View or download a copy of the Sailing Instructions for Whitsunday Sailing Club’s Opening Day Sail Past and Yacht Race.
Australia Day Sail Past
Instructions
11:15 am – Boats will gather on the waters adjacent “New Beach” to the west of the Port of Airlie channel. Where possible boats are requested to listen in on VHF Ch 73 for instructions from the Race Committee vessel.
Boats will assemble for the sail past in the following order:
- Committee Boats – Safety 3, Safety 2, Safety 7
- Off Beach Dinghies – Tackers, O’pen Skiffs, Lasers, Quests, Waves, others
- Off Shore Yachts and Multihulls
11:30 am – The sail past will commence with the offshore race committee vessel leading the way, travelling in a westerly direction past the rock wall to the north of WSC. Upon passing the official party, boats are required to salute the Commodore with a “3 Cheers” for the Commodore.
After completing the sailpast, off beach dinghies will return to the beach and prepare to take passengers for a sail in the Quests / Waves
Offshore yachts and multihulls will head out to the starting area (An orange starting mark will be laid to the north of WSC prior to the sailpast).
Australia Day Offshore Race
Sailing Instructions
1 RULES
1.1 This race will be governed by the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS), the prescriptions and special regulations of Australian Sailing (AS), except as either of these is changed by these Sailing Instructions.
1.2 This race is planned as a FUN event. Skippers and crew are reminded to keep this in mind throughout the race.
2 SAFETY
2.1 Boats shall comply with Australian Sailing’s Special Regulations – Category 5.
2.2 The safety of a boat or sailing vessel and her crew, the decision as to whether or not to start, and having started, whether or not to continue is the sole and exclusive responsibility of each yacht’s designated skipper.
2.3 Each skipper is entirely responsible for his/her boat’s own safety, whether afloat or ashore, and nothing, whether in the Notice of Race or Sailing Instructions or anywhere else, reduces this responsibility. It is for the skipper to decide whether the yacht is fit to sail in the conditions in which she will find herself. By going to sea the skipper confirms that the boat is fit for those conditions and her crew is competent to sail and compete in them.
2.4 Each boat is required to hold adequate insurance and in particular to hold insurance against third party claims.
2.5 A boat that retires from the race shall notify the race committee as soon as possible.
3 ENTRIES
All entrants are required to contact the race committee (Start Boat) on VHF Channel 73 prior to the warning signal, advising their plan to compete and the number of people on board (PoB).
There is no entry fee for this race.
4 NOTICES TO COMPETITORS
Notices shall be posted on the WSC Noticeboard and advised verbally by VHF radio (Ch73) prior to the warning signal.
5 CHANGES IN SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
Any change to the sailing instructions shall notified on the water will be communicated via VHF Channel 73. The Committee Vessel will display Code Flag “L”.
6 SIGNALS MADE ASHORE
Signals made ashore shall be displayed on the club flagstaff.
7 DIVISIONS
There will be one combined Division.
8 RACING AREA
The race will be sailed within the bounds of charts AUS252.
9 MARKS
The starting and finishing buoy will be the same inflatable orange buoy.
10 THE COURSE
From the START, sail toward Langford Reef (or in a direction nominated via radio by the race officials), then upon radio instruction (VHF 73), tack or gybe, to the FINISH. This notification will be given approximately 50 – 70 minutes after the start.
11 THE START
11.1 Races shall be started using rule 26 with the warning signal being given 5 minutes before the starting signal.
11.2 The Warning Signal for the start shall be a Pink / Black flag. The Warning Signal shall be hoisted not before 1155 hours.
11.3 The starting line shall be an imaginary line between the orange flag on the committee vessel displaying the WSC burgee, and an orange inflatable start/ finishing buoy. Yachts shall leave the orange mark to port.
12 THE FINISH
The finish line will be an imaginary line between the blue flag on the committee vessel and the orange inflatable start/ finishing buoy. Leaving the orange mark to starboard.
13 TIME LIMIT
Yachts crossing the Finish Line after 1500 hours will be deemed to have not finished. This alters Rule 35.
14 PENALTY TURNS
For all boats only one 360 degree turn, including one tack and one gybe, is required.
15 PROTESTS
Protests shall be written on forms available at the clubhouse and delivered there within one hour of the time of the last boat finishing the race. Protests will be heard as soon as practicable after the completion of the race.
16 TROPHIES AND PRIZES
Prizes will be presented at the discretion of the club Commodore.
17PRIZE GIVING
Prize giving will be held at the club as soon as possible following the conclusion of the race..
18 LIABILITY
18.1 All persons taking part in races organised by Whitsunday Sailing Club do so entirely at their own risk and responsibility.
18.2 Whitsunday Sailing Club, and their organising and race officials, are not responsible for any loss, damage or injury either afloat or ashore, howsoever arising, nor for the seaworthiness of any yacht whose entry is accepted, nor for the sufficiency or adequacy of its equipment. Refer Clauses 1.2 and 2, above.