1.1 CONDUCT OF RACING
The racing will be governed by:
(a) The ISAF Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) 2001-2004
(b) The Prescriptions and Safety Regulations of "Yachting Australia"
(c) The Boating (safety equipment) Regulations NSW, and
(d) These general sailing instructions.

1.2 ADVERTISING
VYC races will be classified as Category A in accordance with Appendix 1 of section 11 of the RRS unless specific reference is made to advertising in an event.

1.3 Alternate penalties for infringing a rule of Part 2 of the RRS.
The 720 degree turn penalty (as provided in the Rule 64.1 and 44.2) will apply for an
infringement of a Rule under Part 2.

2. NOTICES TO COMPETITORS
Notices to competitors will be posted on the Official Notice Board at the VYC clubhouse by 1200 hrs on the day of the race. These may contain additional information and may supersede the sailing instructions. Signals made ashore will be displayed on the club flag mast.

3. COMMITTEE VESSEL
The Committee Vessel will display the VYC burgee.

4. STARTING LINE
Between the signal mast on the Committee Vessel and the day-glo inflatable buoy marked VYC in black.

5. FINISHING LINE
Between the signal mast on the Committee Vessel (displaying a VYC burgee and blue "on station flag") and an orange inflatable buoy marked VYC in black. The finishing line must be crossed from the direction of the last mark.

6. COURSES
The course to be sailed will be displayed on a sign located on the cabin of the Committee Boat. Separate course sheets for the Yacht Division and Laser division are attached and will also be available at the inquiry desk.

7. PROTESTS
Must be delivered to a member of the Race Committee within two hours of the finishing time of the last boat in the division, detailing the subject of the protest. Protests must conform to RRS 61. Hearings will be held at a time and place as directed by the Committee.

8. POSTPONEMENT, CANCELLATION & ABANDONEMENT
In accordance with RRS rules 27.3 and 32

9. RECALLS
INDIVIDUAL:- Individual recalls will be in accordance with RRS rule 29.2. The yacht's sail number may be hailed. Failure to make a hail or failure by a hailed yacht to hear the hail will not be grounds for redress.

GENERAL:- General recalls will be in accordance with RRS29.3.

10. CONTROL
The committee will have control of all matters connected with racing and will fix race entry fees, determine handicaps, set courses, divide yachts into divisions at its discretion and will decide any question which may arise which is not provided for in these instructions, but a yacht will always have the right of appeal to the Yachting Association of NSW against a disqualification as a result of a protest.

11. ENTRIES
All entries are subject to the approval of the Race Committee. All yachts are required to lodge a block entry and pay Race Entry Fees as determined by the Committee. Yacht owners or their representatives are required to complete the 'Sign on sheet' at the inquiry desk prior to each race. Boats unable to sign on at the clubhouse are required to report their intentions to the starter on the start boat.

12. PERSON IN CHARGE
A member of a recognized yacht club and member of the "Yachting Australia" National Membership Scheme will be in charge of each yacht competing in a race conducted by the club. Change of regular helmsman must be notified to a member of the Sailing Committee at least two hours prior to the race. A yacht may be disqualified for failing to notify. The Committee reserves the right to alter the handicap.

13. ALTERATIONS TO SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
The Race Committee reserves the right to alter the Sailing Instructions at its discretion. Alterations to the Sailing Instructions will be posted on the notice board and will be deemed to be incorporated herein from the effective date notified.

14. MOTORS
A yacht may be propelled by motor or towed until 5 minutes before the nominated time for the start signal of its division.

15. NUMBER OF STARTERS
Unless three yachts start in a division in a club race, it will be at the Race Committee's discretion to cancel that race or withhold points awarded for that race. The Race Committee at its discretion may cancel a series and not award trophies if it is deemed that there were insufficient starters in a series.

16. POINT SCORE
The Low Point Scoring system RRS Appendix A applies.

17. SAIL NUMBERS
Yachts must sail under the sail number advised on its entry form and shown on the list of entries. Permission to carry a sail displaying a different number to that shown on the list of entries for a race must be obtained from the Race Committee prior to the warning signal of its division. Yachts sailing with sails carrying unrecorded numbers may be disqualified.

18. ALTERATIONS AFFECTING PERFORMANCE -AU classes-All races
Any changes in hull, engine or propeller, trim, spars or sails must be notified to the Class Captain at least 24hrs prior to the race affected by the change.
Any change to the helmsman or crew who have skills that may significantly be deemed to improve a yachts performance must be notified to the Class Captain at least 24hrs prior to the race affected by the change.
In all classes where the handicapper has not been given the opportunity to adjust the handicap, the right is reserved to make summary adjustment at any time when the change is bought to the attention of the Committee.

19. SAFETY CERTIFICATE
All entrants in the VYC Yacht Division require a current safety certificate to Category 7(or higher) unless otherwise specified. All yachts shall have lodged a copy of their safety compliance form to the Sailing Committee before they are eligible to race. Laser dinghies will conform to the safety requirements of the International Laser Sailing Association and the NSWACT Laser Association.

20. BUOYANCY VESTS
All Laser dinghy sailors are required to wear approved buoyancy vests.

21. CARDINAL MARKS
Cardinal Marks constitute Boundary Marks for all courses and must be passed on the safe side from the danger which they mark (e.g. yachts must pass on the west side of a West Cardinal Mark)

22. KEEPING CLEAR OF THE STARTING LINE
Competitors not actually engaged in starting MUST KEEP CLEAR of the starting line by a minimum of 50 metres prior to their warning signal. Yachts not adhering to this instruction may, at the discretion of the Starter, be disqualified.

23. LATE STARTERS
Competitors starting more than 15 minutes after their starting signal may be recorded as (did not start).

24. LATE FINISHERS
The Race Official aboard the Committee Vessel may at his discretion allocate finishing times to competitors that are well behind the bulk of the fleet and/or leave the finishing line.

25. TIME LIMIT
The time limit shall be three hours from the staffing signal. Boats finishing 30 minutes after the first boat of its class finishes or after the time limit which ever is later, will be scored "did not finish"

26. COMMERCIAL SHIPPING

WATERWAYS AUTHORITY REGULATIONS SPECIFY THAT SAILING VESSELS MUST NOT INTERFERE WITH THE COMMERCIAL SHIPPING OF THE PORT.
Vessels found to have interfered with commercial shipping may be disqualified.

27. INSURANCE
All owners of vessels competing in VYC events must hold current and adequate insurance to cover possible property and personal damage claims. Furthermore, all owners are to ensure that the vessels insurance fulfills this requirement under racing conditions.
The minimum 3rd party insurance cover for yachts is 10 million dollars and 5 million dollars for Laser dinghies.
All owners are required to present a copy of their insurance papers on registering their vessel for racing.

28. STARTING TIMES
Yacht division warning signal (class flag).…5 minutes……...1:55pm
Yacht division preparatory flag (P)……….4 minutes……...1:56pm
Yacht preparatory flag removed…...……..1 minute………1:59pm
Yacht Division start……………….……...0 minutes……...2:00pm

The warning signal for each succeeding class shall be made with or after the starting signal of the preceding class.

29. RESPONSIBILTIES
All those taking part in these races do so at their own risk and responsibility. Specific attention is drawn to RRS4 which states:
"The responsibility for a boats decision to participate in a race or to continue racing is hers alone". The VYC, any sponsors, respective class associations, the Race Committee and other race officials are not responsible for any damage or injury either afloat or ashore.
The VYC, any sponsors, respective class associations, the Race Committee and ether race officials are not responsible for the seaworthiness of a boat whose entry is accepted or the sufficiency or adequacy of its equipment.
All those taking part in these races are reminded of their obligations as set out in the "Yachting Australia" Special Regulations Clause 1.02 Owners Responsibility.