The scheduled time of the first warning signal for the first race of the day will be as listed in the 2024/2025 sailing calendar.

All races will be governed by the current Australian Sailing Racing Rules of Sailing (2021-2024), the prescriptions and safety regulations of Sailing Australia and the applicable class association rules, all as modified by the sailing instructions. All races for the 2024-2025 season will adhere to the 2021-2024 Racing Rules of Sailing book, despite this being updated on January 1, 2025.

A. Marks of the course shall normally be predominantly red, orange or yellow buoys approximately 1.5 metres above the water.

B. Courses are as per attached Appendices 2 & 3.
C. Flag Significations:
i. Port Course – a red flag indicates a port course. All marks shall be left to port.
ii. Starboard Course – a green flag indicates a starboard course. All marks shall be left to starboard.
iii. The Division flag shall be displayed from the committee boat and will be designated using numerical code flags which correspond with the division/course number.ie. Numeric 1 = Div 1/Course 1.

D. Committee Vessel: The committee vessel shall fly the burgee of the Rosebud Yacht Club whilst on duty.

The descriptions in Appendix 3 outline the course to be sailed in each session.

The starting line is a line from the mast of the committee vessel to a buoy on the port end of the line. Yachts starting shall cross the line in the direction of the first mark to be rounded after the start. An anti-barging buoy may be moored from the committee vessel and yachts shall not pass between this buoy and the committee vessel after the preparatory signal. When any part of a yacht’s hull is over the starting line during the minute before its starting signal it shall be disqualified unless the yacht returns to the pre-start side of the line by sailing around the outside of one of the starting marks prior to starting. A yacht touching a starting mark before starting may exonerate herself as prescribed in rule 44.1 (Taking a Penalty)
Boats whose warning signal has not been made shall avoid the starting area during the starting sequence for other Divisions.
The start boat shall fly a yellow flag to indicate “back to back” races.

A rounding mark (code flag “Y”) must be rounded on the correct hand immediately prior to finishing at the Finishing Line. At all other times, mark “Y” should be disregarded. The 5 knot speed limit zone pile (approx 500m north of the RoYC) is a designated shallow water mark and yachts finishing shall pass between the finish mark and this shallow water mark. The finish mark shall be a small triangular buoy. The shallow water mark may not be exactly on the finish line, and it is the responsibility of each skipper to ensure that the finish line is crossed. Yachts after finishing shall immediately clear the finishing line and shall also keep clear of yachts still racing, and manoeuvre to avoid interference to the control tower. Failure to comply with any of the above shall lead to disqualification for failing to Finish.

Race times will be recorded by the tower.

The committee vessel shall fly all signals –
a) Warning Signal – 3 minutes prior to Start of Division – division flag(s) displayed
b) Preparatory Signal – 2 minutes prior to Start of Division – code flag P is displayed.
c) One minute Signal – 1 minute prior to the Start of Division – code flag P removed.

d) Starting Signal – the division flag(s) shall be removed.
e) Attention may be drawn to each signal with one sound signal. In the event of a misfiring or mistiming of any of the sound signals, all times shall be taken from visual signals only.
f) The warning signal for each succeeding division shall be made with or after the starting signal of the preceding class.

a) Individual Recall – if a yacht or yachts are over the starting line when the start signal is given, code flag ‘X’ shall be flown promptly and one additional sound signal may be given. The onus lies with the offenders to restart. Yachts returning to the start line shall pass around the outside of the committee vessel or the start mark prior to starting. Yachts failing to return and restart in the prescribed manner shall be disqualified.

b) General Recall – where there are a number of unidentifiable premature starters or an error in the starting procedure has been made, a general recall shall be indicated by displaying the ‘First Substitute’ pennant, and two additional sound signals may be given. The committee vessel will endeavour to notify yachts but the onus lies with the offenders to restart. The warning signal for the start will be made 1 minute after removal of the ‘First Substitute’. Yachts failing to return and restart in the prescribed manner shall be disqualified. The starts for any succeeding divisions shall follow the new start.

c) After two consecutive General Recalls, Rule 30.4 (Black Flag) will apply.

When the blag flag is hoisted, no boat is permitted to cross the start line at any time in the final 60 seconds before the start. “Abandon hope all ye who enter here…” The aim of the black flag is for the race committee to discourage an over-eager fleet from crossing the start line too soon

If it is decided to shorten the course, code flag ‘S’ shall be flown on the committee vessel, at or near a mark of the course. Division flags flown in conjunction with the ‘S’ flag shall specify which individual divisions are affected. If no division flag is flown, the shortened course signal shall apply to all divisions racing. Two sound signals may be given to draw attention to the code flags.
The onus is always upon the skipper to know when the shortened course flag applies to their yacht.
When the course has been shortened, skippers shall pass the relevant mark on the correct side, then head to the finish line and finish in accordance with the sailing instructions. The onus is on all boats to complete what the lead boat has completed, and each skipper is responsible for knowing their position relative to the lead boat.

Races abandoned, cancelled or postponed shall be signalled in accordance with AUSTRALIAN SAILING Rule 32. Details of races re-scheduled or to be re-sailed shall be displayed on the club notice board or be given in the current race calendar.
Club events shall be postponed or abandoned if:-
a) Conditions are unsafe for sailing or controlling the fleet
b) The event cannot be started within 1.5 hours of the published start time.
All events shall be abandoned if any of the above reasons apply, and in addition the race committee may abandon or cancel the race at any time for any reason as provided in AUSTRALIAN SAILING Rule 32 or if there are insufficient starters.

To signal an abandonment on the water, the race committee will make three consecutive sound signals and display flag N (meaning return to the starting area for a new start), flag N over H (meaning return to the harbor and await further instructions) or flag N over A (mean -ing no more races that day).

N over A
All races are abandoned. No more racing today.

The point score system shall be as specified in the Notice of Race.

a) All protests shall be in writing and in strict conformity with AUSTRALIAN SAILING RRS Part 5 Section A. Protests will be lodged with the Officer of the Day within one hour of the finishing time of the last yacht in their division.
b) There shall be no protest fee.
c) The time and place of the hearing of the protest shall be notified on the notice board within one hour of all parties concerned coming ashore.

Any alterations to these instructions shall be made in writing and displayed on the club notice board. Such posting shall constitute official notice to each yacht in accordance with AUSTRALIAN SAILING Rule 88.2. The posting of any alteration shall take place not less than one hour prior to the start of any race.

Race results may be displayed on the club notice board and/or club website , as soon as practical after the race.

Regatta headquarters shall be the Rosebud Yacht Club area adjacent to the control tower including the club notice board.

Enforcement of alleged measurement deficiencies or non compliance with class rules shall be by means of a protest. Measurement checks may be carried out at any time at the discretion of the Sailing Committee.

A minimum of 3 starters shall be required to initiate a start.

Trophies shall be awarded in accordance with the Notice of Race.

All those taking part in the Rosebud Yacht Club races do so at their own risk and responsibility. The Rosebud Yacht Club is not responsible for the seaworthiness of a yacht whose entry is accepted or the sufficiency or adequacy of its equipment or any loss, damage or injury incurred afloat or ashore to any competing yacht, crew or equipment.
Attention is drawn to the AUSTRALIAN SAILING fundamental Rule 4, which states, “It shall be the sole responsibility of each yacht to decide whether or not to start or to continue to race”. The Rosebud Yacht Club reserves the right to refuse any entry.

Determining the times of high and low tide is the responsibility of each individual skipper.

Not applicable to normal club racing.

Entries – each skipper intending to start shall, prior to the warning signal, signify their intention to compete by signing on the “Sign on” form, located in the racing headquarters area. The Race Committee shall disqualify any skipper who fails to observe this requirement.

A declaration by each skipper that they have finished in accordance with these sailing instructions shall be signed within one hour of finishing. (In the case of “Back to Back” races, sign off within one hour of finishing the last race). A skipper who retires shall, not later than one hour after the last yacht finishes, signify their retirement. The Race Committee shall disqualify any skipper who fails to observe the above requirements.

The 720 degree penalty as provided in AUSTRALIAN SAILING rule 44 shall apply to Division 2 and 3 Starters, and a 360 degree penalty shall apply to Division 1 Starters for infringement of any rule of Part 2.

Handicap adjustments shall be at the discretion of the handicapper.

Appeals shall be governed by AUSTRALIAN SAILING RRS Appendix R

Oral instructions may be given by the Officer of the Day or the Sailing Committee if necessary, and such shall be signalled by the hoisting of three balls on the tower, raising code flag “L” and one sound signal shall be given. This shall be done no later than 45 minutes before the start for the first class.

May be provided by the Race Committee.

Helpful links:

Briefing prior to a race may be given in the compound adjacent to the control tower. When such a briefing is to be held it shall commence at least 45 minutes prior to the scheduled start time.

As per AUSTRALIAN SAILING rule 34.
a) When any mark either is missing or has shifted, the Race Committee shall, where possible, replace it in its stated position or substitute a new one with similar characteristics or a buoy or vessel displaying code flag “M”.
b) When it is impossible either to replace the mark or to substitute a new one in time for the yachts to round or pass it, the Race Committee may at its discretion, act in accordance with AUSTRALIAN SAILING rule 32/33 (postponing, abandoning or cancelling a race and changing or shortening course)

A lead boat may be provided. The boat shall fly code flag “L” when acting in this capacity.

The maximum number of races which shall be conducted in a session is two. The committee boat shall fly a yellow flag at the commencement of the race to signal that there will be back to back races in a session.
In the event that the committee boat changes from one race to two in a session after the commencement of the first race in that session, the committee boat shall notify all boats by the flying of a yellow flag at the finish line, and may draw attention to it with a sound signal.