BSSC Racing

Participating in the racing program is a great way to build sailing skills. Our race programs are designed for new and experienced racers alike. The BSSC Race Program includes weekend race series under PHRF handicapping. These races are either short distance (around the buoys) or long distance (for example, to Lexington and back). In addition, there is the annual Bark Shanty Regatta. Attracting sailors from across Lake Huron, it’s one of the many highlights to the BSSC Racing season. BSSC is an active member in both the Lake Huron Yachting Association (LHYA) and the United States Sailing Association (USSA). You’ll find a BSSC boat in almost every major Lake Huron race, including Bayview’s famous Port Huron to Mackinac race.

Really Simplified Racing Rules

Racing can be intimidating in part because the rules are not easy to understand. NO MORE!

These rules have been written simply to make it less daunting initially to ‘race’. They do not substitute or contravene the full ISAF Racing Rules - they are just an easy way in for beginners to learn them.

These are about as simple and straightforward as you can get. 10 simple rules that will keep you out of trouble and let you know what to expect from other boats racing. The ISAF President, Paul Henderson, has recommended the following highly simplified racing rules for club competition.

Ten Racing Rule Commandments from ISAF's President

  1. Port keeps clear of starboard
  2. Windward keeps clear of leeward
  3. The boat astern keeps clear of the boat ahead
  4. A boat Tacking or Jibing keeps clear of one that is not
  5. Avoid collisions. Racing Rules are defensive to prevent collisions not offensive racing tactics
  6. If you gain right of way or change course, give the other boat time to keep clear
  7. The inside boat(s) at two boat lengths from the mark is entitled to room to round the mark
  8. A boat that is backing up or not racing keeps clear
  9. If you have violated a rule, take a penalty
  10. It is better to give way than to spend hours in a protest room.

Simplified Racing Rules

The next step, from USSailing adds a bit more explanations. This is available from USSailing as a laminated card.

US SAILING

Summary of the Rules That Apply When Boats Meet

Simplified, Condensed, Unofficial

Below is a summary of the sailing rules that apply most often on the race course. This summary is intended as an aid to sailors and not as a substitute for the Racing Rules ofSailing, a copy of which all racing sailors should own. See reverse side for more information about the Racing Rules of Sailing.

RIGHT-OF-WAY RULES

PORT-STARBOARD. Port-tack boats must keep clear of starboard-tack boats. (Rule 10) Note: You are "keeping clear" of another boat when she doesn't have to avoid you.

WINDWARD-LEEWARD. When boats are overlapped on the same tack, the windward boat must keep clear. (Rule 11)

ON SAME TACK, ASTERN-AHEAD. When boats are on the same tack and not overlapped, the boat clear astern must keep clear. (Rule 12) Note: One boat is "clear astern" if she's entirely behind a line through the other boat's aft-most point, perpendicular to the other boat. The other boat is "clear ahead." Two boats are "overlapped" if neither is clear ahead of the other.

TACKING TOO CLOSE. Before you tack, make sure your tack will keep you clear of all other boats. (Rule 13)

LIMITATIONS ON RIGHT OF WAY

If the other boat must keep clear, you have "right of way". Even if you have right of way, there are limitations on what you can do:

AVOID CONTACT. You must avoid contact with other boats, but a right-of-way boat will not be penalized under this rule unless the contact causes damage. (Rule 14)

ACQUIRING RIGHT OF WAY. When you do something to become the right-of-way boat, you must give the other boat a chance to get away from you. (Rule 15)

CHANGING COURSE. When you change course, you must give the other boat a chance to keep clear. (Rule 16)

ON THE SAME TACK; PROPER COURSE. If you are overlapped to leeward of a boat on the same tack, and if just before the overlap began you were clear astern of her, you cannot sail above your proper course (i.e., the course that will take you to the next mark the fastest) while you remain overlapped. (Rule 17.1)

PASSING MARKS AND OBSTRUCTIONS

There is a set of special rules for boats that are about to pass a mark or obstruction. However, these special rules don't apply between boats on opposite tacks on a beat to windward. (Rule 18.1)

Except at a starting mark, you must give boats overlapped inside you room to pass a mark or obstruction, and boats clear astern must keep clear of you.

There's a two-length zone around marks and obstructions, and a boat's rights and obligations with respect to another boat are "frozen" when the first of them enters that zone. If you are clear astern of another boat when she enters the zone, you must keep clear of her until both boats are past the mark or obstruction, even if you later become overlapped inside her. (Rule 18.2)

TACKING NEAR A MARK. Don't tack within the two-length zone at a windward mark if you will cause a boat that is fetching the mark to sail above close-hauled to avoid you, or if you will prevent her from passing the mark. (Rule 18.3)

ROOM TO TACK AT AN OBSTRUCTION. When boats are on the same tack on a beat and come to an obstruction, the leeward boat gets to decide which way they are going to pass it. If the leeward boat hails for room to tack, the other boat must give it to her; but the leeward boat must give the other boat time to respond before she tacks. (Rule 19)

OTHER RULES

Before your Preparatory Signal, and after you finish, don't interfere with boats that are about to start or are racing. (Rule 22.1)

If you break a rule while racing, get away from other boats and do two 360-degree turns; if you hit a mark, do one turn. (Rules 20 and 44) Note: Sometimes the Sailing Instructions require you to fly a flag acknowledging that you broke a rule, instead of doing turns.
(Rule 44)

If you start too soon, keep clear of others until you get behind the line again.
(Rules 20 and 29)

Copyright © 2001 United States Sailing Association

 

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The Racing Rules of Sailing 2005-2008

Rules of racing are governed by the International Sailing Federation and are revised and published every 4 years. The new edition takes effect January 1, 2005.

 

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Starting Sequence

This starting procedure is standard for all club races. We use a slightly modified version of the standard race rules.


5 minutes before the Start, the class flag (white) will be flown and a sound signal made. This is the race warning signal, boats are still required to proceed in accordance with the International Rules for the Prevention of Collision at Sea [IRPCS] ie, as you would normally sail if you had no intention of racing.

4 minutes before the Start, the Preparatory flag (blue) will be flown and a sound signal made. You are now under the Class Racing Rules, though you must still observe the rules with regard to boats not racing.

1 minute before the start, the Preparatory flag is lowered and a sound signal is made.

0 At the Start, a sound signal will be made and the class flag is lowered. Remember that the lowering of the flag, not the sound signal, is the moment of the actual start.

 

Rating Systems

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Last Updated : January 15, 2005