The source for all official documentation and information about these races is the LMSRF Area III's web site. It can be reached thru www.LMSRF.org by clicking on Area III or it can be reached directly at www.SailYachtRacing.com/A3. Official information on this site includes:
Notice of Race (NOR)
This General Sailing Instructions (GSI)
Special Sailing Instructions (SSI)
Notice of Change Board
Means to enter the races
Means to file and track protests.
Race Results
LMSRF Area III Boat of the Year Championship NOTICE OF SERIES
To contain cost, Area III no longer has paid staff available to take your questions by phone, but we want to be responsive to your needs. The web site lists help contacts from each yacht club. Feel free to contact yours with your questions. Given that these are volunteers with jobs and other commitments, they may not be able to immediately take your phone call. Email probably works best and they are committed to be responsive to your email.
As described in the 2016 LMSRF Area III Notice and Conditions of Race - Section 3. In case of conflict, the Sailing Instructions prevail over the Notice of Race. This changes RRS 63.7
Notices to competitors, changes in the Notice of Race, these General Sailing Instructions (GSI's), the Special Sailing Instructions (SSI's), and the schedule of races shall be posted on the Official Notice Board on the Area III's web site, see section 0.1.
Any change in the GSI's, SSI's, and/or Alternate Starting Line shall be posted before 1200 CDT on the Friday before it shall take effect (except the TriState, which will be posted by 1200 CDT the Thursday before the first race). The posting will be on the Official Notice Board on Area III's web site.
Attention to a change posted in accordance with 4.1 above may be broadcast by the Race Committee over Channel 78 VHF or an alternate channel as directed by the Race Committee. Such broadcast is intended as a courtesy to the competitors and does not replace Race Signals prescribed by the RRS. Failure to receive such courtesy broadcast shall not be grounds for redress.
For Port to Port races only, the Race Committee may designate an Alternate Finish Line as described in the General and Special Sailing Instructions for that race by broadcasting such changes periodically on Channel 78 VHF or an alternate channel as directed by the Race Committee. This changes RRS 25 and RRS 88.2.
Race signals made ashore may be displayed on the standard maintained for that purpose at the yacht club, which is the Organizing Authority for the race.
Unless changed in the event Special Sailing Instruction, boats signing up for the LMPHRF-Spin class shall be divided into the following sections for starting and scoring as determined by their rating.
Boats in these sections must meet the following criteria.
Cruising Spinnaker -- Boats flying an asymmetrical spinnaker flown from the bow without a pole or sprit, less than 40 feet in LOA and a LMPHRF ADJUSTED BASE HANDICAP (spinnaker handicap) rating of 99 to infinity. Boats in this section must have the Tack Point of the spinnaker attached to the centerline of the boat at the stem or anchor roller. Sail measurements and tack point must be identified in the LMPHRF certificate. A whisker pole or spinnaker pole may not be used to wing out an asymmetric spinnaker.
JAM -- Boats using only head sails and no spinnakers. A whisker pole to wing out a headsail is allowed, but the luff of the headsail must be attached to a headstay. (LMPHRF NONSPINNAKER HCP rating will be used)
Before the start of a boat's first race on each race day, it shall come within hailing distance of the Race Committee signal boat and display its sail number.
The RC will signal its intent to run another race that day by displaying the Second Substitute flag from the Signal Boat at the finish of the previous race. No race will be started after 1500 CDT. After finishing competitors shall stay clear of the Finishing Line and observe the starting area boundaries until their new starting sequence has commenced. The RC will attempt to broadcast its intentions over the designated VHF channel.
Flag signals are International Code Flags. The Race Committee will display the class flag signal and/or the placard signal for purposes of RRS 26 in accordance with the following table:
Race Committee Class Signals
CLASS
CLASS
FLAG
PLACARD
VERSION
JAM/Cruising Spin
Letter V
Letter V
T-10
0 (zero)
T-10
LMPHRF
1,2,3,4,5
1,2,3,4,5
1,2,3,4,5
BENETEAU 36.7
6
6
BENETEAU 40.7
7
7
FARR 40
8
8
Multihull
M
M
All boats racing in the LMPHRF classes shall display their class flag on their backstay not less than six feet above the deck.
The General Buoy Racing Area is shown in Appendix 1 That chart should NOT be used for navigational purposes. Use NOAA chart #14927 and/or additional relevant NOAA charts for navigation.
Unless otherwise stated in Special Sailing Instructions, start will be yellow inflatable marks, rounding marks will be orange and finish marks will be white.
New marks as provided in instruction 12.3.1 will be yellow. When in a subsequent change a new mark is replaced, it will be replaced by an original mark.
The B Course finish line will be approximately 1/4 mile to windward of W2.
Course T consists of an Olympic triangle followed by a traditional windward/leeward lap. After starting, all classes will sail to the short course windward mark "W1", then sail a reaching leg to wing mark "T", followed by a reaching leg to leeward mark "L". After rounding the leeward mark "L", the classes on the short course will sail one short windward/ leeward lap to W1, all other classes will sail one long course windward/ leeward lap to W2.
The above courses may be modified before the first start of a race by the race committee when conditions or situations warrant a modified course.The Race Committee will broadcast on Channel 78 VHF (or an alternate channel as directed by the Race Committee) that a course change has been made prior to the start of any section.
The Organizing Authority for an event may elect to use Starting Area 1, Starting Area 7 or Custom courses. These are described in their Special Sailing Instructions.
No later than the warning signal, the Race Committee signal boat will display the course, the approximate magnetic bearing and distance to the first rounding mark (Marks W1 and W2) on a sign-board. The course selection may be displayed by Code Flag.
The Race Committee may change a course after the first class has started for any classes not yet started in accordance with RRS 27 and RRS 33, by:
a. Displaying flag (C) at the next warning signal and
b. Displaying the new course signal at or before the preparatory signal. This alters 27.1.
To change the next leg of the course, the race committee will lay a new mark (or move the finishing line) and remove the original mark as soon as practicable. The new mark will be yellow. When in a subsequent change a new mark is replaced, it will be replaced by an original mark.
The Race Committee may periodically broadcast on Channel 78 VHF (or an alternate channel as directed by the Race Committee) that a course change has been made as well as the nature of said change.
Unless otherwise prescribed in the Special Sailing Instructions, the starting line shall be between a staff displaying an orange flag on the Race Committee Signal Boat and a yellow starting mark. The Race Committee may add an additional orange mark beyond the starting line for the T-10 class ONLY. See 12.2.5
A boat whose class signal has not been made shall stay clear of the starting area. The starting area is defined as extending one-half the length of the starting line beyond the ends of and behind and ahead of the starting line. (See below) The Race Committee may set a guard mark near the signal boat. Yachts may not pass between the guard mark and the signal boat.
If the starting line is extended with an additional mark for the T-10 class, the inner mark is not a mark of the course. For all other class starts, the extended line mark is not a mark of the course.
All boats shall identify themselves by mainsail or sail number board to the Race Committee by passing near the RC boat before the warning signal of the race or during their class starting sequence.
Will be signaled in accordance with RRS 29.1. The Race Committee will attempt to hail OCS boats by sail number and/or boat name over VHF Channel 78 (or an alternate channel as directed by the Race Committee) and/or by voice. Failure to hear a recall is not grounds for redress. This changes RRS 62.1(a).
Will be signaled in accordance with RRS 29.2.
The
warning signal for restart of a class following a General Recall shall made 1
min. after the first substitute is removed.
The warning signal for a new start for the postponed class shall be made one minute after the AP is removed (one sound) and the starts for any succeeding classes shall follow the new start.
A Race Committee may abandon a race in conformity with RRS 32. The Race Committee may broadcast on Channel 78 VHF (or an alternate channel as directed by the Race Committee) that a race has been abandoned, when it shall be re-sailed, and any change in the starting sequence or course.
Port-to-Port finishes require the use of sail number boards. The sail boards shall be displayed from approximately one quarter of a nautical mile (.25 NM) prior to the finish line and remain displayed for at least two (2) minutes after finishing. Special Sailing Instructions shall state on which side the sail number boards shall be displayed. Sail number boards are to be a sign with numbers ten (10) inches or larger, cut from reflective (SCOTCHLITE or equivalent) material and mounted on a black background. Boats failing to display sail number boards shall be penalized in accordance with GSI 20.3.
If the Race Committee Boat is absent from the designated finish line, an Alternate Finish Line is described in the SSI . Every attempt will be made by the Race Committee to announce the change at regular intervals during the race on Channel 78 VHF (or an alternate channel as directed by the Race Committee). Upon crossing this alternate finish line, boats shall provide their finish time (according to the GPS time) to the RC on VHF Chanel 78. This changes US SAILING Prescriptions to RRS 34.
Unless otherwise prescribed in the Special Sailing Instructions, any race in which no boat rounds the first windward mark within 45 minutes, or finishes within two and a half (2) hours of the start shall be abandoned. Any boats not finishing within 45 minutes of the finish time of the first boat will be scored TLE (Time Limit Expired). This changes RRS 35, RRS A4.2 & RRS A5.
If a boat in last place in a race is delaying the next start, the race committee may order the race terminated for that boat, and score the boat points equal to last place.
A boat intending to protest or seek redress shall notify the Race Committee of the sail number(s) of the boat(s) being protested immediately after finishing and shall receive specific acknowledgement.
Protests, redress requests and scoring inquiries must be entered on-line using Area III's web site.
The protest and redress requests must be completed in full, except for the diagram, and
entered by 15:00 CDT the day after the completion of the race weekend.
Delivery of the diagram is to be arranged
with Protest Chair when they contact the protester.
The appropriate Organizing Authority Protest Committee Chair will be notified by the Area III web system of the submitted protest. The OA is responsible for notifying the participants.
Area III protests may be heard at the clubhouse of the Organizing Authority the Thursday night following the race, unless otherwise scheduled by the Protest Chair. Hearings are scheduled to begin at approximately 1900CDT. Check the web site for the actual hearing schedule.
In the event a competitor is a party to protests involving more than one Organizing Authority, and the hearings are scheduled for the same Thursday, the protest from the earlier event shall take precedence. Hearing of the other protests shall be reset to a later date. The party seeking a continuance because of another protest hearing must advise the Protest Committee Chair in sufficient time to allow notification of all parties to the protest and members of the protest committee.
Notwithstanding any other time limit stated in these General Sailing Instructions, the Notice of Race, or RRS 61.3, for any protest relating to the violation of any one-design class rule brought against a boat by the Race Committee on behalf of any One Design Fleet's measurer as provided for in RRS 78.3 and the last paragraph of RRS 60.2, or any Protest Committee, the time limit for filing such a protest shall be as follows: the later of (1) 3:00 pm (Central Daylight Savings Time) on the fourth business day after the race in question, or (2) 3:00 pm (Central Daylight Savings Time) on the seventh business day after the race in question when a measurer informs the Race Committee of a violation. In the case of a protest by a Race Committee as set forth in the last paragraph of RRS 60.2, the protested boat shall be informed at the first reasonable opportunity after the protest is filed.
When redress has been requested or is being considered, the Protest Committee Chair will attempt to notify all boats of the time and place of the hearing and the nature of the request or the grounds for considering redress. To this end the email addresses entered in the registration process will be used to communicate such notices.It is the responsibility of each registrant to ensure receipt of such email notice.
Requests for participation at the hearing by boat owner(s) or their representative(s) not partiesto the hearing parties shall be received by the Organizing Authority no later 5 calendar days following the email notification. The redress will be heard at the clubhouse of the Organizing Authority on the second Thursday following the race, unless otherwise notified by the Protest Chair. Hearings are scheduled to begin at approximately 1900 CDT.
For Port-to-Port races, RRS 44.3 (Scoring Penalty) shall apply, modified as follows: The corrected finish of a boat that accepts a penalty under RRS 44.3 shall be 20% of the number of yachts started in that class, taken to the higher whole number, but such penalty shall place a yacht no worse than last in her class. Her adjusted place, for determining her placement in her division, shall be one second greater than that of the yacht placing just before her in her division.
A boat successfully protested by the Race Committee for failing to properly display her class, or sail number board as required, shall be penalized one place in her class. Her corrected time shall be the next boat to finish in her class, plus one second. This changes RRS A4.1 and A5.
Except in an emergency, a boat shall neither make radio transmissions while racing nor receive radio communications not available to all boats. This restriction also applies to mobile communication devices.
The Race Committee may attempt to report visual signals displayed and other pertinent information over Channel 78 VHF (or an alternate channel as directed by the Race Committee). This information is provided as a courtesy to competitors and does not in any way alter their responsibility to observe the Race Committee's visual signals which govern the conduct of the race. Errors or omissions involving such courtesy broadcasts shall not be grounds for redress.
Each boat must dock or raft in the space reserved for boats in its class
if so stated in the SSIs or an addendum there to or as directed by the
host club or its dock personnel.
It is the responsibility of each skipper to insure that sufficient crew
capable of promptly maneuvering the boat is readily available at the harbor at all times.
If in a raft,
a boat must be prepared to cast off her raft not later than one hour prior
to the scheduled warning signal for the first class scheduled to start that day.
Reasonable and courteous cooperation with fellow yachtsmen in making,
securing, anchoring, and disassembling rafts is expected.
A boat that fails to comply with this obligation may be refused entry to future races.
Protest hearings involving rafting shall be the responsibility
of the yacht club that was the race Organizing Authority on the day of the incident.
DNF boats in each Area III race will be scored points for their finishing place one more than the number of boats that came to the Starting Area in their class. A boat that did not come to the Starting Area (DNC) or was disqualified (DSQ) shall be scored two more than the number of boats that came to the Starting Area in their class. This changes RRS Appendix A9.
All Area III Buoy races are Category 4 (Mo4). All Area III Port-to-Port races are Category 3(MoMu,3). (Exception: WYC and CCYC have designated Category 4 (MoMu,4) for the Waukegan races. - See the SSI's).
The following International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Offshore Special Regulations for 2014 -2015 v2 (Incorporating the amendments effective 1st January, 2015) (www.sailing.org/specialregs), including US SAILING Prescriptions (http://www.ussailing.org/safety/equipment-and-requirements/
are modified as follows:
3.09.3 For yachts with age date before 1993, bilge pumps and cockpit drains may be connected to a common drainage system provided the system has sufficient capacity to handle maximum combined volume.
3.28.3 (b) The first two sentences are replaced by: "A propulsion engine installation required by 3.28.1 above shall be able to motor at least 35 NM in moderate weather at a minimum speed of 3.5 knots."
3.29.1 (f) "A GPS is required for all Port-to-Port races."
5.01 The first US Sailing Prescription is modified by adding Type II and III Coast Guard approved personal flotation devices.
from the Signal Boat at the finish of the previous race. No race will be started after 1500 CDT. After finishing competitors shall stay clear of the Finishing Line and observe the starting area boundaries until their new starting sequence has commenced. The RC will attempt to broadcast its intentions over the designated VHF channel.
at the next warning signal and
