CHINA CUP 2008
SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
1. RULES:
1.1 The China Cup 2008 will be governed by the rules as defined in the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) 2005 – 2008 including, and as appropriate:
• The ISAF Offshore Special Regulations for a Category 5 event;
• The IRC Rules, Parts 1, 2 & 3 (IRC-C);
• The Cruiser Owners’ Association (COA) HKPN system;
• The Class Rules of boats entered in a One Design Class;
• The China Cup 2008 Notice of Race; and
• these Sailing Instructions.
1.2 Succeeding items in the above list will take precedence. If there is a conflict between languages in the Chinese and English versions of the Sailing Instructions, the English text will take precedence.
1.3 No national authority prescriptions will apply.
2. ENTRIES:
2.1 Eligible boats as per the Notice of Race shall have completed all entry requirements by Monday 13th October 2008 and all Hong Kong outward bound immigration clearance procedures by 1900 hours on Thursday 23rd October 2008.
2.2 Eligible boats shall be seaworthy, monohulls of not less than 8.5m length overall (LOA) excluding bowsprit and/or bumpkin. The length requirement may be varied at the sole discretion of the race committee.
2.3 The race will have 4 classes: the China Cup Beneteau 40.7 Class, the IRC Class, the Performance Handicap Class and the Open Class (for boats from Mainland China who do not have IRC or HKPN ratings). Subject to the entries received and the sole discretion of the race committee the classes may be split into divisions. A minimum of three boats shall constitute a class / division. (This changes the Notice of Race)
2.4 The China Cup Beneteau 40.7s teams need to do the passage race from HKG to Shenzhen with the cock-pit lockers on board even if they are not in place.
2.5 All entered boats shall comply with the requirements of ISAF’s Offshore Special Regulations for a Category 5 event, as modified by this sailing instruction, in respect of the carrying of safety equipment onboard throughout Race 1.
2.5.1 The following additional safety equipment shall be carried:
• a functioning engine, with fuel;
• one orange smoke hand-held flare;
• one red hand-held flare; and
• either a VHF radio or a mobile cellphone.
2.6 It is the responsibility of each boat owner/skipper to ensure full compliance with these minimum requirements. Failure to do so may result in disqualification as a result of a random inspection by the race committee before or after the race.
2.7 Boats shall not race with a projecting anchor stowed on the bow. Any boat that does not comply with this requirement may be subject to disqualification by the race committee without a hearing. (This changes rule 63.1).
3. NOTICES TO COMPETITORS:
Notices to competitors will be posted on the official notice-board in the RHKYC Course Room until 1000 hours on Friday 24th October 2008 and thereafter posted on the event notice-board at the Longcheer Yacht Club Office until 2200 hours on Monday 27th October 2008.
4. SAFE SAILING:
4.1 At all times, including when not racing, boats shall be careful to avoid any close quarters situation with commercial vessels. To this end, all commercial vessels of over 40 metres length overall (for vessels under tow, this length is from the bow of the towing vessel to the stern of the towed vessel) shall be given a “Moving Prohibited Zone” around the vessel when the vessel is underway, as detailed below. This “Moving Prohibited Zone” ranks as an obstruction for the purposes of Rules 18.5 and 19.
4.1.1 Whilst navigating in the open sea, the “Moving Prohibited Zone” means:
• Ahead of the vessel, 200 metres or two lengths of the vessel, whichever is the greater. For vessels under tow, 100 metres;
• Abeam of the vessel, 100 metres or two widths of the vessel, whichever is greater; and
• Astern of the vessel, 50 metres.
4.2 When a boat is alleged to have infringed any part of SI 4, another boat or the race committee may lodge a protest against it. If the protested boat is found to have contravened SI 4, the protest committee may let the results stand, adjust the boat’s score or finishing time, or make some other arrangement, including disqualification.
4.3 It is the intention of SI 4 to provide a framework for safe and fair sailing in accordance with the spirit of the RRS and the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (IRPCAS). Nothing in these sailing instructions shall relieve a boat from its obligations not to impede the passage of any commercial vessel that can only navigate within a narrow channel or fairway or requires considerable time to reduce speed or alter course.
5. CHANGES TO SAILING INSTRUCTIONS:
Any changes to the sailing instructions will be posted not later than three hours prior to the published start of the race to which the change applies except that any change to the schedule of races will be posted by 2000hours on the day prior to the day that the change will take effect.
6. SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
6.1 The schedule for the Regatta is based on the following:
Thurs. 23rd Oct. 08 Immigration clearance at RHKYC 1600 to 1900 hours
Skipper’s briefing at RHKYC 1830 hours
Welcome Party at RHKYC 1900 to 2100 hours
Fri. 24th Oct. 08 Simpson Marine Passage Race 1 – Starting 1000 hours
Hong Kong to LYC in Shenzhen
Immigration at LYC From 1400 hours
Opening Ceremony, Welcoming Banquet & 1700 to 2000 hours
Prizegiving at LYC
Sat. 25th Oct. 08 Race 2 – Windward/Leeward Starting 1100 hours
Race 3 – Windward/Leeward Starting ASAP after Race 2
Après-race Party & Prizegiving at the LYC 1800 to 2100 hours
Sun. 26th Oct. 08 Race 4 – Windward/Leeward Starting 1100 hours
Race 5 – Geometric/Islands Race Starting ASAP after Race 4
Après-race Party & Prizegiving at LYC 1800 to 2100 hours
*Immigration clearance at LYC From 1400 hours
(* For those boats and crew wishing to return to Hong Kong on Sunday evening)
Mon. 27th Oct. 08 Race 6 – Windward/Leeward Starting 1100 hours
China Cup Prizegiving at LYC 1800 to 2100 hours
*Immigration clearance at LYC From 1400 hours
(* For those boats and crew wishing to return to Hong Kong on Monday evening)
Tues. 28th Oct. 08 Immigration clearance at LYC From 0900 hours
6.2 If the scheduled SIX races are completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores excluding her worst score. If FIVE or less races are completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores (i.e. there will be no discarded score). A minimum of THREE races require to be completed to constitute a series warranting overall prizes.
6.3 Race 1 will not be started if local Storm Warning Signal No 3, or higher, is hoisted.
7. SAILING AREAS:
7.1 Race 1 will be started in the vicinity of Steep Island (Ching Chau) in waters to the east of Hong Kong and sailed northwards up to Daya Bay on the Mainland’s south coast.
7.2 Races 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 will be sailed out of Longcheer Yacht Club in and around Daya Bay.
8. CLASS FLAGS/STARTING ORDER:
8.1 Except if otherwise signalled by the race committee on the day for any reason, the order of starting for classes/divisions will be as follows, with the Class/Division Flags being:
Start Class/Division ICF
1st Open (if any) V
2nd HKPN W
3rd IRC Division B (if any) O
4th Beneteau First 40.7 F
5th IRC Division A U
If the above order of starting has to be changed for any reason on the day, boats shall react to the display of their Class Flag (warning signal) in the starting sequence and thereafter start at the drop of their Class Flag.
8.2 Depending on the number of entries, a change in order of starting may include the start of two classes/divisions being combined, in which case their two Class Flags will be hoisted simultaneously as their warning signal.
9. COURSES:
9.1 A List of Courses, from which the course to be sailed in each of the six races will be selected, is included as Attachment A hereto. The List and Notes therein form part of these sailing instructions.
9.2 The course selected to be sailed will be signalled no later than the warning signal for each class/division by the committee boat displaying the appropriate course number, together with a red or green flag/board to denote port or starboard hand roundings.
9.3 The approximate compass bearing from the committee boat to the first mark, the windward mark in Races 2, 3, 4 & 6 (and if laid in Races 1 and 5), may be displayed on a black/white board on the committee boat.
10. MARKS:
The marks for the races will be Club inflatable buoys (either orange or black in colour), Govt. navigation buoys, geographical features or islands. A Club inflatable buoy may be laid as the first mark of the course as a windward mark in Races 1 and 5.
11. THE START:
11.1 Races will be started by using Rule 26 signals, with the warning signal given FIVE minutes before the starting signal and with succeeding classes/divisions starting:
11.1.1 at five minute intervals, as signalled by the display of the warning signal of the succeeding class/division at the time of the starting signal of the preceding class/division;
OR
11.1.2 at any time after the starting signal for the preceding class/division by the display of the warning signal for the succeeding class/division.
11.2 In the waiting period after completion of a race, an “attention” signal (Flag ‘AP’ with one sound) will be made at least FIVE minutes before the warning signal for the first division or class to start in the next race. Flag ‘AP’ will be removed with one sound ONE minute before the warning signal.
11.3 The starting line for all races will be a line between the signal mast displaying an orange flag on the committee boat at the starboard end and an orange Club inflatable buoy laid as an Outer Distance Mark (ODM) at the port end. The committee boat may fly a blue flag or shape to indicate that “the line is in position”. (This changes RRS Race Signals).
11.4 An orange Club inflatable buoy may be laid as an Inner Distance Mark (IDM) at the committee boat end of the starting line. If laid, boats shall start by passing between the IDM and ODM in the direction of the course towards the first mark.
11.5 Boats whose preparatory signal has not been made shall keep clear of the starting area and out of the way of all boats whose preparatory signal has been made. The race committee may protest any boat which contravenes this instruction and impedes any boats which are about to start.
11.6 A boat shall not start any later than 15 minutes after her designated starting signal.
11.7 In the event that there is a General Recall, the ICF Pennant ‘First Substitute’ will be displayed for THREE minutes (only) after the affected class/division’s starting signal. No sound signal will be made when the ‘First Substitute’ is lowered. (This changes Rule 29.2 and RRS Race Signals).
11.8 The class/division creating a General Recall will NOT be started until all other succeeding classes/divisions have been started in the sequence prescribed in SI 8. A new warning signal will be made for the recalled class/division at the same time as the starting signal for the last scheduled class/division start. (This changes Rule 29.2). In the event of General Recalls for more than one class/division, the recalled classes/divisions will re-start at five minute intervals in the order originally scheduled.
12. CHANGE THE NEXT LEG OF THE COURSE:
12.1 In Races 2, 3, 4 and 6 only. The race committee may change the next leg of the course by laying a new mark of a different colour and remove the original mark as soon as practicable, all in accordance with Rule 33. The change of course will be signalled before the leading boat has begun the leg although the new mark may not yet be in position. Any mark to be rounded after rounding the new mark may be relocated to maintain the course configuration without further signalling. When in a subsequent change a new mark is replaced, it will be replaced by the original mark.
13. SHORTENED COURSES AND TIME LIMITS:
13.1 Race 1. The course for Race 1 may be shortened for any or all classes/divisions in accordance with SI 13.4 hereunder. Any boat which fails to cross the finishing line for a full or shortened course by 1800 hours on Friday 24 October will be scored DID NOT FINISH (DNF). (This changes Rule 35).
13.2 Races 2, 3, 4 and 6. The course for Races 2, 3, 4 and 6 may be shortened for any or all classes/divisions in accordance with SI 13.4 hereunder. Any boat which fails to cross the finishing line for a full or shortened course within TWO hours of their starting time will be scored DID NOT FINISH (DNF). (This changes Rule 35).
13.3 Race 5. The course for Race 5 may be shortened for any or all classes/divisions in accordance with SI 13.4 hereunder. Any boat which fails to cross the finishing line for a full or shortened course within FOUR hours of their starting time will be scored DID NOT FINISH (DNF). (This changes Rule 35).
13.4 A shortened course may be signalled in accordance with Rule 32 by the display of ICF S, accompanied by two sound signals from a Committee Boat on station at the position with the approx co-ordinates of N 22°27.50’ and E 114°35.00’ (RACE 1 ONLY) or any rounding mark of the course as the leading boat in a class/division approaches such mark. In addition, if only certain classes/divisions are to have their courses shortened, the class flags of the affected classes/divisions will be displayed under ICF S on the committee boat.
14. THE FINISH:
14.1 The location of the finishing line will be as specified in the course selected to be sailed in each race unless a shortened course has been signalled.
14.2 The finishing line will be a line between the signal mast displaying an orange flag on the committee boat at the starboard end and a Club inflatable buoy laid as an Outer Distance Mark (ODM) at the port end. The committee boat will fly a blue flag or shape to indicate that “this committee boat is in position at the finishing line”.
15. BOATS RETIRING:
Any boats retiring from a race shall advise the race committee as soon as possible, and before leaving the race area. Communication may be made to the race committee may be made by hail, by telephone (to Kellett VI on +852 9326 5908) or by VHF radio (on channel 72 or 77).
16. PROTESTS:
16.1 Protest forms will be available from the race committee boat. Any protest shall be delivered to the race office at Longcheer Yacht Club within the protest time limit.
16.2 The protest time limit will be ONE HOUR after the finishing time of the last boat in the last race of the day.
16.3 Notices will be posted within 30 minutes of the expiry of the protest time limit to inform competitors of hearings in which they are parties or named as witnesses. Hearings will be held in the protest room so designated at Longcheer Yacht Club, beginning as soon as possible and, if possible, in the order protest forms were received.
17. SCORING:
17.1 Boats’ finishing places in each race will be based on their individual corrected times as derived from their respective elapsed times and particular handicap or rating, thus:
17.1.1 IRC division : The Time Corrector (TCC) as printed on a boat’s current valid IRC certificate will be applied to its elapsed time.
Corrected Time = Elapsed Time x TCC
17.1.2 HKPN division : The boat’s HKPN number will be applied to its elapsed time, as follows;
Corrected Time = Elapsed Time x 1000/HKPN
17.2 Rule A4’s Low Point system of RRS Appendix A will apply for scoring boats’ race and series points.
18. COMMUNICATIONS:
18.1 A boat shall neither make radio, or mobile phone, transmissions while racing – EXCEPT in the case of emergencies – nor receive communications not available to all boats.
18.2 In the case of emergencies, boats are encouraged to use their communication systems to make, or respond to, calls for assistance. For this purpose, boats equipped with VHF radios are requested to keep a listening-watch on Channel 72 during the course of Race 1.
18.3 Boats carrying a mobile telephone may contact the race committee boat (Kellett VI) on 9326 5908 for assistance in emergencies.
18.4 Notwithstanding the above, the race committee may broadcast information to competitors on VHF Channel 72 before, at and/or after the start of ALL races in respect of delays/postponements, course selection, names/sail numbers of OCS boats and/or General Recalls. Boats are strongly advised to monitor Channel 72 with a deck loudspeaker or handheld VHF radio. Failure by any competitor to hear a race committee radio communication will not be grounds for redress.
18.5 A boat, without infringing Rule 41 (outside assistance), may request and receive repetition of information broadcast by the race committee, or be told whether or not a broadcast has been made
19. PRIZES:
19.1 The China Cup 2008 will be awarded to the winner of the China Cup Beneteau 40.7 class.
19.2 The Beneteau Cup will be awarded to the first placed Beneteau boat in the IRC division.
19.3 Simpson Marine Prizes will be awarded to the winner of each division (and/or any Classes in a division) of Race 1.
19.4 Other China Cup 2008 prizes will be awarded for boats in the first three positions in the overall series scores for each division (and/or any Classes in a division). Day prizes will be presented to the first placed boats (only) in each division/class at the Nightly Prizegiving, with the major and overall prizes being presented at the Monday night Prizegiving.
19.5 Other prizes may be awarded at the discretion of the race committee.
20. DISCLAIMER:
Competitors participate in the Regatta entirely at their own risk. See Rule 4 – Decision to Race. The organising authority will not accept any liability for material damage or personal injury or death sustained in conjunction with or prior to, during or after the regatta.
ATTACHMENT A - CHINA CUP 2008 LIST OF COURSES AND NOTES
COURSES FOR RACE ONE - PASSAGE RACE on Friday 24 October 2008
NOTES:
1. All marks are rounding marks unless denoted as a passing mark by “/pass”.
2. The location of the finishing line will be just to the east of Longcheer Yacht Club marina in Daya Bay, China with the Committee Boat anchored at the position with the approx co-ordinates of:
N 22º 34.00’ and E 114º 34.20’.
3. In case of a shortened course, the Committee Boat will be on station at the position with the approx. co-ordinates of: N 22°27.50’ and E 114°35.00’ or any rounding mark of the course as the leading boat in a class/division approaches such mark.
Course No 1 (Distance: Approximately 32 nm)
Starting line In vicinity of Steep Is. (Ching Chau), Hong Kong
Windward Mark (if laid) P/S* *as signalled
Basalt Island.(Fo Shek Chau) P
Tuoning Liedao Islands S
Finishing line In vicinity of Longcheer YC. (See Note 2 above).
Course No 2 (Distance: Approximately 34 nm)
Starting line In vicinity of Steep Is. (Ching Chau), Hong Kong
Windward Mark (if laid) P/S* *as signalled
North Ninepin (Pak Kuo Chau) P
Basalt Island (Fo Shek Chau) P/pass.
Tuoning Liedao Islands S
Finishing line In vicinity of Longcheer YC. (See Note 2 above).
COURSES FOR RACES TWO, THREE, FOUR & SIX - WINDWARD/LEEWARD or TRAPEZOID RACES on Saturday, Sunday & Monday 25, 26 & 27 October 2008
NOTES:
1. Marks of the course will be inflatable Club buoys and are identified as:
A a windward mark;
A1 an offset mark (if laid) to the windward mark, laid approx 50 metres to one side of Mark A;
C a leeward mark (which may also be the start line ODM).
2. If C is laid as the leeward mark in addition to and independent of, the starting line ODM, it is not a mark of the course for the first leg after the start.
3. If A1 is laid, it will be a mark of the course and boats shall leave this on the same side as for all other marks, as signalled by the race committee boat. However it has no side until Mark A has been rounded.
4. Except for the starting line and finishing line ODM (and any IDM), all marks are rounding marks.
Windward/Leeward Course No 3 (Distance: Approximately 8 nm)
ROUND 1 Start – A + A1* – C *if laid
ROUND 2 – A + A1* – C *if laid
ROUND 3 – Finish at A
Windward/Leeward Course No 4 (Distance: Approximately 6.5 nm)
ROUND 1 Start – A + A1* – C *if laid
ROUND 2 – A + A1* – Finish at C *if laid
ATTACHMENT A - CHINA CUP 2008 LIST OF COURSES AND NOTES/Contd.
NOTES:
1. Marks of the course will be inflatable Club buoys and are identified as:
Mark A a windward mark of inner trapezoid;
Mark B a windward mark of outer trapezoid;
Mark C a leeward mark of outer trapezoid;
Mark D a leeward mark of inner trapezoid
2. Boats are not required to pass through the start/finishing line except on the starting and finishing legs.
3. Except for the starting line and finishing line ODM (and any IDM), all marks are rounding marks.
Trapezoid Course No 5 (Distance: Approximately 8 nm)
ROUND 1 Start – A – D – A
ROUND 2 – B – C
ROUND 3 – D – Finish
Trapezoid Course No 6 (Distance: Approximately 6.5 nm)
ROUND 1 Start – A – B – C
ROUND 2 – B – C
ROUND 3 – D – Finish
COURSES FOR RACE FIVE – GEOMETRIC/ISLANDS RACE on Sunday 26 October 2008
NOTES:
1. The decision whether to set a Geometric Course or an Islands Course will be made on the day depending on the wind strength.
2. For a Geometric Course, marks of the course will be inflatable Club buoys and identified as:
A a windward mark;
B a gybe mark
C a leeward mark (which may also be the start line ODM).
3. If C is laid as the leeward mark in addition to, and independent of, the starting line ODM, it is not a mark of the course for the first leg after the start.
4. For an Island Course, marks of the course will be a combination of inflatable Club buoys, islands
and a Government navigation buoy. The Club marks are identified as:
A a windward mark
C a leeward mark (acting also as start/finish line ODM)
The position of the Govt. navigation buoy is due north of the Dalajia Islands at the approximate co-
ordinates of: N 22º 36.62’ and E 114º 38.90’.
5. Except for the starting line and finishing line ODM (and any IDM), all marks are rounding marks
unless denoted as a passing mark thus “ -/pass “.
Geometric Course No 7 (Distance: Approximately 10 nm)
ROUND 1 Start – A – B – C
ROUND 2 – A – C *if laid
ROUND 3 – A – Finish at C
Islands Course No 8 (Distance: Approximately 19 nm)
Starting Line In vicinity of Longcheer YC in Daya Bay
Mark A P/S* as signalled
Dalajia Dao P/pass
Govt. Navigation Buoy P (see Note 4)
Finish at Mark C
