Proposed NOR & SI for 2024
Notice of Races & Sailing Instructions
CLICK HERE for a printable copy of the Choptank NORSI for 2024
CLICK HERE for 2024 Skipper Guide
Cambridge Fleet 2024 Wednesday Night Notice of Race &
Sailing Instructions
NOTE: The text below in an abridged version of the NORSI.
Fleet
Captain: George Breig, 443-521-9920, text
messages are encouraged.
email: essasailing38@gmail.com
1. Notice of Race
Pre-season fleet meeting: April 24, 2024, 6:00
PM at the CYC
Race Schedule- 2024
May 8- Practice Race
Series 1 – May 15 - June 19 – six
scheduled races
Series 2 – June 26 - July 31– six
scheduled races
Series 3 – August 2 – September 11–
six scheduled races
Special Races (bad weather dates)
Stedman Smith Cup – May 18 (May 19)
Choptank Duet – June 22(TBD)
Wild Goose Chase – September 14 (Sept 15)
Choptank Cup – October 12 (October 13)
1.2 Racing Rules - Racing will
be governed by the 2021-2024 Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) and by the 2024 ESSA
Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions.
1.3 Fleets - There will be two fleets:
Spinnaker and Non-Spin. Entrants in the
Spin and Non-Spin fleets must be members of ESSA and must fill out a
Racing Application and pay the standard racing fee before
participating. After that, skippers must
pay the annual ESSA membership dues and racing dues before they will be
scored.
1.3.1 Fleet Selection - A boat
must race in the same Fleet for an entire Series but may change Fleets at the
start of the next Series. The Fleet Captain must be notified of this change
before the start of that series. Email to essasailing38@gmail.com
1.4 Fees - Payment of Membership and Racing fees must occur before 5:30 p.m. on the first day the participant intends to race. Boats which have not paid the Membership and Racing fees before racing will not be scored. There will be no retroactive scoring when fees are paid after the season starts.
1.5
Weekly Racing Format
- Three six-race series are scheduled. Racing will begin on Wednesday evenings
at approximately 6:00 p.m.. The Race Committee will announce the evening’s
course on VHF Channel 72. Racers are expected to have a copy of the 2024 Race
Courses. The RC land crew will record finish times.
Results will be posted on https://essasailing.blogspot.com/
1.6 Decision to Race -The
responsibility for a boat’s decision to participate in a race or to continue
racing is her’s alone.
2. Sailing Instructions
2.1 Sailing Instructions will
be made available at least one week before the start of the first Series. They
will be forwarded by e-mail, posted on http://www. essasailing.org. Skippers
will be notified by e-mail of all approved changes to the 2024 NORSI.
2.2
Ratings - All boats must have an official ORR-EZ rating before
racing. Ratings must be sent to the Fleet Captain and Score Keeper before the
first race.
2.3 Safety Equipment - For all
classes, the “Nearshore” category of the US Sailing Safety Equipment
Requirements (available at Monohull-SER-2023.0-Nearshore.pdf
(ussailing.org) ) will apply.
2.5
Penalty Turns - Rule 44.1 (taking
a penalty) is modified to allow a boat to take a one turn penalty versus a two-turn
penalty when she has broken one or more rules of Para 2. The
penalty turn will be completed within the current course leg and promptly as soon as the vessel is well
clear.
2.5 Outside Help - A boat shall neither
make nor receive radio, phone or other communication to gain information not
available to all other boats participating. The use of cell phones to monitor
approaching severe weather is permitted.
2.6 Scoring - The standard low
point scoring system will be used. Points will be awarded in order of finish
based on corrected time. Boats which are scored DNS, DNF or DSQ will receive a
score equal to the number of boats that came to the starting area plus 1. DNC will
be scored as the number of boats entered in that Series plus 1. Races will be
scored using the Time-on-Time scoring method. Two boats in a Fleet must
cross the starting line to make a race. Races with only one boat will not
be scored. A minimum of four races are
required to constitute a Series.
In the event of multiple race
cancellations, the Fleet Captain may schedule up to two make-up race dates on
September 18 and 25 to complete any Series.
2.7 Race Result Discards – For
each Series, one race result will be discarded for each competitor.
2.8 Scoring of Substitute Race Committee Boat - If
the on the water Race Committee is not available, and an ESSA racer is assigned
to substitute, that boat will be scored OOD (Officer-Of-the-Day.) The boat
will receive the average points of all scored races less any DNC's for that
series.
2.9 Race Ties – If boats are
tied based on their corrected times, the points for the place for which the
boats have tied will be awarded to each boat. For example, if two boats are
tied for 3rd place based on corrected time, each boat will receive 3
points.
2.10 Series Ties – If there is
a series-score tie between two or more boats, each boat’s race scores shall be
listed in order of best to worst, and at the first point(s) where there is a
difference the tie shall be broken in favor of the boat(s) with the best
score(s). No excluded races shall be used. If a tie remains, follow the
guidance in Rule A8.2.
2.11 Awards - Awards will be
given in both the Racing and Cruising Fleets for total points in each Series
and total points for the season.
The number of Series Awards given is
based on the number of boats competing in the Spin, Non-Spin Fleets as follows:
|
# Boats/Fleet Competing in a
Series |
Awards presented to: |
|
3-4 |
1st place |
|
5-6 |
1st place, 2nd
place |
|
7+ |
1st place, 2nd
place, 3rd place |
To qualify for the Overall Season
Award a boat must race in 50% of the races sailed plus one. Overall Season
Awards for each Fleet will be based on all races sailed plus points earned as
the Race Committee boat, minus three discards over the entire season.
3.0 On the Water Race Committee
3.1 Selection – When the
regular Race Committee is not available, a lottery system will be used to
select skippers for Race Committee duty for a specific Wednesday evening. The Fleet Captain will issue the Race
Committee assignment schedule and email it to the Fleet and post it on the ESSA
Choptank Fleet Blog.
If the skipper assigned to Race Committee cannot be there in
person, it is their responsibility to recruit a substitute Officer-of-the-Day
who is trained and capable to execute a race per the 2024 NORSI. The OOD must also assure that sufficient RC crew is
onboard.
3.2 Instructions for the Race
Committee to Follow - A document listing the “Instructions for the Race
Committee” will be posted on essasailing.org, distributed by e-mail to all
skippers, and included in the Race Committee Binder. Skippers selected for Race
Committee duty are expected to review and
understand these instructions and conduct their race accordingly. Channel 72.
3.3 Communications - The Race
Committee will use, and each participant shall monitor, VHF Channel 72 to
communicate all information necessary for the race.
If questions arise, contact the Fleet
Captain before the race, during the pre-race or at any time during the race on
VHF Channel 72.
3.4 2024 Course List - The 2024 Course List will be sent to each skipper
along with the Race Committee Instructions and the 2024 NORSI. It is strongly recommended that each
skipper have a copy of these documents onboard.
3.5 Course Selection - The Race
Committee will announce courses for both the Spin and Non-Spin, using the 2024
Course List. The number of each course
and the number of laps will be communicated to all competitors well before the
start on VHF Channel 72. Courses will NOT be announced by text message to
competitors.
The Race Committee may set a course
that is not on the 2024 Course List to better match the conditions at race
time. This course will be announced on VHF 72 well before the starting sequence
for the fleet affected. ESSA Marks A- Z
will be used. (Alpha – Zulu)
3.6 Setting the Starting Line -
The starting line will be set between the Committee boat and a floating marker
ball or an established course mark. The length of the starting line will be set
to allow adequate room based on the number of boats competing and the current
weather conditions. As a rule of thumb, the line should be 1-1.5 times the hull
length of all boats competing in that race.
A starting line that is too short can cause congestion that may lead to
collisions between boats. The line will
be positioned to facilitate an up-wind start if possible.
3.7 The Finish Line - The
finish line will be between ESSA Mark “Z” (Zulu) and a flag on the dock at the
Cambridge Yacht Club unless the course is shortened by the Race Committee. A boat will be scored as finished when any
part of that boat’s hull crosses the finish line from the course side and
continues to stay clear of the finishing marks and other boats.
3.8 Responsibility - If
a borrowed boat is used as the Committee Boat, the Officer-of-the-Day
(OOD), must be on board to officiate the race. If the skipper of the designated
RC boat decides to permit their crew to race his/her boat, that boat will be
scored OOD.
4.0 Protests
ESSA’s intent is to run races that are fun
and competitive in which formal protests are rare.
4.1 Making a Protest - A boat intending to protest
shall inform the protested boat at the first reasonable opportunity. The
protesting boat shall also inform the Race Committee at the first reasonable
opportunity. Protests must be filed with
the assigned Race Committee no later than one hour after the conclusion of the
race. Protest forms are available from the Fleet Captain or his/her designee.
Copies are in the Race Committee Maroon Binder. Protests will be heard at a
time and place determined by the Fleet Captain or his/her designee.
4.2 Penalties at the Time of an
Incident - A boat that has broken one or more rules of Part 2 or rule 31
may take a penalty turn in accordance with rule 44 and Sailing Instruction
paragraph 2.5. The boat shall report to the Race Committee that they have
completed the required penalty turn.
4.3 – Other Protests &
Disqualifications - The Race Committee, after witnessing or hearing the
report of an incident, may choose to protest the offending boat or disqualify
in accordance with Rule 60. The Fleet Captain should be informed of that
decision.
5.0 Racing Signals
5.1 Checking In - Racers will check in with the On the Water
Race Committee using VHF 72 prior to the first courtesy warning signal. Skippers will identify their boat name, sail
number, and Fleet (Spin, Non-Spin, Cruising).
5.2 Starts - Races will be
started with the following modification to Rule 26. Specifically, there will be an additional
warning signal consisting of five long blasts at 6 minutes. Starting sequences
may be changed in the event of a general recall.
Cruising Fleet Starting Sequence
|
|
|
Time |
Sound |
|
|
Courtesy Warning |
6 min |
17:54 |
5 Long Blasts |
|
|
Starting Sequence |
5 min |
17:55 |
1 Long Blast |
Engine off. Must be under sail. |
|
|
4 min |
17:56 |
1 Long Blast |
|
|
|
1 min |
17:59 |
1 Long Blast |
|
|
|
Start |
18:00 |
1 Long Blast |
|
Racing Fleet Starting Sequence
|
|
|
Time |
Sound |
|
|
Courtesy Warning |
6 min |
18:01 |
5 Long Blasts |
|
|
Starting Sequence |
5 min |
18:02 |
1 Long Blast |
Engine off. Must be under sail. |
|
|
4 min |
18:03 |
1 Long Blast |
|
|
|
1 min |
18:06 |
1 Long Blast |
|
|
|
Start |
18:07 |
1 Long Blast |
|
5.3 Multiple Laps – Prior to
the warning signal, the Race Committee will announce on VHF Channel 72 the
number of laps of the course to be sailed if greater than one.
5.4 Time Limit: The first boat
in each Fleet must finish the course before or at 120 minutes, zero seconds
of the starting signal or the race is abandoned. Subsequent boats in each Fleet
must finish within 45 minutes of the first boat in the Fleet to finish.
For boats still racing when time expires (and at least one boat has finished
within the time limit) they shall be scored DNF and notified by the Race
Committee on VHF Channel 72. No sound
signal will be made. Time will be determined by GPS. This modifies RRS Rules 35
and A11.
5.4.1
Running lights (and steaming lights) are required by all boats if races
continue after sunset per Coast Guard Regulations.
5.5
Shortened Course - The Race Committee may shorten a course at any mark
utilized in the race that evening. The
shortened course will be announced on VHF Channel 72 prior to the lead boat achieving
the shortened finish mark.
5.6 Postponing A Race - Races
postponed due to weather, including lack of wind, will be delayed a maximum of
30 minutes. A new start time will be announced by Race Committee on VHF Channel
72.
5.7 Abandoning a Race - The
Race Committee may abandon a race at any time if they determine that the
weather conditions in the racecourse area are currently or soon will be too
dangerous for the fleet or if winds are very light and it is judged that the
lead boat will clearly not cross the finish line within the time limit. An
abandoned race will be signaled via VHF Channel 72. This race will not count in
that Series.
5.8 Withdrawing from a Race -
If a competitor elects to withdraw from a race due to weather in the area or
for any other reason, she shall notify the Race Committee of her withdrawal and
the reason why.
5.9
Safety - Each competitor, including the crew, is solely
responsible for his or her personal safety. Adherence to the nearshore safety requirements
is mandatory. Monohull-SER-2023.0-Nearshore.pdf
(ussailing.org)
6.0 Racing Area and Marks
6.1 Racing Area - The racing
area and marks are shown below on this NORSI that will be sent to each racer by
email. The Skipper’s Guide can also be
accessed on http://essasailing.blogspot.com/ in the ESSA Yearbook and on http://www.essasailing.org .
COURSE MARKS ( locations are reasonably
accurate)
Mark A Can 3
(Cambridge Creek) N 38 34’ 40” W 76 03’ 53”
Mark B ESSA
Yellow Ball
N 38 35’ 27” W 76 04’ 30”
Mark C G23 Dolphin N
38 35’ 55” W 76 04’ 41”
Mark D Can 21
N 38 36’ 04” W 76 06’ 14”
Mark E FL R 20 N
38 36’ 01” W 76 06’ 53”
Mark F
Clam Line
N38 35’ 23”
W76 03’ 34”
Mark G ESSA Flag Buoy
N 38 36’ 36”
W 76
05’ 43”
Mark H Clam Line N 38 36’ 09” W 76 04’ 21”
Mark Z Finish Red Flag (CYC) N
38 34’ 44”
W 76
04’ 13”
Note: All marks are visible with .25 NM.
Important - The Race Committee may set a course for either the Racing, or Cruising Fleet, or for all Fleets that is not on the above list of courses. The
Race Committee will set this course to better fit with the conditions at race
time. This course will be announced well in advance of the starting sequence
for the Fleet that is affected.
Monitor Channel 72 for race
instructions.
Disclaimer of Liability
Competitors participate in the races entirely at their own risk. See RRS Rule 4 and sections 1.6 and 5.8 of these instructions. The organizing authority will not accept any liability for material damage or personal injury, or death sustained in conjunction with, prior to, during, or after the race
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