RCYC Sailing Regulations  
  Royal Cape Yacht Club    
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General Sailing Regulations
The standards are elementary and basic, and apply particularly to the handling of pleasure craft in and around the Port of Cape Town, Table Bay and surrounds.
Special Moorings
 Special Arrival Moorings for visitors have been arranged - numbered A42 and A43 - clearly marked, at the entrance to the Small Craft Basin. Check in there and proceed to the office where you will be attended to and given a permanent station for your craft. Skippers will be required to uphold the standards and comply with R.C.Y.C. and Port Regulations at all times.
The Club enjoys a very healthy relationship with the Port Authorities and Department of Transport (Marine Division) which we wish to maintain.

All Skippers must have a knowledge of the following:

Rule of the Road
Knowledge of the contents of the International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea (COLREGS). Steering and sailing rules, lights, sound signals and shapes.
Harbour Regulations
As applicable to vessels entering and leaving port and of the recognition of lighthouses in and around Cape Town.

Table Bay Harbour Regulations applying to Small Craft:

  1. No small craft shall anchor in any channel of the harbour navigable by ocean-going vessels, except by permission of the Port Captain, and such craft shall at all times be kept out of the way of ocean-going vessels under way in any channel or navigable area of the harbour.

  2. It is important to remember, always proceed with caution in commecial shipping areas. A large vessel may appear to be proceeding slowly, but it is a fact that most travel at speeds upwards of seven knots when approaching the breakwater and dock entrances. Port Control restricted area is within a line extending from Green Point Lighthouse to Robben Island Lighthouse. Northern limit of Port is a line from Robben Island Lighthouse to 090 T to coast.

  3. The yellow emergency buoy at the entrance to the Yacht Basin must be left to port on leaving and starboard on entering. Speed in the Yacht Basin is not to exceed three knots.

  4. At all times Club Regulations appertaining to boat equipment for specific Classes must be complied with. All RCYC registered craft must display their allocated SA no. on the Transom in compliance with Harbour Regulations.

  5. On entering and leaving any Dock or Basin or breakwater, all craft, whether under motor or sail shall keep to the starboard side of the entrance.

  6. When entering or leaving the Port of Cape Town a listening watch is to be maintained on Ch 14.
    Visitors, or local yachts having been absent for more than three months, are to advise Port Control of their intention to enter/leave the port and to request permission the enter the V&A basin

  7. At all times, skippers must monitor commercial shipping movements by way of Port Control Light Signals which are situated at the top of the Port Control Building between the Duncan Dock and Victoria Basin entrances, viz:

    Ben Schoeman Dock
    Duncan Dock
    Victoria Basin    		 Red
    Green
    Orange    		 When a light is flashing a vessel is entering.
    When a light is fixed a vessel is sailing.
    Two lights could mean an internal movement

  8. V.H.F.Channel 16 is to be used only for initial Contact and receiving purposes and distress. It is not to be used as a general talking frequency, ship-to-ship Channel 6 is to be used.

    NB: Channels not to be used, as they are Pilot and Port working frequencies are as follows:

      9   12   13   14   16   25   26   27   67   74  

    however when in Port Limits channel 14 may be used as a calling channel only.

    Race communications will be on Channel 6.

  9. All yachts are to display their registered sail numbers on the Main Sail.

Light and Fog signals in Cape Town harbour area:

RACON / Fairway approach Buoy
Buoy No. 1
Buoy No. 2
Buoy No. 4
Buoy No. 8 Siren
Buoy No. 10
Main Breakwater		 ISOPHASE White
Flash Green every 3 sec
Flash Red every 3 sec
Flash Red every 3 sec
Flash White 2 every 10 sec
Flash Yellow every 10 sec
Flash Green every 2 sec (14m: 5M) 		Red Sphere
Green Conical
Red Can

Black Spheres
Cross

Fog Signal Horn - 2 long and 1 short blast every 30 sec. NOTE: only fog signal in the dock area.

Ben Schoeman Dock
North Wall Light
Port Entrance Light
Starboard Entrance Light
Within Schoeman Dock
Flash Red every 2 sec
Multi lights fixed Red Horizontal
Multi lights fixed Green Horizontal
Leading lights in line 130º 30'
Duncan Dock
Port Entrance Light
Starboard Entrance Light
Multi lights fixed Red vertical
Multi lights fixed Green vertical
North Spur
This light is situated on a small breakwater on the starboard side before entering Duncan Dock
Flash green every 2 sec
Victoria Basin
Fixed Green
Fixed Red
VQ Foul Ground Buoy


Flashing White

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