The information below should be noted by all members participating in Club racing.
All competing yachts must comply with AYF Special Safety Regulations Category 7 minimum and a current safety audit must be done prior to accepting your race entry.
For Estuary Races that go beyond a line from Barrenjoey to Box Head, additional items to comply with Category 5 daylight are required (details on the web-site).
You are also required to have insurance with a minimum of $10 million Public Liability, along with spinnaker racing insurance for races that include extras.
TWILIGHT RACES - You are requested to pass near the starting vessel displaying your club burgee and ensure that the starter is familiar with your boat before the start of each race. This also allows you to check for any course changes.
SUNDAY RACES - Please note that for Sunday racing there is not fixed start boat, but sound signals will still be used. Sunday racing is self timed by each boat and elapsed times must be reported to either the Race Director or Handicapper as soon as possible after crossing the finish line.
The Start sequence shall be as per Rule 26 with a 5 minute warning, 4 minute Preparatory, 1 minute signal and a Start signal. Refer to your program for more details.
If you retire from a race you are requested to return and inform the starter of your retirement. If this is not possible then please phone a Club Official ASAP. Numbers are on the back of the program.
When racing in two divisions, yachts in the faster division MUST keep clear of the starting area in the 5-minute period before the start of the other division OR RISK A PENALTY.
PENALTIES
- If the starter has judged that one or more yachts have broken the start, two short blasts will be given after the starting signal. It is the responsibility of skippers to decide if they have infringed and, if so, either return and start again or accept a time penalty.
- Touching a rounding mark incurs a single turn penalty .
- For all other infringements during a race a two turn penalty is sufficient to exonerate.
- A 10 min penalty (in Sunday races) or a 5 min penalty (in Twilight races) will be applied by the Race Committee where an infringement is clear and no voluntary penalty has been taken, especially where the safety of other yachts has been put at risk.
- These penalties must be taken as soon as possible after the incident.
Racing Policy
The PBYC was founded so that members could enjoy the pleasures of yacht racing without the formality, expense and seriousness of the racing provided by some other clubs.
The PBYC provides racing in an atmosphere of friendly competition and advocates behavior on the water that encourages families to crew their yachts during races.
PBYC’s Racing Policy is to conduct its races on the basis that its members and their crews will compete in a friendly, safe and sportsmanlike manner.
- Members are reminded of the relaxed, family nature of our club and are encouraged to give less experienced or newer members every opportunity to enjoy racing with the PBYC in an environment that is enjoyable and non-threatening to themselves and their yachts.
- All PBYC races are conducted under the Racing Rules of Sailing as prescribed by the Australian Yachting Federation (AYF Rules) and PBYC Sailing Directions.
- Members are expected and encouraged to learn, know, abide and sail by the AYF Rules. It is also expected that when a member breaks a rule they will take the penalty as prescribed by the AYF Rules or Sailing Directions or retire.
- Intimidation of other participants is discouraged and experienced racing members are encouraged to give way to less experienced members in potentially dangerous situations.
All yachts participating in any race must have a fully financial PBYC racing member on board.
This member is responsible for the conduct of the yacht and its crew.
- The skipper of a yacht is solely responsible for deciding whether or not to start and whether or not to continue to participate in any club event.
- The safety of a yacht and her crew is the sole and inescapable responsibility of the owner, or his/her representative.
Crew members who will participate in more than three Sunday races should be Associate/Crew members of the Club or members of another AYF affiliated yachting club.
Dispute Resolution Process
The PBYC does not accept protests under the procedures set out in the AYF Rules.
- The Race Director or his / her designate is empowered to penalise or disqualify any yacht which, in his / her opinion, is in breach of the AYF Rules or is not sailing within the spirit of the PBYC’s Racing Policy.
- Should any member have a dispute with a fellow club member, they are encouraged to discuss the matter directly with the individual(s) involved.
- Should any member have a dispute with the Race Director or if members are unable to resolve a matter between themselves, they should write to the Race Committee within 2 weeks.
- Having received a letter in these circumstances, the Race Committee will consider it at the next appropriate meeting. The Race Committee may ask both parties to attend or provide written reports. The Race Committee is not obliged to make any ruling but may do so on any basis that it sees fit and not necessarily in line with the strict interpretation of the AYF Rules.
- The Race Committee’s primary guideline to making any decision will be the encouragement of PBYC’s Racing Policy. Any decision made will be conveyed to all parties within two weeks of the decision.
Racing Program and Courses
Each year the racing program is revised in accordance with the wishes of the majority of the members who race. A copy of the program for the current year is enclosed.
EXTRAS - refer to spinnakers or other “headsails” that are not attached to the forestay. They can be used in a number of Sunday races, but that are not permitted in the Twilight Series.
Please note that there is an alternative course set within Pittwater if the weather is bad or the seas too rough on any occasion when a race outside Pittwater is programmed.
There are five different race series run over the season.
- The Spring Series consists of 3sprint races on a single day (usually in September) with all races to count
- The Estuary series consists of 5 races run over Summer with one drop allowed.
- A Summer sprint series of 3 races in one day.
- The Autumn Series consists of 3 sprint races on a single day (usually April) with all races to count.
- The Winter Series consists of 7 races over Winter with one drop allowed.
- The Twilight Series consists of 12 races run on Fridays during Daylight Savings with three drops allowed.
Handicaps are computed using the Performance Handicap System so each yacht in effect becomes self handicapping after three races.
If you intend to race:
- Let the Race Director know the details about your boat or if you change your boat.
- Make sure that you will be identified on the course either by your sail number or your special race number.
- Please ensure you have a club burgee to fly when racing to indicate that you are a racing yacht.
Safety
All members are expected to know about, carry and maintain the required safety equipment applicable for the size of their vessel. Brochures are obtained from the Waterways Authority.
AS DEFINED IN THE YACHT RACING BLUE BOOK - ALL YACHTS MUST COMPLY WITH CATEGORY 7 FOR TWILIGHT RACING AND FOR SOME SUNDAY RACES YACHTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH CATEGORY 5 - A check list is on the web-site and a safety audit must be done prior to racing.
Contact Geoff Crowshaw on 0410 679 395 to arrange an audit.
In situations regarding misbehaviour of persons, difficulties with moorings, and accidents not involving a fatality, the NSW Maritime Authority is to be contacted on 0418 976 160
In situations of break-in or theft or accidents involving the injury or possible injury to persons, the Broken Bay Water Police are to be contacted on 9979 4044 or 0412162093, Sydney Water Police on 1800 658 784 or 9692 5411, or Mona Vale Police on 9997 1444.
Both services can be called on VHF channel 16 or 27.88 mHz on channel 88.
