PGJSA Sailing Instructions

It is the responsibility of each competitor to insure that their boats comply with the rules of the class participating. A sailor's change of sail numbers from what appears on the event's registration form, without notifying the host club check-in staff and the Race Committee prior to the first race, will result in disqualification.

Notices to competitors will be posted on the official notice board if one is available, otherwise they will be made verbally on the water.

The Skipper's Meeting will be held prior to leaving for the race course or will be held on the water.

Any changes in the Sailing Instructions will be approved by the Principle Race Officer for the series and announced before the race on the day they are to take effect. Any conflict between the Notice of Race (NOR) or the Sailing Instructions (SI’s), The SI’s will be the final.

The racing area will be specified at the Skipper's Meeting or prior to the races in the notice of race. Sailing Instructions can also provide details but the skipper meeting will be the final determination. In case of conflict, skippers meeting is the deciding factor and not subjected to any redress.

The basic course will be windward-leeward, triangles or any combination, the start and finish line will be closed unless starting or finishing. Details of course configurations will announced verbally.

Course Marks will discussed at the skippers meeting and/or verbally announced by the Race Committee out on the water and subject to change by the RC depending on the conditions of the day. This is not subject to any protest for redress.

The start will be between a small mark and a fixed point on the signal boat, to be announced at the Skipper's Meeting.

The 3-minute dinghy starting system as defined in Appendix S (S3) will be used. The finish will be between a fixed point on the signal boat and the finish mark, as defined at the Skipper's Meeting. **The Old Cove ILCA/Laser Regatta on July 11, 2025 will be a 5 minute starting sequence** This will be covered in more detail at the skipper meeting.

O.C.S. Will be signaled with code flag X w/sound, a voice hail or a horn. The RC will attempt to notify individual boats. FAILURE TO START PROPERLY will not be cause for redress if not notified. Code Flag X will only be displayed for 2 minutes.

The Race Committee may change a leg of the course before competitors begin the next leg. If a mark is moved it will be the original mark in a new location. The Race Committee will notify all boats of a change by signaling with repetitive sounds and/or voice hail. If a major wind shift occurs, the race may be abandoned.

The Finishing Window is the time for boats to finish after the first boat sails the course and finishes. Boats failing to finish within the Finishing Window, and not subsequently retiring, penalized or given redress, will be scored Time Limit Expired (TLE) without a hearing. This changes RRS 35, 63.1,

The PRO may abandon a race in accordance with RR 32, but such authority will be used with caution. Dinghy races should last approximately 30 minutes or less.

12.1 Each contestant is solely responsible for his or her own safety.

12.2 PFD’s shall be worn at all times.

Remember Sailors Responsibility! A sailor is solely responsible for his or her own safety and that of the crew and boat. By racing in this event, each sailor releases the Race Committee, the Host Club, and the PGJSA from any and all liability or claims to the fullest extent.

Except in an emergency, a boat that is racing shall neither make nor receive radio transmissions or communications of any kind. This restriction also applies to mobile telephones and any other wireless device.

14.1 Protests and Protest Commitees will follow the Policies and Procedures of the PGJSA

14.2 No Flag Protest Change Rule 61.1(b). A protest during a race shall be signified by hailing and using the word “protest”. A protesting boat need not display a protest flag but shall report his protest to the Race Committee boat as soon as possible.

14.3 To avoid a witness from a sailor's own club being considered an interested party, sailors in a protest situation are encouraged to call out at the time of the incident for witnesses other than from their own club.

14.4 Rules 60.2 and 60.3 will be changed to permit the race committee and/or protest committee to protest a boat when, from its own observation or a report received from any source, it believes a competitor may have committed a breach of sportsmanship or the Rules of the PGJSA.

14.5 The protest is to be submitted in writing by the protesting sailors to the Race Committee Chair by no longer than 30 minutes after the Race Committee boat docks. No protest submitted after this period will be heard.

14.6 Proper drawing of diagrams is required.

14.7 Family members, Instructors and Coaches of the protesting boat may not lend advice or participate in the writing of the protest nor may they attend the Protest Hearing unless asked to do so by the Protest Chair.

14.8 Non-compliance with any of the above may result in the protest being denied.

The Low-Point Scoring System-Appendix A of the racing rules will apply for all classes. One (1) race constitutes a series. Drop races will occur in the event of 5 races or more. PGJSA Championship scoring rules for the season series apply.

16.1 Coaches/Instructors are required to register at the regatta. The registered coach(es) must remain present, available, and reachable for the entire regatta.

16.2 If coaches want to be on the water, they must provide their own boat. VHF, a First Aid kit and U.S. Coast Guard required safety equipment must be on board. All coaches must wear a PFD during the regatta if employed by any club in a supporting role.

16.3 Coaches, support personnel and spectators are required to keep off the racecourse during the event unless called upon to assist in certain safety conditions. They are required to monitor the Race Committee VHF channel (identified at the Coaches Meeting) and follow any safety instructions issued by the Race Committee.

16.4 A patrol boat from the host club may rotate between courses to monitor coaching. If a Coach needs to be warned, we will do so. A second warning will result in a return to the dock.

16.5 Coaching is only allowed between races and is not permitted after a General Recall.

All Sailors and Coaches are expected to abide by the Racing Rules and behave in accordance with recognized principles of sportsmanship, good manners and fair play, including but not limited to:

a.)Swearing at, intimidating or harassing anyone, including teammates, on or off the water.

b.)Stealing or borrowing, without permission, anything that does not belong to them.

c.)Breaking laws related to alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drugs.