    Regatta Chair: Jay Smith

    NOYC: (504) 283-2581

Amendment 1: 7/23/2013 changed section 14.1.