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Sailing Instructions (WHSC)

 

 

Welsh Harp Sailing Club: Club Racing

Sailing Instructions 2025

 

 

 

  

1. RULES

1.1 The Organising Authority shall be the Welsh Harp Sailing Club (WHSC)

1.2 The Racing will be governed by the rules as defined in

The Racing Rules of Sailing, these Sailing Instructions and the Notice of Race.

2. CHANGES TO SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

2.1 Any changes to the Sailing Instructions will be communicated by a briefing before that day’s racing or via the NOR.

3. Communications with COMPETITORS

3.1 Notices to competitors may be communicated by a briefing before each day’s racing, via WhatsApp, email or on the Google calendar.

4. Code of Conduct

4.1 Competitors shall comply with reasonable requests from the Race Officer and Safety Boat crews.

5. Signals made Ashore

5.1 Signals made ashore will be displayed from a prominent position near the WHSC Clubhouse.

6. SCHEDULE OF RACES

6.1 The Notice of Race will be published by the club in advance of each series. This will include the proposed schedule of races for all club racing including:

    • The Saturday Afternoon Racing Series throughout the year.

    • The Tuesday Evening Racing Series during the Spring and Summer.

    • The Commodore’s Cup and other one-off club races.

6.2 The Notice of Race will include the starting and ending dates of Series, the expected Start Times, the expected number of Races and the race designations “A”/“B” for GP14

7. CLASS FLAGS

7.1. The following are the eligible Classes, and the Class flags which will be used:

    • GP14 - White and blue pendant (international flag “A”)

    • Laser/ILCA 7 and Laser Radial/ILCA 6 - Yellow and blue check (international flag “L”)

    • Cadet – Blue, red and white stripes (international flag “C”)

7.2 Should additional Class(es) join the Club Racing the Race Officer shall communicate the flag(s) that will be used in each case.

8. Racing Area

8.1 The racing area is the Welsh Harp. Appendix A.1 shows the normal location of the buoys within the racing area.

9. THE COURSES

9.1 No later than the warning signal, the committee boat will display the course and the number of laps.

10. MARKS

10.1 Course marks will be spherical red buoys with the numbers “1”, “2”, “3” …to ”8”.

10.2 The starting / finishing mark will be a white buoy with the word “PIN”

10.3 The buoys may be moved from their normal location prior to the preparatory signal.

10.4 No later than the preparatory signal, the Race Officer may move the starting marks.

10.5 The Race Officer has the option to introduce additional “Special” marks into the course. If so, then they shall be clearly indicated by the Race Officer.

11. OBSTRUCTIONS

11.1 A series of blue and coloured buoys mark the extent of an underwater hazard protruding from the South Shore in the region of racing mark 6

11.2 Boats shall not pass between the Yellow Boom and the Dam.

12. The Start

12.1 Races will be started by using RRS 26, as follows:

Minutes before start

Visual Signal

Sound signal

Means

5

Class flag

One

Warning signal

4

P, I, Z, Z with I, or black flag

One

Preparatory signal

1

Preparatory flag removed

One long

One minute

0

Class flag removed

One

Starting signal

12.2 If two or more Lasers/ILCAs are racing they will have a separate start, starting first. The starting signal for the Laser/ILCA fleets will be the warning signal for the GP14 fleet.

12.3 The starting line will be between a staff, normally displaying an orange flag, on the Committee Boat and the course side of the starting mark.

13. Change of the Next Leg of the Course

13.1 To change the next leg of the course, the race committee may move the original mark or the finishing line to a new position. They will display the flag “C” in order to indicate this.

14. THE FINISH

14.1 The finishing line will be between a staff, normally displaying a blue flag, on the Committee Boat and the course side of the finishing mark.

14.2 To shorten the course, the race committee shall display flag S with two sounds before the first boat crosses the finishing line. If the course is shortened, the finishing line shall be

  1. at a rounding mark, between the mark and a staff displaying a blue flag on the Committee Boat, or

  2. a line the course requires boats to cross between the Committee Boat and the finishing mark, or

  3. at a gate, between the gate marks. 

15. PENALTY SYSTEM

15.1 The scoring penalty RRS 44.3 will not apply

16. TIME LIMITS and Target Times

16.1 Target time for each race will be between 30 and 55 minutes.

16.2 The race time limit is 60 minutes. At the discretion of the Race Officer, if no boats sail the course within this time limit, the race may be abandoned.

16.3 At the discretion of the Race Officer, if no boat has passed the first mark of the course within 30 minutes, the race may be abandoned.

16.2 At the discretion of the Race Officer, boats that have lost contact with the fleet may be informed on the water that they may return to the starting area for the start of the next race, and an appropriate finishing position will be scored by the Race Committee. This discretion changes RRSs 35, A3.

17. RULES DISPUTE PROCEDURES

17.1 In addition to a full protest hearing, rules disputes may be addressed using:

  • Advisory Meeting: When there is an incident that will not result in the lodging of a protest or a request or redress, a boat may request an advisory meeting and notify any boat involved in the incident. An adviser will then call a meeting to learn what may have happened and will state whether any rule appears to have been broken, and by which boat. A boat may as a result notify the race office that it accepts a Post-Race Penalty when it applies to the incident, or choose to retire, but is not required to do so.

  • Arbitration: RRS Appendix T applies.

17.2 The protest time limit is 30 minutes after the last boat finishes the last race of the day or the race committee signals no more racing today, whichever is later. A protest must be submitted in writing.

17.3 Guidance on the WHSC disputes procedures can be found in Appendix A2.

18. SCORING

18.1 Each sailing class (GP14, Laser/ILCA 7 and Laser Radial/ILCA 6) will be scored separately.

18.2 Eligibility: To be eligible for a score in a race and a series, competitors must be paid-up members of WHSC before the end of the series. Guests and members of other Harp clubs may join races but will not be given a score in the race or the series.

18.3 Need to sign on: All competitors shall sign on prior to each race they intend to take part in. Laser/ILCA competitors must confirm which class they wish to sail in.

18.4 Laser/ILCA Fleets: Smaller Laser/ILCA rigs may be sailed in a larger rig class (eg an ILCA 6 may be sailed in an ILCA 7 race etc.)

18.5 Categorisation of GP14 Helms: All Helms will be categorised as Gold, Silver or Bronze:

  • All newcomers will be categorised as Bronze.

  • A Bronze Helm would normally gain promotion to the Silver fleet at the start of the series after they have won three stars, a star being awarded for winning a “B” race series. A Bronze Helm may also choose to be a Silver Helm.

  • A Silver Helm would normally gain promotion to the Gold fleet at the start of the series after they have won three stars, a star being awarded for being the first placed Silver Helm in an “A” race series.

  • Should a helm win 4 stars as a result of winning 2 series concurrently, the Sailing Captain may choose to award a star to the Helm in second place.

  • Exceptionally the Sailing Captain may choose to promote a Helm one fleet.

  • Pairings are normally made up of one Gold or Silver Helm with a Bronze Helm.

18.6 Categorisation of GP14 Races: Races will be designated as either “A” races or “B” races. An “A” race is open to all Helms. The “B” race is for those in the Bronze fleet. Gold and Silver Helms may join “B” Helm races but will not be given a score in the race or the series.

18.7 Number of Races and Series Qualification: to qualify for a series, a Helm must score in 50% of total races completed, rounded down in the case of an odd number of races completed.

18.8 Scoring System: The Low Point System will apply, with the following variations:

Abbreviation

Description

Score

DNC

A boat that did not come to the starting area

100 points

NSO

A boat that sailed the race but did not sign on

two more than the number of boats in the race.

DTC

A boat that signed on but did not come to the starting area

one more than the number of boats in the series.

DNS

A boat that was on the water during the starting sequence, but did not start

one more than the number of boats in the race

DNF

A boat that started, but did not finish the race

one more than the number of boats in the race

DSQ

A boat that was disqualified

one more than the number of boats in the race

BFD

A boat that was disqualified (under rule 30.4) for being in the prohibited zone during a black flag start

one more than the number of boats in the race

OCS

A boat that was on course side at the start of the race (and didn’t go back to restart from the pre-start side)

one more than the number of boats in the race

RET, RAF

A boat that retired during the race or after the finish (e.g. as the result of a Protest)

one more than the number of boats in the race

OPN

A helm that is representing WHSC at an Open Meeting or instructing for WHSC.

one more than the total number of boats in the series

OOD

A Helm that is performing Race Officer or Safety Boat duty

15 points

PRP

Post Race Scoring Penalty (following an advisory meeting or arbitration)

30% scoring penalty (ie the score she would have received without that penalty, made worse by 30% of the score for DNF, rounded to nearest tenth of a point, not totaling more than DNF). The scores of other boats shall not be changed.

19. SAFETY REGULATIONS

19.1 Adequate personal buoyancy must be worn by all competitors when afloat. Flag Y will not be displayed. This alters RRS 27.1 and 40.

19.2 A capsized boat may receive any assistance from a Safety Boat to right their boat. They may then continue the race. This alters RRS 4.

20. REPLACEMENT OF CREW OR EQUIPMENT

20.1 Different boats may be used for each race.

20.2 GP14 Helms may have different crews for each race.

21. EQUIPMENT and Measurement Checks

21.1 All participating boats shall be expected to broadly conform to their respective class rules, as befits racing at Club level. Inspection shall not be required

22. Supplied Boats

22.1 Competitors may make use of Club Boats, provided that they conform to the WHSC Club rules on the use of Club Boats for racing.

23. Official Vessels

23.1 Committee boat(s) & rescue boats on the Welsh Harp are designated Official Vessels.

24. Support Teams

24.1 Supporters, Coaches and other support functions are not normally allowed during Club Racing.

25. RUBBISH DispoSAL

25.1 All trash must be disposed of on land, not on the water.

26. Berthing

26.1 Boats should be returned to their designated berths at the end of each day.

27. Prizes

27.1 Prizes and Prize-giving will be given at the discretion of the WHSC Committee

28. Risk Statement

28.1 RRS 3 states: ‘The responsibility for a boat’s decision to participate in a race or to continue to race is hers alone.’ By participating in this event each competitor agrees and acknowledges that sailing is a potentially dangerous activity with inherent risks. These risks include strong winds and rough seas, sudden changes in weather, failure of equipment, boat handling errors, poor seamanship by other boats, loss of balance on an unstable platform and fatigue resulting in increased risk of injury. Inherent in the sport of sailing is the risk of permanent, catastrophic injury or death by drowning, trauma, hypothermia or other causes.”

29. Insurance

29.1 Each participating boat shall be insured with valid third-party liability insurance with a minimum cover of £3 million per incident or the equivalent.

29.2 If sailing a Club Boat, the participants undertake to reimburse the WHSC for any damage caused, in accordance with the Club regulations.

30. AnTI-DOPING

30.1 WHSC has adopted the RYA anti-doping strategy, SailClean. By entering a race at WHSC you agree to adhere to the RYA anti-doping rules. To find out more search “RYA SailClean”

 

Appendix A1: Racing Area (the Welsh Harp)

 Chart of Welsh Harp 25

The above chart (not to scale) shows the extent of the Racing Area within the Welsh Harp. Competitors should note the following:

  • The Sluice Gate near the dam wall and the Underwater Obstruction near mark number 6 are local hazards, which are classed as Obstructions within the meaning of the RRS.

  • The areas beyond marks 7 and 8 are “No-Go areas”

  • The locations of the marks are approximate and may be changed by the Race Officer according to wind and other conditions on the day of racing.

  • The Race Officer also has the option to introduce “Special” marks into the course, in addition to the marks indicated above.

  • Training area: Whilst “C day” racing takes place, there is a training area located between the green line on the chart and the dam wall. This is to enable training and racing to take place safely at the same time and it is expected that those leading training and Race Officers will do their utmost to accommodate all Harp users and act in a spirit of cooperation.

  • Whilst racing is taking place, training always has priority in this area.

  • At the weekends from April – October Race Officers must endeavor to ensure the marks are correctly positioned to keep racers out of the training area. Should there be no obvious training taking place or should those leading training agree, the marks may be moved into the training area and part or all of it be used; it is the responsibility of the Race Officer to ask those leading the training.

  • At all other times (weekends from October – April and evenings on Tuesday and Wednesdays) race marks may be positioned in this area if there is no obvious training taking place; it is the responsibility of those running training to speak to the Race Officers to let them know they wish to use part or all of the training area and ask them to move any marks.

Appendix A2: RULES DISPUTE pROCEDURES

WHSC has adopted the RYA’s structured process for dealing with incidents (rules disputes) that are not dealt with whilst racing on the water. Please select the most appropriate from the three approaches below:

  1. Advisory Hearing

  • when to use: use this if you just want to learn whether you were in the right or wrong

  • how to initiate: oral request, no protest is required

  • outcome, penalty, redress: the outcome is for information only and there is no option to impose a penalty or offer redress; a boat may voluntarily accept a 30% post-race penalty (PRP) or retire (RAF) for a broken rule but it not required to do so

  1. Arbitration

  • when to use: if you want something simpler than a Protest Hearing that provides formal resolution of the dispute; unsuitable if there was injury, serious damage or a boat gained significant advantage

  • how to initiate: a protest is required

  • outcome, penalty, redress: guidance offered as to what a Protest Hearing would be expected to find and on that basis, a 30% post-race scoring penalty (PRP) and withdrawal of protest is offered; there is no option to offer redress. Should parties not be able to agree, then the dispute can go to a full Protest Hearing.

  • WHSC uses the Arbitration Procedure in RRS Appendix T https://d7qh6ksdplczd.cloudfront.net/sailing/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/29083752/2025-2028-RRS-with-Changes-and-Corrections.pdf

  1. Protest Hearing

  • when to use: if the dispute is complex, there was injury, serious damage or a boat gained significant advantage and a post-race penalty would be inappropriate

  • how to initiate: a protest is required

  • outcome, penalty, redress: disqualification (DSQ) for a boat not retired (RAF); options for redress

Further details about each on each and procedural guidance for those running them can be found in the Rules Dispute Pack in the clubhouse.