NEW SEASON COMING
SOON
Daylight savings occurs on March 10 so we will change our
start time to 6pm on March 12. This is a
new season with new course cards, sailing instructions and registration. The registration fees for this year remain
the same as last year: $40 for members and $55 for nonmembers for the whole
year.
As the races have become more popular we have
seen some issues that need to be addressed.
The goal that I strive for is for everyone to have fun and develop their
sailing skill. Everyone that races
should be recognized for their efforts if they want recognition. Race QS is an awesome app that has been a
huge asset to Tuesday sailing. As good
as Race QS is, it is not always dependable.
Sometimes it goes down completely and other times tracks just cannot be
uploaded. It is a bummer to do well in a
race and not get recognition because your track did not upload. It’s not the America’s Cup, but if you do
well, you should be recognized. We have
a way to resolve this issue.
We have a very simple and
inexpensive race organization, resulting in our very low entry fee. We set the start line buoy and temporary buoy
if necessary. We need to retrieve these
buoys before we return to the harbor.
Since we use semi permanent marks such as S/F or Gov, we need to use
extensions of lines for the finish. It
is normal in racing to have the finish line perpendicular to the wind
direction. On Tuesdays we have always
used “rounding of a mark” to finish.
This can be confusing to the many proficient racers who are accustomed
to finishing on the same line they
started on. This can result in boats not crossing our finish line and, once
again, boats not being recognized for their efforts.
To resolve these issues, we have
initiated a new procedure for finishing a race.
Every course on the new course
card is finished using an extension
of a mark and a designated point on land. We have used points on land
before: JLH= Jetty lighthouse and Wharf end=end of municipal pier. To these points on land, we are adding
several more to accommodate finishing on a line nearly square to the wind direction
as is normal in racing. Wharf end is now
designated as WE and we are adding
SL=East side of San Lorenzo river and BP=Blacks point. Blacks point is the
rocky point at the end of Twin Lakes beach.
You can also use a bearing of 15 M degrees from S/F for Blacks
point. All of these points and abbreviations are listed at
the top of the course card.
An additional advantage with
using extensions for finish lines allows someone on the boat to record the
finish time as a backup in case Race QS does not function for your boat. Each boat should run Race QS, but as a
backup, each boat should designate a person to record the moment the boat
passes the finish line extension and relationship to other boats that are
finishing. One critical exercise when
using extensions to finish: ALWAYS pass the finish mark on the side (pt or stb)
designated on the course card.
One other problem we have had to
deal with is the pile-up of boats at Blacks on an Easterly wind night. Using an offset mark has helped with this
issue, but a longer distance from start to Blacks is needed. To resolve this issue, there are times that
it would be better to start from Gov rather than S/F. During the summer we have traditionally
started every race from S/F. With this
option to start at Gov, it is necessary to communicate the alternate start
area. We will obviously communicate on
VHS channel 69, but when exiting the
harbor, if Sailing Pair A Dice or other committee boat is flying an
American flag from the stern, the start area will be at Gov.
I am looking forward to another
awesome year of Tuesday Night Sailing!
Barry Keeler
Sailing PAIR A Dice
Following are the 2024 race documents: NOR, Sailing Instructions and a crude copy of the course card. When you register a laminated course card will be left on your boat.
2024 Tuesday Night Developmental Race Series
Each Tuesday Night of 2024 during Daylight Savings Time
Santa Cruz Yacht Club, Santa Cruz, CA
Notice of Race
Invitation: The Santa Cruz Yacht Club invites interested boats and their
crews to participate in
a developmental racing
skills series.
Rules
The Regatta will be
governed by the rules as defined in the Racing Rules of Sailing.
The Sailing Instructions
will change RRS 40 so that flotation devices are worn regardless
of the display of Flag
Y.
Eligibility and
Entry:
Racing is open to all
registered boats. Boats may self-select to a designated fleet each Tuesday
evening. “A fleet” is designated for more experienced crews and higher
performance boats. “B Fleet” is designated to accommodate new racers and lower
performance boats. Eligibility is established by completing the on-line
registration for your boat at
SCYC.org/regattas. Scroll down to
“Tuesday night race” and click on
“register” to complete the process. Entry fee is $40 for members and $55
for nonmembers for the whole year.
Registration fee can be charged to your account for members and charged
to your credit card for nonmembers
Schedule:
Each Tuesday Night of
2024 during Daylight Savings Time, first signal will be sounded with a 1750
horn. First signal change may be announced on VHF channel 69. Following the racing on the last Tuesday of
each month a post-race debriefing may be held, and potluck barbecue will be
held at the SCYC Clubhouse.
Racing may continue
during the winter starting in the afternoon. Monitor e-mail and channel 69 for
updates.
Scoring:
The racing will be
scored applying handicaps to finish times from their recorded .gpx tracks on
RaceQs https://raceqs.com/ ). Race QS is a free app used on your phone. This app MUST BE USED to be counted in this
series. If Race QS does not function, finish times may be submitted to the site noted in the SIs. However, being
a developmental regatta, the races may also not be scored.
Each Tuesday Night during Daylight Savings Time 2024
Santa Cruz Yacht Club
Sailing Instructions
Rules: The Regatta will
be governed by the rules as defined in the Racing Rules of
Sailing unless otherwise
indicated in these sailing instructions. The first sentence of RRS
40
is changed to:
Competitors shall wear personal floatation devices, except briefly while
changing or adjusting clothing or
personal equipment
Notices
to Competitors: Notice to competitors
may be announced by e-mail sent by noon on each Tuesday if that day’s race
is postponed or canceled. Cancelation may also be announced on VHF
channel 69.
Schedule:
Racing is scheduled for
each Tuesday Night of 2024 during Daylight Savings Time.
Post-race social
activities, dinner, racing debriefs, and rules discussions are planned at SCYC
clubhouse after racing each Tuesday.
Racing
Area: The racing area will be
within 3 miles of Walton Lighthouse.
Communications: Boats should Monitor VHF channel 69 before start time for course
location, start time, and designated course.
Marks: Marks are described in the attached Tuesday Night Course Card.
The
Start: The start line shall be
a line containing S/F BUOY, MILE or GOV. A red ball will establish
the other end of the line unless starting at MILE.
An American flag flown from committee boat stern shall indicate a start
from Gov. This flag will be stowed at start time. Boats should monitor Channel 69 for course
announcements.
RRS 26, and 27 shall be
replaced with the following simplified starting procedure. Scheduled start
times are 1755 (Fleet A) and 1800 (Fleet B).
A single signal horn shall be sounded at 1750 which is a 5 minute horn
for fleet A and a 10 minute horn for fleet B. Monitor VHF 69 for changes
in this schedule. Fleets may be combined to a single start.
Recalls: RRS 29 will be changed to the following: A designated boat
may sight the line to identify On Course Side (OCS) boats. OCS Boats may
be announced on VHF Channel 69. Not having a designated boat that hails OCS
boats via VHF 69 does not absolve a boat of its obligation to start correctly.
Courses: Attached Tuesday Night Course Card indicates courses to be
used. Courses will be communicated from the organizing race boat to the racing
fleet over VHF channel 69 prior to the 1750 signal. This changes Rule
27.1
The
Finish:The finish line will be
listed on course card and will be an extension of a line, so pass the finish
mark as indicated (pt/stb). Finish mark
should be passed within 200 feet. Each boat shall record their own finish time
and relationship to boats around them. Finish times may be emailed to: SCYC.race.results@gmail.com if Race QS malfunctions.
PENALTY
SYSTEM:
RRS 44.1 is changed so
that the Two-Turns Penalty is replaced by the One-Turn Penalty.
PROTESTS
AND TIME LIMITS:
Protests in this series are for educational purposes and may be
shared among all participants. Protests may be filed within 24
hours following the race by sending an email to:
SCYC.race.results@gmail.com Protest forms may be obtained at: https://www.ussailing.org/resource-library/us-sailing-hearing-request-form/
Protest
decisions will be documented on the race blog.
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