East Coast Sailing Association
P.O. Box 372054 Satellite Beach, FL 32937-0054
NOTICE OF RACES
For Year 2008

1.0 General Racing Rules

The races in this series will be governed by International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Racing Rules of Sailing 2005-2008, the prescriptions of U. S. Sailing and the ECSA General Racing Rules, except as altered by these Sailing Instructions. A yacht that retires from the race shall attempt to notify the Race Committee before leaving the race course.

2.0 Changes to the Sailing Instructions

All changes to the Sailing Instructions will be provided to each participant via mail, email or handed out on the race course.

3.0 Classes

Assuming that enough boats are participating in the races to justify 3 classes, and the boat qualifies, participants can chose to race in any one of the following classes:

Class	Qualified Boat Type	Flag Color
A	Sport Boat (Melges 24, SR 21, etc.)	Green
B	Racing Spinnaker and Non-Spinnaker	Pink
C	Cruising Spinnaker and Non-Spinnaker	Blue

Awards through third place will be given in each class, providing 4 or more boats are entered in that class. If less than 4 boats, awards will be given for 1 less than the number entered.

4.0 Start Sequence

Races will be started in accordance with Racing Rule 26. Approximately 1 minute prior to the first class Warning flag, a series of blasts on the horn will be sounded. A normal starting sequence is shown below.

Starting Signals Minutes to Clock
(ISAF System 3) Start Time Signal

Get Ready -6 1:00 pm 3 Short blasts

Fleet 1 Warning -5 1:01 pm Class Flag(s) raised, 1 horn

Preparatory -4 1:02 pm Prep Flag up, 1 horn

One-Minute -1 1:05 pm Prep Flag down, 1 long horn

Fleet 1 Start 0 1:06 pm Fleet 1 Start – Class Flag(s) down, 1 horn

Fleet 2 Warning -5 1:06 pm Class Flag(s) raised

Preparatory -4 1:07 pm Prep Flag up, 1 horn

One-Minute -1 1:10 pm Prep Flag down, 1 long horn

Fleet 2 Start +0 1:11 pm Fleet 2 Start – Class Flag(s) down, 1 horn

The Prep Flag is a blue flag with a white square in the middle.

Classes may be started individually or together depending upon the number of yachts in each class. The start of the first race will normally include all classes, but class flags flown during the start sequence shall always prevail. For subsequent races, the Get Ready signal for a given class will be given approximately 5 minutes after the finish of the last yacht in that class in the previous race (and allowing for traffic considerations with finishing boats in other classes).

5.0 Recalls

Individual recalls will be signaled in accordance with Racing Rule 29.2, the Race Committee will display code flag "X" accompanied by one blast on the horn. General recalls will be in accordance with Racing Rule 29.3, except the starting sequence will not be interrupted and the offending class must clear the area and will start in rotation after the last scheduled start.

6.0 Time Limits

The Race Committee may choose to enforce a time limit of 3 hours computed from the starting signal of each Sport Boat Class and Racing Class race, and 4 hours for Cruising Class races. If one yacht in each division finishes within the time limit, others are entitled to one half hour more, or to the time limit, whichever is later. The decision to enforce the time limit shall be signaled by the Race Committee flying the “N” Flag, sounding three signals on the horn, and announcing the decision on the designated VHF Channel upon expiration of the time limit.

7.0 Shortened Course

The Race Committee may shorten the course at any mark of the course by flying code flag "S".

8.0 Eligibility

All racers with a valid ECSA PHRF certificate, and other persons authorized by the River Racing Fleet Captain, are eligible to race, and to receive series and regatta trophies. However, only current ECSA members are eligible for the ECSA annual racing awards.

9.0 Protests

To be considered valid, all protests shall meet the requirements of Racing Rule 61, except as modified in this Racing Instruction. (i.e. a protesting boat must meet requirements of Racing Rule 61.1(a) so that the violating boat may option for exoneration under Rule 44). Protests shall be written on USSA Standard Protest forms and sent to the ECSA River Race Fleet Captain postmarked no later than 2 days after the race being protested. Protest Forms are available at http://www.ussailing.org/racemgt/documents/ussapf.pdf and shall be sent to the following address:

Jim Edwards, ECSA River Race Fleet Captain

446 S. Neptune Dr.

Satellite Beach, FL 32903

Phone: 954-328-1066 e-mail: edboat@aol.com

10.0 Scoring

The Low Point scoring system of Appendix A will apply. If classes are combined for races they will still be scored as separate classes. Unless otherwise announced, 1 throw-out is provided for each class in each series that contains at least 5 races.

11.0 Weather cancellation

In the event of small craft warnings on the day racing is scheduled, all races will be cancelled. The Race Committee may cancel a race or races if it deems the weather is hazardous or otherwise unsuitable for racing. Note: All skippers are personally responsible for deciding whether or not to compete in any given race.

12.0 Race committee Communications

VHF Channel 72 or a channel designated by the RC may be used by the RC to communicate with the racers before and during the race. Use of the VHF will NOT act as a substitute for flag signals and all flags will continue to be used. Racers may advise others on the course of RC VHF transmissions but there is no requirement to do so.

13.0 Courses

The racing area will be in the Indian River north of the Eau Gallie Causeway. Course layouts, based on triangle and windward/leeward courses are provided in these Sailing Instructions.

· The course for each fleet for each race may be modified at the discretion of the Race Committee. The course to be sailed for each fleet will be indicated on the Race Committee boat. The course will be designated with the letter A-Z to correspond with the Course Number in the Race Course Information paragraph, or by indicating the marks to use. The course type will be indicated by some combination of “” indicating a triangle and “WL” indicating a Windward/Leeward leg.

The start/finish line shall be set at the discretion of the race committee to give the fleet the longest windward legs that wind and water allow without interfering with the Intracoastal Waterway. There may be races where the fleet could start below the leeward mark. This option will have a downwind finish and will be signaled on the committee boat.

14.0 Marks

Government Markers 100 and 102 are used. Marks N, A, B, W and D are "permanent" marks. Mark C is a Manatee sign. The starting mark (pin) is an 18" diameter round mark. Temporary marks may be placed as much as 200 yards from permanent marks for course alignment purposes.

· The start/finish line shall be between an orange flag on the Race Committee boat and the starting mark and the start finish line will be closed once the race has begun.

15.0 Race Course Information

2008 ECSA Course List

Wind Dir

NNE

ENE

ESE

SSE

1st Leg M

358

108

120

142

153

156

172

Course

Triangle

NWC

AWC

N102B

A102B

ANW

DNW

AN102

DN102

CN102

BA102

W/L

A102

D102

C102

C100

B102

Tri Dist

2.915

2.422

3.257

3.102

2.330

2.791

2.054

2.802

3.109

3.102

WL Dist

2.284

1.416

2.774

2.222

1.774

1.982

1.436

2.460

2.498

4.880

1.708

2.304

Wind Dir

SSW

WSW

WNW

NNW

1st Leg M

178

207

229

248

254

274

300

317

322

331

333

336

Course

Triangle

CDN

BDN

BDA

BCD

WCA

WCD

102BD

101WD

102WC

NWD