Sloop Tavern Yacht Club
and
Shilshole Bay Yacht Club

Ballard Cup 2008
Series I: 4/21, 4/28, 5/5, 5/12, 5/19
Series II: 6/2, 6/9, 6/16, 6/23, 6/30
Series III: 7/7, 7/14, 7/28, 8/4, 8/11

Sailing Instructions

 

1. Rules: These series will be governed by the current Racing Rules of Sailing except as modified by the Race Notice, and these Sailing Instructions.
  1. Eligibility and Entry Deadline: Races are open to those with PHRF or STYC ratings. This series is free to STYC Voting members and SBYC members. STYC Associate members pay an entry fee of $15 per 5-race series; others pay $25 per 5-race series.

The newly adopted ISAF Regulation 21,2,1(h) requires, in essence, that anyone competing in any sailing event governed by the Racing Rules of Sailing must be a member of a Member National Authority or one of its affiliated organizations, such as a sailing club that is a member of US SAILING. In the US, this International Sailing Federation regulation will not be enforced. The Ballard Cup Series I, II, and III will be sailed according to this US prescription. Crew are not required to be members of a yacht club for the boat to race.

 

3. Identification: Sailboats without sail numbers will be assigned numbers by the race committee. Numbers must be displayed to the Race Committee when starting and finishing, and must be approximately 2’ high and 2’ wide on a contrasting background (i.e. duct tape on the side of the hull or sail, or banner attached to the lifelines). Boats without identifying numbers will not be scored.

4. Divisions and Starting Times: All series will have FS and NFS divisions. Entries must clearly specify whether the boat will race in FS or NFS Divisions. In the absence of a specific election on the Entry Form, boats will be assumed to be racing in the NFS Divisions. If more than two multihulls are entered, they will have a separate start.

Division breaks will be posted at the Sloop Tavern by 2000 on the Friday’s before the first and second races of Series I (4/20 and 4/27), Series II (6/1 and 6/8), and Series III (7/13 and 7/27). The first division start is scheduled for 1815. This means the first warning will be at 1810 and the prep at 1811.
  1. Race Distance and Course: Course will be indicated by the following mark letters on the course side of the Race Committee boat. The course for each class is official at the prep signal (4 minutes prior to the start) for that class.

    2. N - Start: Permanent Mooring Buoy near N end of Shilshole breakwater

    M - Meadow Point Buoy

    W - West Point Buoy

    L - Permanent Mooring Buoy located between the Ballard Blinker and Mark "W"

    R - Spring Beach- A 6 ft. high spar buoy located in 50 ft. of water in the vicinity of Spring Beach, approximately 2 nm N of Meadow Pt., with an approximate fix of 47° 44.7’ N, 122° 23.4’ W

    Notes:

    If an "N" is displayed as part of the course including the start and finish, the start line shall not be restricted and all boats must sail through the start/finish line.

    Example NMNWN

    If a sound signal is given when the boats cross the line, the race is finished. If no signal is given, proceed to the next mark. Even if the leading boats have passed through the start/finish line without a sound signal and are proceeding to the next mark subsequent boats may be finished with sound signals in the event of dying winds. In this event, the Race Committee will raise the shorten course flag (code flag "S", a white rectangle with a blue center).

    If no "N" is displayed as part of the course accept for the start and finish boats may not sail through the start/finish line unless they are starting or finishing. The start finish line is now restricted and any boats passing though it will be disqualified.

    Example NMWN

    If a "T" is displayed following the course number designation, this indicates a two lap course; all boats shall sail through the start/finish line at the completion of lap one. If a sound signal is given at the completion of lap one, the race is finished. If no signal is given, proceed to the second lap. Even if leading boats have passed through the start/finish line without a sound signal and are proceeding on the second lap, subsequent boats may be finished with sound signals in the event of dying winds. In this event, the Race Committee will raise the shorten course flag (code flag "S", a white rectangle with a blue center). Leading boats that have continued on lap two should take the flag and the sound signals as indication that the race has been shortened to a one lap race due to dying winds, and should return to shore.

    If no "T" is displayed, boats may not sail through the start/finish line unless they are starting or finishing.

    Ship Canal restricted area

    Sailboats may not sail inside the Ship Canal area as defined by the following three lines:

    (i) From the south end of the Shilshole breakwater northwestward to buoy C "1" (Green Can #1);

    (ii) From buoy C "1" southwestward to buoy N "2" (Red Nun #2);

    (iii) From buoy N "2" southeastward to buoy N "4".

    These buoys are located approximately 0.25 mile SE of the red and white Ballard Blinker Buoy. A boat that enters this area may not correct her error. (This amends USRRS Rule 28.1.) This area ranks as an obstruction.

    Sailboats are advised to exercise caution when sailing near the entrance to the Ship Canal due to heavy traffic and shallow depths in areas immediately SW of the entrance buoys.

     

  2. Starting Sequence and Time Limit: Divisions will start in reverse order with the slower divisions starting first, and the faster divisions starting last. The time limit is 2030 for Series I and 2100 for Series II and 2030 for Series III - with no extensions. Boats finishing after the time limit will be scored DNF. This alters USRRS Rule 35.

The starting sequence to be used will be System 1 of the 2001-2004 Racing Rules of Sailing. The start sequence is as described below. Starting signals will be as illustrated in the table below. The flag is always the correct starting signal. Disregard the failure or mistiming of a sound signal.

Signal Flag and sound Minutes before starting signal

Warning* Class flag; 1 sound 5

Preparatory P flag, 1 sound 4

One-minute Preparatory flag removed; 1 long sound 1

Starting* Class flag removed; 1 sound 0

*Typically (but not required), the class flag of the next starting class will be displayed simultaneously with the removal of class flag for the previous class, signifying the start (i.e. Warning) of the next class’s sequence. However, there may be a delay between when the previous class’s class flag is removed, signifying that class’s start, and the next class’s class flag being displayed, signifying that class’s warning signal.

Recalls

Individual Recalls: When a boat is over the starting line early, as defined by USRRS Rule 29.2, the Race Committee Boat will sound one additional sound signal and fly the "X" flag. The flag will be displayed till all boats are clear, or for 4 minutes, whichever is earlier. The Race Committee will also attempt to hail the sail numbers of all recalled boats that it can identify. No radio signaling will be attempted.

General Recall: The Race Committee may recall an entire start at its discretion. A general recall will be signaled by the display of the code flag "First Substitute" and two sound signals. Recalled starts will start after the last scheduled start in the order in which they were recalled.

Failure of the over-early boat to hear the sound signal does not release her of her obligation to restart.

7. Skippers’ Meeting: There will be no Skippers’ Meeting for this series. Skippers are responsible for picking up a race packet prior to the first race of each Series on the web at : http://members.aol.com/eom18927/balcupsi.doc.

(A limited number will be available at the Sloop Tavern the Friday prior to the first race of each Series). Skippers are responsible to check for any changes posted on the board at the Sloop Tavern.

8. Protests: The 720° rule will be in effect. Protests must be filed at the Sloop Tavern. Boats intending to protest must notify the Race Committee boat at the finish. The Protest deadline is 2130 for Series I, 2200 for Series II, and Series III 2130 the night of the race. Protests will be heard as soon as possible. There will be a $25 fee for filing a protest, refundable if the protest is upheld.
  1. Race Committee Boat Duty: A sailboat which serves as Race Committee Boat or whose crewmembers (some or all) serve as race committee volunteers and does not compete for that single race of the series will be awarded a score equal to the average finish for that sailboat in all the other races of the series. There is no penalty for volunteering as race committee volunteers! Please do your share!
  1. Scoring: Time on Distance Scoring will be used for these races.

Series I, Series II, and Series III will be scored as indicated below.

Finish places will be computed based upon corrected time. Boats will receive points for finishing position within their assigned division using the low point system as prescribed in USRRS Appendix A4.1 as follows:

1st = 1 point (Gold sticker)

2nd = 2 points (Blue sticker)

3rd = 3 points (Red sticker)

4th = 4 points

etc.

 

Series scoring for Ballard Cup Series #1, Series #2, and Series #3

If all 5 races in a series are completed, there will be one throw-out allowed. If fewer that 5 races are completed, there will be no throw-outs. A race that is officially cancelled or abandoned by the Race Committee (when no boats in any division finish) will not be used in computing series results (Amends ISAF Appendix A2).

A sailboat which serves as Race Committee Boat or whose crewmembers (some or all) serve as Race Committee volunteers and does not compete for that single race of the series will be awarded a score equal to the average finish for that sailboat in all non-discarded races of the series (rounded off to the nearest whole place). There is no penalty for volunteering as Race Committee Boat or crew! Please do your share!!!

For each race in each division, 1st place will be awarded 1 point, 2nd place 2 points, 3rd place 3 points, etc. In the event of a tie in any division for any place, the point of two consecutive places will be added and then divided by the number of boats tied. For example, if two boats tie for 1st place, 1st place points (1) and 2nd place points (2) will be added and then divided by 2, giving each boat 1.5 points for that race. If a series tie is not broken by the criteria below, the boats will receive equal prizes.

DNS, DNF, RAF, DSQ: A boat that did not start, did not finish, retired after finishing, or was disqualified shall be scored points for the finishing place one more than the number of boats entered in the series.( ISAF Racing Rule A 4.2).

DNN: Any boat that retires before the time limit shall notify the Race Committee boat. Failure to do so may result in the boat being scored DNN. DNN will be scored the same as DSQ.

Should any boats share the same score at the end of the series; the tie will be broken by applying the tiebreakers for series races below.

11. Race Results, Awards and Trophies: Race results and awards will be presented as soon as possible after each race at the Sloop Tavern, pending protests. Trophies for the series will be presented at the Sloop Tavern as soon as possible the night of the last race of each series.

 

Flag/Start Sequence

Time

Flag condition

Illustration

Notes

5 min. to Class A start

Class A hoisted

 

 One blast

4 min. to Class A start

Class A up,

Prep hoisted

 

 One blast

1 min. to Class A start

Class A up,
Prep lowered

 One blast

Class A start =

5 min. to Class B start

Class A lowered,

Class B hoisted

 One blast

4 min. to Class B start

Class B up,

Prep hoisted

 

 One blast

1 min. to Class B start

Class B up,
Prep lowered

 One blast

Class B start =

5 min. to Class C start

Class B lowered, Class C hoisted

 One blast

4 min. to Class C start

Class C up,

Prep hoisted

 

 One blast

1 min. to Class C start

Class C up,
Prep lowered

 One blast

Class C start =

5 min. to Class D start

Class C lowered,

Class D hoisted

 One blast

ETC.

 

 

Over Early Condition

Individual "Over Early" Flag =

General "Over Early" Flag =

Sail number(s) of "Over Early" boat(s) will be called out over the loud speaker. Boat(s) must return to the pre-start side of the line, and await sail number to be called "Clear" before restarting the race.

 

 

Alphabet Flags

A; B; C; D; E; F;

G; H; I; J; K; L;

M; N; O; P; Q; R;

S; T; U; V; W; X;

Y; Z;

Answering Pennant

Numeric Pennants

0; 1; 2; 3;

4; 5; 6; 7;

8; 9;

Substitute Pennants

substitute 1; substitute 2; substitute 3;