RACING PROGRAM
Sailing Instructions l  Racing Policies l Racing Schedule l Club Schedule
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Note: THESE ARE NOT THE OFFICIAL SI'S.
Please see your printed sailing instructions and race schedule for "official" SI's.

1.  RULES

The racing will be governed by The Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) and the prescriptions of the United States Sailing Association, except as these are altered by Class or local Fleet rules and filed with the Race Committee Chair prior to the beginning of racing.

All WYC races (except the ADA Regatta) are classified as “Club events” as defined in 20.10(d) of Appendix 1.  Advertising on boats in WYC Club events is restricted to Category A.  This changes Appendix 1 of the RRS.

2.  ENTRIES

• 2.1.  Eligible boats may be entered by completing registration with the Wayzata Yacht Club and the appropriate fleet, and paying all required fees.
• 2.2.  Eligible boats shall have a "Family" or "Annual" member of Wayzata Yacht Club on board for each race.  This changes RRS 46 and RRS 75.1.
• 2.2.1. Instruction 2.2 to the contrary notwithstanding, a boat may substitute a WYC Crew member for the required Family or Annual Member in up to three races per season, provided that prior notice of the substitution is given to the Fleet Captain.
• 2.2.2. Each WYC Crew Member may substitute for a Family or Annual Member on board no more than three times per season.
• 2.3.  Eligibility requirements for boats are:
• 2.3.1. Each shall be a member of a WYC Recognized Class.  MORC Class boats shall be members of MORC International and MORC Station 40.  PHRF Class boats shall be members of PHRF-WYC.  J/22 Class boats shall be members of Fleet 1. J/24 Class boats shall be members of Fleet 1 and the J/24 Class Association.  Capri 25 Class boats shall be members of the Capri 25 WYC fleet.
• 2.3.2. Boats wishing to participate in special "Heavy Air Cup" races shall register with a PRO at the Race Committee Boat at least six days prior to participating.  Once registered, a boat may participate in "Heavy Air Cup" races for the remainder of that season.
• 2.3.3. All boats shall carry adequate liability insurance and provide proof of this insurance upon request.
• 2.3.4. All boats shall have required safety gear, proper government registration and shall display licenses, numbers, etc. as required by law.
• 2.3.5. All boats carrying 150% or larger genoas shall have them equipped with a visibility window.
• 2.3.6. From the time a boat sails near the racing area prior to racing, and while racing, and until a boat leaves the racing area after racing, transom mounted engines shall be stowed aboard or left mounted with the shaft in the vertical position.
• 2.3.7. All boats shall have a copy of the Racing Rules of Sailing including the prescriptions of the United States Sailing Association, or a facsimile that gives the same information.
• 2.3.8. A boat using a borrowed sail, or any sail not carrying her assigned sail number, shall report the proper sail number to the Committee Boat both prior to starting and after finishing each race where such a sail is used.  Failure to do so may result in disqualification without a hearing.  This changes RRS 63.1.

3.      NOTICES TO COMPETITORS
Notices to competitors will be posted on the Official Notice Board at WYC.

4.  CHANGES IN SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

• 4.1.  When feasible, any change in the Sailing Instructions will be posted at least two hours before the race on the day it takes effect, except that any change in the Schedule of Races will be posted at least two hours before the race that immediately precedes it on the schedule.
• 4.2.   Instruction 4.1 notwithstanding, the PRO may, after flying Code Flag 'L' (Come within Hail), alter these instructions by vocal hail.

5.      SIGNALS

•     5.1. Signals made ashore will be displayed at the WYC Flagpole or by the Committee Boat when at or near the WYC docks.
• 5.1.1. Flag 'AP' with two sound signals (one sound signal when lowered) means: The race is postponed.  The warning signal will be made not less than 45 minutes after AP is lowered.
• 5.1.2. Flag 'N' over flag 'C' means: Scheduled races are canceled.  A special Heavy Air Cup race will be sailed.
• 5.2.  Special signals made in the racing area:
• 5.2.1.    Flag 'N' over flag 'C' means: Scheduled races are canceled.  A special Heavy Air Cup race will be sailed.
• 5.2.2. Flag 'S' is the "Shorten Course" Signal.  When made
  • a) at the starting line: The time limit has been changed to 2 1/2 hours for all classes and a course with shorter than normal legs has been set.  No sound signal.
  • b) at a mark when a Race Committee Boat is displaying a blue flag: Some or all Classes not expecting to finish on this leg are finishing between the mark and the Committee boat.  Listen for vocal hail of affected Classes.  Repeated sound signals.  This changes RRS 32.2.
  • c) at any other time: Course has been shortened.  Listen for vocal hail of affected Classes and course.  Repeated sound signals.  This changes RRS 32.2.

6.  SCHEDULE OF RACES

• 6.1.  Races are scheduled as shown in "The Schedule of Races" attached.
• 6.2.  Instruction 6.1 notwithstanding, Heavy Air Cup races may be sailed solely at the PRO's discretion when he/she determines that the wind is above 26 knots.  Heavy Air Cup races shall start no later than 1½ hours after the previously scheduled (first) start.  All boats shall start together and be scored using the PHRF handicapping system.

7.  CLASS FLAGS

MORC and PHRF Class boats will display colored flags as follows:

MORC 1 = Orange. MORC 2 = Blue. MORC 3 = Black. PHRF 1 = Green. PHRF 2 = Yellow. PHRF 3 = White. 

Class flags shall be rectangular and a minimum of 11 inches on each side and shall be displayed immediately above a boat’s split backstay, or 8 feet above the cockpit deck when there is no split in the backstay.   When a boat has no backstay, the class flag shall be displayed 6 feet above the deck on a starboard shroud.  Failure to display a properly colored and properly located class flag may result in a disqualification by the Race Committee without a hearing.  This changes RRS 63.1.

8.  RACING AREAS
The racing area will be as shown in Illustration 'A' attached.

9.  THE COURSE 

The diagrams in Illustration 'A' and Illustration 'B' attached show the courses, including the approximate angles between legs, the order in which marks are to be passed, and the side on which each mark is to be left.  In buoy course racing, Mark 1 will be approximately 0.6 to 2 miles from the start line.

• 9.1.   Courses will be designated on a display board on the Committee Boat for each Class by letter and number.  Courses will be made up of combinations of 'T' for triangle, ‘W’ for Windward/Leeward, ‘G’ for Gold Cup or 'O' for Olympic.  Each of these makes up the elements of a complete course (see Illustration B).  If no number follows the letter, sail that element one time.  If a number follows a letter, sail that element of the course that number of times.
• 9.2.  In buoy course racing the Race Committee will set a leeward gate for boats sailing downwind from the windward mark (Mark 1).   The gate marks are labeled L1 and L2 in Illustration B.  L1 and L2 will be spaced approximately 150 feet apart and equidistant from the windward mark.  Boats sailing this leg of the course shall pass through the gate and have the option of leaving L1 to starboard or L2 to port.
• 9.3.  In buoy course racing the Race Committee will also set an additional leeward mark, labeled Mark “S” in Illustration “B”. This mark will be a round red or green sphere and positioned windward of the leeward gate. When a course contains a triangular element (e.g., “O” or “T” or  “G” courses or their variations), a boat shall always round the “S” mark, leaving it to port, after rounding Mark “2” (jibe mark).
• 9.4.  Exception:  when an “M” is used with (following) a “W” course designation a boat shall always use the “S” Mark as her leeward mark on her first downwind leg, leaving it to port.  On subsequent downwind legs (if any) a boat shall sail through the leeward gate, rounding either mark L1 or mark L2.
• 9.5.  Exception: when an “M” is used with (following) an “O” course designation, a boat shall always use the "S” mark as her leeward mark, leaving it to port.
• 9.6.  Exception:  when the Race Committee does not set the leeward gate and “S” mark, it shall so signify by placing a notation “NO GATE -- NO S MARK” at the top of the course board and/or shall display Code Flag “L” and hail this information.  When there is no gate and no “S” mark, boats shall use Mark 3 (designated as L2 in illustration B) as the leeward mark, leaving it to port.
• 9.7.  The approximate compass bearing from the starting line to Mark 1 will be displayed from the Committee Boat.

10.  MARKS

• 10.1. Marks will be spheres or tetrahedrons.  The Starting Mark will be the same as Mark L2.  When a leeward gate is set, the Starting Mark for the Capri 25 Fleet (only) will be Mark L1.  When a leeward gate is set, Mark L2 is not a mark of the course at the start line for the Capri 25 fleet.  An offset mark smaller than Mark 1 may be used near Mark 1 and is a mark of the Course to be passed after and on the same side as Mark 1.
• 10.2. Navigational buoys designate obstructions, are marks of the course and shall be passed on the side opposite the obstruction.  Note that “SLOW” buoys at channels are neither navigational buoys nor are they marks of the course.

11. THE START

• 11.1. Races will be started following the sequences printed on the front page of these Instructions with the signal (flag/shape colors) and the timing shown.  “: 00” time on the front page corresponds to the “Time” shown in the schedule of races, attached.  One sound signal will accompany each visual signal.  This changes RRS 26.
• 11.2.The starting penalty described in Rule 30.1 shall be in effect for all starts.  Code Flag 'I' will not be displayed.  This changes RRS 30. 1.
• 11.3. The starting line will be between the leading edge of an orange flag/shape on the Committee Boat and Mark L2, except that when a leeward gate is set the starting line for the Capri 25 fleet shall be between an orange flag/shape on the Committee Boat and Mark L1.  Any paraphernalia trailing from a Race Committee Boat shall be treated as though it were a part of the Committee Boat.  RRS 27.2 is changed to allow the PRO to adjust the starting line at any time.
• 11.4. Starting Zone.  The purpose of the starting zone is to provide safe passage for boats to pass the stern of the committee boat to get course information without restricting the actions of boats that are racing, and to provide a clear starting line for each fleet.
• 11.4.1. From the time the Committee Boat displays the line flag and until a boat's preparatory signal has been made a boat shall not sail on port tack closer than two of her overall lengths to the stern of the Committee Boat, nor motor against the flow of starboard tack boats closer than two of her overall lengths to the stern of the Committee Boat.  For a period of 1½ minutes before each start, all boats not starting shall keep clear of all boats that are starting in the starting zone, described as follows: the starting line plus 300 ft extensions in both directions and 300 ft to the pre-start side of the line formed by the starting line and both extensions.  Only the PRO may protest a boat for infringing these zone restrictions.  This does not preclude a boat's right to protest under RRS 22. 1.
• 11.4.2. A boat more than two minutes late to her start shall keep clear of all boats racing that are not more than two minutes late to their starts until she has started and cleared the starting line.
• 11.5. Recalls will be signaled as follows:
• 11.5.1.Individual recalls will be signaled in accordance with Rule 29.2 with one sound signal sounded for each boat recalled.  Every attempt will be made to vocally hail each boat being recalled.  This changes RRS 29.2. A boat that does not respond to her individual recall shall be scored OCS (on the course side) and shall be disqualified by the Race Committee without a hearing.
• 11.5.2.General recalls will be signaled in accordance with RRS 29.3. Two sound signals will be made upon signaling.  There will be no sound signal upon lowering.  The Class recalled shall always go to the end of the starting order and start 3 minutes after the last Class (or after a previously recalled Class) has started.  "First Substitute" will be flown no more than two minutes after the start signal.  This changes RRS 29.3.

12.  CANCELLATION

All scheduled races will be canceled or postponed when the sustained gusts of wind are above 26 knots (approximately 30 mph).  Wind speed will be as measured by the anemometer on Jurisprudence or as determined by the PRO.

13.  CHANGE OF COURSE AFTER THE START

A change of the direction of a leg of the course after the start shall be signaled before the leading boat has begun the leg, although the new mark may not yet be in position.  The signal boat may display a large red flag when the new mark is (or will be) positioned left of the original mark’s position, or a large green flag when the new mark is (or will be) right of the original mark’s position.  In this context, left and right are as viewed from the mark that begins the re-directed leg.  Any mark to be rounded after rounding the new mark may be relocated to maintain the original course configuration. This changes RRS 33.

14.   THE FINISH                                                            

• 14.1   The finish line will be between a staff displaying a blue flag/shape on a Race Committee Boat and the nearby mark of the course.  When there is a leeward finish in races where gates are used, the line shall be between the blue flag/shape and the nearest gate mark.  The gate mark farthest from the Race Committee Boat is not a mark of the course for boats finishing to leeward.
• 14.2     A boat still racing (needing additional legs) that is inadvertently signaled as finishing by the Race Committee boat shall continue to race and shall notify the Race Committee after finishing. There shall be no redress under 62.1(a) given a boat that fails to sail the course due to an inadvertent finishing signal.  This changes RRS 62.1(a).

15. TIME LIMIT

The time limit will be 3 hours for all Classes and all races, except in the Commodore Cup races and the Burton Cup, which have a 5 hour time limit.  In the event of light wind, the PRO may choose before the start to shorten the time limit to 2½ hours, and so signal by raising Code Flag 'S'.  Boats failing to finish within 60 minutes after the first boat in their class finishes or within the time limit, whichever is later, or by sunset, will be scored Did Not Finish.  Timing of sunset shall be as determined by the Race Committee’s GPS for the longitude of Wayzata, Minnesota. This changes RRS 35.

16.  PROTESTS AND ARBITRATION

• 16.1 INITIAL REQUIREMENTS:
• 16.1.1    Rule 61.1(a) is changed to add that a boat intending to protest another boat over an incident she was involved in or saw on the course shall, as soon as possible after finishing or retiring, inform the finish line Race Committee Boat of her intent to protest and the sail number(s) of the boat(s) being protested.  Except when damage or medical emergency forces a boat to retire, a protest is invalid when this requirement is not met and the Protest Committee shall refuse to hear the protest under RRS 63.5.
• 16.1.2 Protests shall be written on U.S. Sailing protest forms available at WYC and lodged there in the box provided.  Alternately, the protestor may give the protest form to the arbitrator (see Instruction 16.2) within the time limit.  Lacking a proper protest form, a protesting boat shall provide in writing the information required under RRS 61.2.
• 16.1.3 The time limit for filing protests shall be one hour after the docking of the RC Boat after the last race of the day. 
• 16.2  ARBITRATION.
• 16.2.1 For protests involving an alleged breach of a rule of Part 2 of the RRS, a short arbitration hearing will be held immediately after the race in which the incident occurred.  When more than 2 boats are involved in the same alleged incident, the matter may be referred directly to the protest committee without arbitration.
• 16.2.2 After a written protest form is properly lodged, one representative from each boat will meet with the arbitrator unless the protestor has good reason to request the protest be withdrawn and the arbitrator allows the protest to be withdrawn.  No witnesses will be allowed.
• 16.2.3 Both parties to an arbitration must accept the arbitrator’s opinion, else the matter will be referred to the protest committee.  A boat that accepts the arbitrator’s opinion that she broke a rule of Part 2 of the RRS shall receive a penalty of 2 points or points equal to 20% of the number of boats finishing that race, whichever is greater, except that no penalty score shall be worse than points for DNF. The acceptance of an arbitration penalty is voluntary and cannot be grounds for redress or be appealed.
• 16.3  PROTEST COMMITTEE HEARING SCHEDULE- Protests will generally be heard immediately after the race on the next Sunday after the arbitration hearing.  When there is no Sunday race, or other unusual circumstance, a suitable schedule will be set. (In regattas, arbitration/protest hearings are same day).  Hearings may be changed to a different day by the Protest Committee or at the reasonable request from a party to the protest.
• 16.4  POSTINGS: The time and place of protest hearings will be posted on the Official Notice Board      at WYC.
• 16.5  FAILURE TO APPEAR: if a party fails to make reasonable arrangements to meet with the arbitrator, or refuses to meet an arbitrator, the matter shall be referred to the protest committee.  If a party fails to come to a protest hearing, the Protest Committee may decide the protest in the absence of the party.

17.  SCORING

• 17.1. The Low Point scoring system described in RRS A4.1 will be used.
• 17.2. As provided in RRS A2 a boat may be allowed to discard their worst score(s) in a series.  The table below provides the number of races to be counted based on the number of races completed.

• 17.3 Regattas, as well as Series, shall be scored in accordance with RRS A9.  This changes RRS A4.2 and RRS A9.  For purposes of RRS A9 only, the “number of boats entered” shall be total number of boats in a class that came to at least one race of that regatta or series.
• 17.4 A boat (a) that comes to the starting area intending to race, but does not start (e.g., due to a breakdown); or (b) that starts, but does not finish; or (c) retires under RRS 44.1 or other reason--- may report the facts to her Fleet Captain prior to 6:00 PM of the day following the day of race. Failure to do so will result in a score of DNC (did not come).  Upon verifying a timely report a fleet captain shall change the boat’s scoring from DNC to DNS, DNF or W/D.

18.  HAUL OUT RESTRICTIONS - None.

19.  COMMUNICATIONS
A boat shall neither make nor receive VHF radio transmissions while racing, except that a boat may receive VHF weather service transmissions.   Radio communications of an emergency nature are permitted.  Members of the race committee may contact the committee boat at any time.  Prior to racing there may be periodic hails from the Race Committee on VHF Channel 68.

20.  PRIZES

• 20.1           Trophy prizes will be awarded for each Series and Cup Race based on the average number of competitors in each.  Average is mathematical with 0.50 rounded up and 0.49 rounded down.  One prize for 4 or fewer average number of competitors; two prizes for 5 or 6; three prizes for 7 through 11; four prizes for 12 through 15; or five prizes for 16 or more average number of competitors.
• 20.2           Participation prizes will be awarded to each boat that earns a trophy, or that finishes any 25 races in the Series/Cup Races listed in Instruction 20.4, plus the Big Island Series, Women’s Series/Races, all J/22 Fleet #1 Championship Series races, the IceBreaker Regatta, the Dave Cool Memorial Regatta, the U-Gotta Regatta and other Regattas for WYC Class boats WYC may conduct on Lake Minnetonka.  Alternately, a participation prize will be awarded to each boat that finishes the minimum number of counted races of her Class/Division in the Championship Series or the Sunset Series as determined by the completed/counted chart in Instruction 17.2.
• 20.3    A near worthless trophy, with value nowhere near the wear and tear on sails, will be awarded to each winner of a Heavy Air Cup race.  Additional places may be awarded at the discretion of the Trophy Chairman.
• 20.4    The Boat of the Year Trophy will be awarded to the boat with the most B-O-Y points for first place finishes in the following Series and Cup Races: A-B-C-G-T-M-ADA & Fall Regattas-Burton-Commodore-Frostbite. 

B-O-Y Points will be scored to each 1st Place boat in each qualified race on the following basis: 4 points for Fleet participation of 10 or more boats; 3.9 for 9 boats; 3.7 for 8 boats; 3 points for 6 or 7 boats; 2.5 points for 5 boats; 1.9 for 4 boats; 1.2 for 3boats; 0.4 for 2 boats, and no points for 1 boat.

Special Sailing Instruction “A”

Foul Language is prohibited during WYC Races.  Any boat emitting Foul Language loud enough to be heard by another person, regardless at whom the Foul Language was directed, shall be subject to protest, a special arbitration hearing and possible penalties.  Any boat may protest another boat from which it heard foul language.  On the first offense in arbitration, the penalty is a WARNING except when the incident is considered by the arbitrator to be egregious.  Egregious incidences may be immediately referred to the full protest committee for a hearing under RRS 2 or RRS 69 with all penalties available.  Upon a second offense an arbitrator may rule a 20% penalty (minimum of a 2 places).  If a second incident is deemed serious, the arbitrator may rule a DSQ.  If the penalized boat does not accept the Arbitrator’s ruling, the incident shall be referred to the Protest Committee for a hearing.  An egregious incident, or subsequent incidents by the same boat, will be subject to immediate referral to the Protest Committee without arbitration.  Repeated incidents may be judged to be a gross breach of good manners and sportsmanship under RRS 69.  When a boat declines to attend the arbitration hearing, the incident shall be referred to the Protest Committee.  A protest for foul language shall cite this Sailing Instruction (Special SI “A”) as the alleged rule infringed on the Protest Form.  When an incident is referred to the Protest Committee, the protestor shall change the rule infringed to read RRS 2.

SIGNALS

	Answering Pennant – Postponement Signal a)  When given ashore, no race will be started before 45 minutes after the flag is lowered.  2 sound signals when raised, one sound signal when lowered. b)  When given on the water, races not started are postponed.  Warning signal will be made after AP is lowered.  Sounds signals as above. RED/WHITE
	C  A mark of the course has been moved.  An accompanying Green flag says the new mark is right of the original mark’s position, an accompanying Red flag says the new mark is left of the original mark’s position.  Repetitive sound signals. BLUE/WHITE/RED/WHITE/BLUE
	L  a)  When displayed ashore: a notice to competitors has been posted on the notice board.  No sounds ashore, nor on the water. b)  When display on the water:  “Come within hail” or “Follow me.” YELLOW/BLACK
	N OVER  A   Abandonment signal.  “All races are abandoned for the day.” 3 sound signals. BLUE/WHITE over  WHITE/BLUE
	AP OVER  C   All scheduled races are cancelled.  A special “Heavy Air Cup” race will be held.  All boats start together.  Boats must be registered with the PRO a minimum of six days prior to participation.  3 sound signals.     RED/WHITE over BLUE/WHITE/RED/WHITE/BLUE
	S   Shorten Course: a)       Before start sequence: “Time limit has been shortened to 2½ hours, shorter legs.”  2 sound signals before initial warning signal. b)       During race: “ At least one Class has its course shortened to finish between RC boat and mark of the course.”  Repeated hails. WHITE/BLUE
	X   Individual Recall:   Broken out immediately after the start signal and accompanied by one sound signal for each boat being recalled. The Race Committee will attempt to hail each boat being recalled.  Flag sispalyed until all boats are on pre-start side of the line, or for 2 minutes, whichever is earlier. WHITE/BLUE
	FIRST SUBSTITUTE – GENERAL RECALL:   The class is recalled for a new start. The class recalled will go to the end of the starting order and start 3 minutes after the last class has started.  2 sound signals.  The signal will be lowered one  minute before the start of the next class. YELLOW/BLUE