RCYC Notice of Race 
  Royal Cape Yacht Club    
home sailing Sailing Instructions

Notice of Race
(effective 1 July 2008)

  1. Rules

    Races will be governed by the International Sailing Federation, Racing Rules of Sailing 2005 - 2008 & 2009 - 2012 when appropriate (RRS) The Equipment Rules of Sailing 2005-2008 & 2009 - 2012 when appropriate (ERS). The Merchant Shipping (National Small Vessels Safety) Regulations 2007 - Category C and D where appropriate for Racing on Table Bay and its surrounds; the Class Rules of participating classes; The IRC 2008 Rules Parts 1, 2 & 3 (IRC Classes). This Notice of Race, or any specific Notice of Race issued for a particular Event, the Sailing Programme as issued which may be amended from time to time, and the current Sailing Instructions (dated 1st July 2008) and any amendments thereof as posted on the Notice Board. In the event of contradictions, the interpretations of the Protest Committee shall be final and binding upon all participants Changes to the Rules:

    1. RRS: Race Signals: by SI 5. (Change of course)
    2. RRS 35 by SI 12. (Race time limits)
    3. IRC -Class Rules 27.4.3 and 27.4.4 by SI 13.1 (Crew limits)
    4. RRS 61.3 by SI 15.2 (Protest time limits)
    5. RRS A2 by SI 16 (Scoring)

  2. Start Times

    The races are set out in the Sailing Calendar.
    The Warning Signal for the first class in a race will be not earlier than:

    1. Bay Races: 11h55
    2. Winter/Autumn/Spring/Summer Series: 13h55
    3. Wednesday Twilight Racing: 17h45
    4. If less than 5 entries have been received, 1 (one) hour before the scheduled Warning Signal, the race may be cancelled.
    The Notice of Race and/or the Sailing Instructions, of specific Regattas/Events, may change these times.

  3. Entries

    Members and signed in visitors, wishing to race are required to enter by filling the details on the Entry List/Entry Form for the Race on the Notice Board. Entries must show the Yacht Name, Sail Number, Skippers Name and Yacht Class. The Race Officer may accept late entries by telephone (021 421 7959), or VHF Ch 06 up to the Warning Signal of the Race. If you do not enter you may not be scored. Competitors whose Club accounts are in arrear will be excluded from the results.

  4. Discards

    The discards are specified in the Sailing Instructions.

  5. Courses

    Courses may be displayed on the Notice Board not less than 60mins before the Start of the Race, and/or announced on Channel 06 VHF radio. The positions of the RCYC fixed marks are:

    NameDescriptionApproximate Position
    1. RCYC Start HutOrange Hut on WallS33°54.29' E18°26.60'
    2. No. 10 Harbour MarkYellow SteelS33°54.08' E18°26.87'
    3. No. 8 Harbour MarkBRB: 2x ballsS33°53.61' E18°26.75'
    4. No. 4 Harbour MarkR: SquareS33°53.87' E18°26.44'
    5. No. 2 Harbour MarkR: SquareS33°53.05' E18°26.23'
    6. No. 1 Harbour MarkG: TriangleS33°53.08' E18°25.84'
    7. Landfall Harbour Mark (Fairway)RW: 1 ballS33°51.97' E18°25.57'
    8. Daeying FamilyNorth Cardinal MarkS33°50.42' E18°23.14'
    9. Barker Rock (North Lion's Paw)RockS33°55.84' E18°21.82'
    10. RCYC MilnertonYellow steel sphere S33°52.70' E18°28.72'
    11. RCYC Paarden IslandYellow steel sphereS33°54.31' E18°28.09'
    12. Woodbridge MarkYellow steel sphereS33°53.60' E18°28.15'
    13. RCYC BloubergYellow 3 plastic spheresS33º49.83' E18º27.91'
    14. Container MarkYellow steel sphereS33º54.12' E18º27.10'

  6. Classes/Handicap Ratings

    Classes are divided into IRC and Club Ratings, but there must be 5 starters to constitute a Class or a Race or a Series. The Race Committee reserve the right to subdivide the fleet into different Classes, dependant on entries, including a non-spinnaker class.
    Classes are currently subdivided as follows:

    IRC TCFCLUB TCF
    Class 1Greater than 0.937Greater than 0.999
    Class 20.848 to 0.9370.900 to 0.995
    Class 3less than 0.848less than 0.900

    The mono hull fleet can also be split in Divisions, Racer (6.999 and under), Cruiser/Racer (7.0 to 9.499), Cruiser (9.5 and above) based on this formula "displacement divided by total sail area (main & largest jib) and then divided by length overall".
    Club Handicap, the Sailing Office will allocate TCF's. Owner/Skippers shall obtain a rating application form, which must be completed and returned to the Sailing Office. The Owner/Skipper of any yacht that has had changes made to any of the dimensions of any of it's sails, hull or rig measurements, since the issue IRC Rating, or a Club TCF, shall submit a new IRC or RCYC Club Handicap application form, showing such changes to the Sailing Office, so that the boat's TCF ratings can be reviewed. TCF's will be allocated based on current information, and can be updated on an "ad hoc" basis.

  7. Prizes

    Details of the Prize Giving and the Trophies will be in the Programme or on the Notice Board, and/or the Club Newsletters.

  8. General

    • Obey the Harbour Regulations at all times
    • Keep a listening watch on VHF Channel 14 whilst in the Harbour area.
    • All yachts sailing from the Royal Cape Yacht Club basins must have a person on board in possession of a valid "SA Sailing Skippers Certificate" appropriate for the distance being sailed. All yachts must have on board a valid SAMSA/SAS "Certificate of Fitness" or if less than 9metres the RCYC Safety Declaration Form and copies must also be on file in the Sailing Office
    • All yachts leaving the RCYC Basins must be SIGNED "OUT" AND "IN" in the Registers at Reception or the Security Hut at the Elliot Basin.

Sailing Instructions

home sailing