The Contenders will be joining with Scottish Skiff Championships to be held at Largs this weekend (30 Sept/1Oct)

Largs is situated on the west coast of Scotland, due west  of Glasgow via the M8.

Club website is www.largssc.co.uk/

Contact Neil Wilson for more info on "Wilson, Neil" < This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it >

The weather forecast is superb: 10-13kts easterly !

The SI's are attached below: 

1           RULES

1.1      The regatta is organized by Largs Sailing Club and will be governed by the rules as defined in the Racing Rules of Sailing 2005-2008, the appropriate Class Rules and the host clubs supplementary Sailing Instructions.  In the event of any conflict, these sailing instructions shall prevail.

1.2      The regatta shall have one start for all skiff classes, another for Contenders and results will be calculated using average laps and Portsmouth Yardstick ratings. Boats shall have a valid Class Certificate as appropriate to the class in which they race.

1.3      The regatta will be open to competitors sailing boats that comply with the following definitions:

·   Asymmetric Skiff – Monohull Asymmetric with a PY of 930 or less.

·   Single Sail Skiff – Monohull single sailed boats with a PY of 990 or less.

·   Contender Class Dinghy

1.4      The organisers reserve the right to refuse entry and/or to require the boat to complete further undertakings, measurement or declarations before accepting any entry.

1.5      The Event is designated a Category “C” event as defined in the ISAF Regulation 20 “Advertising Code.”

1.6      Effective personal buoyancy must be worn by competitors at all times whilst afloat. This alters Rule 40.

1.7      Skiff Classes Only: Touching a mark (other than a starting or finishing line mark when used for that purpose only) with any part of the boat or crew shall not constitute an infringement of the Rules and does not require a 360-degree turn. Manhandling a mark which results in an advantage is not permitted and a boat so doing shall promptly retire. If a boat touches a start or finish mark they shall complete a 360-degree turn. This alters Rule 31.

2           NOTICES TO COMPETITORS

2.1            Notices to competitors will be posted on the official Regatta Notice board situated in the lower corridor of Largs SC.

2.2            The Race Office will be situated in the lower corridor of Largs SC.

3           CHANGES IN SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

3.1      Any change(s) to the sailing instructions will be posted not less than one hour before the first start on the day it will take effect.  If it is necessary to make a late change in the sailing instructions, Flag L will be flown from the Committee Vessel, competitors will be given at least 30 minutes notice before the start of the race.  In each case it will be the responsibility of the helm to acquaint them self with the change.

4           SIGNALS MADE ASHORE

4.1      Signals ashore will be made form the flagpole located on the northwest corner of the Largs SC balcony.

5           SCHEDULE OF RACES

5.1      The competitors briefing will take place at 1130hrs on Saturday 30/09/06 in Largs Sailing Club

5.2      No warning signal will be made after 1700hrs on Saturday and 1500hrs on Sunday.

6           RACING AREA

6.1      The racing area will be in the Largs Channel or to the North of Great Cumbrae.

6.2      If Race Area A is to be used the flagpole on the
Largs SC balcony will fly a yellow flag.

6.3      If Race Area B is to be used the flagpole on the
Largs SC balcony will fly a white flag

7           COURSES   

The course configurations are shown in Appendix A.

8           MARKS

Course marks will be orange “pillar” type inflatable race marks. The spreader mark and start line inner distance mark (if used) will be yellow cylindrical inflatable marks.

9           THE START

9.1      STARTING SYSTEM. Races will be started using RRS 26, with the warning signal given 5 minutes before the starting signal.

9.2      STARTING LINE. The starting line will be between the mast displaying an orange flag on the Committee Vessel and an inflatable race mark. An inner distance mark may be laid approximately on the line. No boat may pass between this mark and the Committee Vessel.

10        CHANGE OF COURSE AFTER THE START

A change of course after the start will be signaled by flying flag C and the new bearing to the windward mark before the leading boat has begun the leg, although the new mark may not then be in position. Any mark to be rounded after rounding the new mark may be relocated to maintain the original course configuration.

11        FINISHING PROCEEDURE & SHORTENED COURSE

11.1   Shortly before the finish, flag S will be displayed from the committee boat along with two sound signals. Boats will finish the race when they next pass through the finish line at the end of their current lap. Finishing positions will take account of the number of laps actually sailed, and will be calculated on an ‘average lap time’ basis.

11.2   Retrospective shortened course: If conditions dictate the race committee may, at their discretion, take the results of a race from the times recorded for a previous round.

12        FINISHING LINE

The finishing line will be between the two orange inflatable marks that constitute the leeward gate.

13        TIME LIMIT

The target time for each race will be 40 minutes duration. Boats failing to finish within 20 minutes after the first boat finishes will be scored "DNF".

14        PROTESTS

14.1   Protest forms are available at the race office. Protests shall be delivered there within the protest time limit. 

14.2   The protest time limit is 60 minutes after the last boat has finished the last race of the day.

14.3   Notices will be posted within 30 minutes of the expiry of the protest time limit to inform competitors of hearings in which they are parties or named as witnesses. Hearings will take place in the jury room located on the first floor of Largs SC.

14.4  Re-opening of a Protest Hearing “On the last day of racing, a party to the hearing may ask for a reopening no later than 30 minutes after being informed of the decision. This changes RRS 66.

15        SCORING

15.1  The event will be scored using the Low Points System in RRS Appendix A.  Two races shall be completed to constitute a valid series.  Each boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores, with her worst score discarded if five or more races have been completed.  If four or less races are sailed all results will count.

16        PRIZES

The prize giving will take place, in Largs SC, as soon as possible after the completion of racing on Sunday.

17        LOCAL VARIATIONS

Attention is drawn to Rules 9, 10 and 18 of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea.  When in circumstances governed by these Rules, any boat which is unable, through lack of wind or any other cause, to sail clear of a large power driven vessel, shall start her engine and/or paddle in order to get clear and shall notify the Race Committee who will take whatever action they deem necessary.

18        TALLY SYSTEM

18.1     A tally system will be used during the weekend. The Tally Board will normally be at the top of the launch ramp.  Competitors will be given a tally number at registration, which is their tally number on the board.  When ashore the tally should be on the Tally Board.

19        DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY

An owner/skipper responsible for a boat is entirely responsible for her safety, whether afloat or ashore, and nothing, whether in the Notice of Race or Sailing Instructions or anywhere else, reduces this responsibility.

It is for the owner/skipper to decide whether the boat is fit to sail in the conditions in which she will find herself. By launching or going to sea, the owner/skipper confirms that the boat is fit for those conditions and her crew is competent to sail and compete in them.

Nothing done by the organisers can reduce the responsibility of the owner/skipper nor will it make the organisers responsible for any loss, damage, death or personal injury, however it may have occurred, as a result of the boat taking part in the racing. The organisers encompass everyone helping to run the race and the event, and include the organising authority, the race committee, the race officer, safety boats and beachmasters.

The provision of safety boats does not relieve the owner/skipper of his/her responsibilities.

The owner/skipper is responsible for ensuring that the 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 safety equipment is properly maintained, stowed and in date and that the crew know how to use it.

Competitors should be aware and accept that relevant personal details will be held as a computer record, and pictures taken at the event may be used in the yachting press and the Scottish Skiff Website.

20        INSURANCE

The boat is required to hold adequate insurance and in particular to hold insurance against third party claims in the sum of at least £2,000,000.