Sailing Instructions

Perämeri Open 2022

1. RULES

The regatta will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing (WS) 2017 - 2020 including Appendix B and F, Winter Windsurfing Racing Rules WWR4, the Notice of Race,  Skippers' meetings and these Sailing Instructions.

No national authority prescriptions will apply.

If there is a conflict between languages, the English text will take precedence.

If there is a conflict between Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions, Sailing Instructions are ruling.

2. NOTICE TO COMPETITORS

Notices to competitors will be posted on the Official Notice Board (ONB) at the Race Office and Facebook event

3. CHANGES TO SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

Any changes to these Sailing Instructions will be posted at least one (1) hour before the warning signal of the race in which the change(s) will take effect, except that any change to the schedule of races will be posted by 18.00hrs local time, on the day before the change(s) will take effect.

4. SIGNALS AND CLASS FLAGS

Signals made ashore will be displayed on ice, near the starting line of the class(es) in question.

Signals are the flags shown and explained at the first skippers. A sound will be played (fog horn or similar) at the time when signals are given. The sound is only assisting method of signaling, signal flags are official method of signaling.

When flag AP is displayed ashore, "1 minute" is replaced with "not less than 30 minutes" in the race signal AP.

Classes will run separately on different racing areas, but sailboard and wing classes may have joint starts in Course and STS races. Class flags will indicate which classes are competing.

Class flags are shown and explained in the first skippers meeting

5. SCHEDULE OF RACES

Saturday 12.3.2022

8:30 - 9:30 Registration for Perämeri Open 2022 at Rantakalla

10:00 Skippers' meeting at Keskuskari

11:00 First possible warning signal for start

18:00 Last possible warning signal for start

Soonest possible after the last race: Prize giving ceremony at Rantakalla

6. NUMBER OF RACES 

The maximum number of course races are 6

7. RACING AREAS AND COURSES

Racing areas and courses will be described in skippers meetings.

8. MARKS

Starting line, finishing line, offset and other marks will be described at skippers meetings.

9. THE START

Races shall be started by using signals given for each of the classes. Signals will be flag signals (visual) and sound signals. The time will be taken from the visual signals; the absence of a sound signal shall be disregarded.

Race Officer or Judge of the class(es) will point out the starting line and starting order prior to the start.

Competitors whose warning signal has not been given shall avoid the starting and racing area.

10. THE STARTING PROCEDURE FOR SAILBOARD AND WING CLASSES, COURSE RACE

A competitor starting later than three (3) minutes after his/ her starting signal will be scored Did Not Start (DNS).

Rules 29 - Recalls and 30 - Starting penalties will be applied.

Sailboard and wing classes will start by standing on the starting line, in order described by the Judge of the class(es).

Starting order for sailboards and wings will be determined by a random draw made by Judge of the class(es) prior to the first start of the day in question.

The starting line will be marked with numbered starting lanes approximately three (3) meters wide.

All competitors shall start on port tack, if not described otherwise by Judge of the class(es).

After start signal competitors shall not change tack from their designated starting tack until they have moved forward at least 30 meters from the starting line (on the area between the starting line and leeward mark).

Races shall be started by using signals given for each of the classes. Time will be taken from the visual signals; the absence of a sound signal shall be disregarded.

Starting signals:

Class flag up and short sounds: 1 minute to start

Class flag down and one long sound: start

11. THE STARTING PROCEDURE FOR KITE CLASS, COURSE RACE

Kites will have flying starts. Each competitor shall select his/ her starting position by dynamically maneuvering his/ her kite towards the starting line. Right-of-way rules apply from the preparatory signal until the race is finished. Competitor who does not respect the rules may be disqualified from the race in question.

Competitors shall start on port tack, if not described otherwise by Judge of the class.

During the last minute before starting signal competitors shall move towards starting line. See RRS Appendix F rule 22 Starting errors; Taking penalties; jumping. Stopping the kite near or on starting line is forbidden.

After start signal competitors shall not change tack from their designated starting tack until they have moved forward at least 30 meters from the starting line (on the area between the starting line and leeward mark).

Races shall be started by using flag signals and sound signals Time will be taken from the visual signals; the absence of a sound signal shall be disregarded.

Starting signals for flying starts:

Waving class flag and short sounds: prepare for starting sequence.

Class flag up and one sound: 3 minutes to start

Preparatory flag up one sound: 2 minutes to start

Preparatory flag down and one sound: 1 minute to start

Class flag down and one long sound: start

12. THE FINISHING

The finishing line will be pointed out with marks.

Competitors shall clear their racing and other equipment off the finishing area immediately after crossing finishing line. Competitors not doing so may be disqualified from the race in question.

13. PENALTY SYSTEM FOR COURSE RACING

For wing and kite classes: two-turn penalty (720°) will apply. For sailboards one-turn penalty (360°) will apply. The competitor must, in all cases when executing his/ her penalty, sail clearly away from other competitors and do the two-turn penalty without risking others around him/ her; all obligations of rules 44.1 and 44.2 shall be respected.

14. TIME LIMITS, COURSE RACING

The time limit in a race: the leading competitor shall reach the windward mark within 15 minutes or finish the race within 45 minutes after starting signal. The race shall be abandoned if these time limits are exceeded.

Competitors who do not finish the race within 15 minutes after the first competitor, who has sailed the course and finished within time limits, will be scored Did Not Finish (DNF).

15. PROTESTS AND REQUESTS FOR REDRESS

Possible protests will be handled by arbitration of judges during the race.

16. SCORING

Scoring for course racing:

The Low Point System of Appendix B 8.3 will apply.

A minimum of three (3) course races is required for a valid Championship.

Discards:

0 - 3 completed races —› 0 discards

Competitor's series score will be the total of his/ her race scores.

4 - 6 completed races —› 1 discard

Competitor's series score will be the total of his/ her race scores excluding his/ her worst score.

17. SAFETY REGULATIONS

Helmets are required in order to participate in a race. Other safety equipment and clothing approriate for the weather conditions are also recommended.

Competitors will have to assess their own abilities and their equipment to make sure they are able to start or proceed on a race without risk, after taking into consideration the strength of the wind, surface conditions and weather forecast.

A competitor that retires from a race shall notify the race committee as soon as possible.

20. EQUIPMENT RESTRICTIONS

The sail size for the Sled class is restricted to 10.0 m2 in a course race.

21. DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY

Competitors participate in the regatta in question entirely at their own risk. See rule four (4), Decision to Race. The organizing authority will not accept any liability for material damage or personal injury or death sustained in conjuction with or prior to, during or after the regatta in question.

22. INSURANCE

Each participating competitor shall be insured with valid third-party liability insurance.

Have a good and fair race!