Tel: (03) 9689 1622 Fax: (03) 9689 1655
0418 396 605 Email: [email protected] Website: www.orcv.org.au
SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
2006 Melbourne to Apollo Bay
Yacht Race
Organised and conducted by the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria Inc.
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Contents
Page
Sailing Instructions
Time Standard 3 Race Rules 3 Responsibility 3 Safety Category and Equipment Requirements 3 Radio Communications 3 Alterations to these Instructions 4 Time and Place of Start 4 Starting Line 4 Starting Signals 4 Recalls 4 Course 4 Finishing Line 4 Finishing Procedure 4 Finishing Times 5 Declarations 5 Protests, Redress & Penalties 5 Boats Retiring 5 Commercial Shipping 5 Berthing Facilities 5 Presentation of Trophies 5 Crew Behaviour 6 Return Voyage Plan 6 Appendices 6
Appendix A - Radio Communications 7 Appendix B - Illustration of Starting Line 9 Appendix C - Alignment of Finishing Line 10 Appendix D - List of Entrants 11 Appendix E - Declaration & Return Voyage Plan 12
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TIME STANDARD
All times in these Sailing Instructions are Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) unless otherwise stated.
RACE RULES
The rules for the race shall be:
• the 2005-2008 Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) of the International Sailing Federation (ISAF)
• the Prescriptions and Special Regulations, Part 1 of Yachting Australia (YA)
• the Special Regulations of the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria (ORCV)
• as applicable, the rules and regulations of:
o the Australian Measurement System
o the International Rule-Club
• the Notice of Race
except as any of the above are altered by these Sailing Instructions.
Between the hours of sunset and sunrise, RRS 10 to 22 inclusive shall cease to be applicable and shall be replaced by the International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea.
For the purposes of this race the times of sunrise and sunset shall be 0720 and 1716 respectively.
RESPONSIBILITY
(i) All those taking part in this race do so at their own risk and responsibility.
(ii) Acceptance of a boat as an entrant in the race is not to be taken as express or implied acceptance on the part of ORCV and/or any of its flag officers, committee, equipment officers or any other members, of the fitness of any boat or any equipment on such boat to safely compete in the race and/or deal with any and all eventualities of the contemplated passage; it is the responsibility of each skipper of each competing yacht to decide whether his/her boat is fit for the intended purpose and neither ORCV nor any club or company connected with the organisation of the race is responsible for the seaworthiness of any boat whose entry is accepted.
(iii) Attention is drawn to Fundamental Rule 4 of the RRS, which states:
“THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR A BOAT’S DECISION TO PARTICIPATE IN A RACE
OR TO CONTINUE RACING IS HERS ALONE”.
SAFETY CATEGORY AND EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS
As set out in the Notice of Race.
ORCV strongly recommends that safety harnesses and suitable personal flotation devices be worn whenever conditions warrant, particularly in rough weather, at night or when sailing short-handed.
RADIO COMMUNICATIONS
Radio communications procedures are detailed in Appendix A.
Skippers are reminded that it is a compulsory for all boats to respond to all schedules, including the pre-race schedule.
Failure to sign on at the pre-race schedule shall result in a boat being scored DNC.
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Failure to answer a subsequent schedule on time shall require written explanation of the reasons why the schedule(s) was missed and boats may be penalised for any such failure after protest.
ALTERATIONS TO THESE INSTRUCTIONS
Any alterations to these instructions will be announced after the pre-race radio schedule. Alterations may also appear on the ORCV website.
TIME AND PLACE OF START
Saturday 20 May 2006 at 0630 hours, at Queenscliff.
STARTING LINE
The Starting Line will be an imaginary line between a Quick Flashing Red Light on the Drapers Reef Pile and a boat or buoy with a rotating amber light approximately 300 metres to the south east (see Appendix B). In the event of rough weather, or other unforeseen difficulties, the boat or buoy may not be in position. In this case the Starting line will be an extension of an imaginary line from a rotating amber light and the Draper’s Reef Light, this line running almost east to west to a distance not exceeding 400 metres.
STARTING SIGNALS
Starting signals will be as follows:-
Preparatory Signal: At 0625 hours a white flare shall be fired. Starting Signal: At 0630 hours a green flare shall be fired.
This changes RRS 26.
RECALLS
Individual recalls shall be signalled by a white flare. Premature starters may be identified on VHF Channel 12. There will be no General Recall. This alters RRS 29.1 and 29.2.
COURSE
From the starting line to the finishing line, a distance of approximately 55 nautical miles.
FINISHING LINE
An imaginary line being an extension of the transit line between the lower of the harbour entrance leading marks (see photograph at Appendix C) and the end of the breakwater on the western edge of the harbour entrance, and extending for a distance of 500 metres to seaward from the end of the breakwater. The alignment of the finishing line is approximately 205o T.
FINISHING PROCEDURE
Boats shall call Ocean Racing on VHF Ch.73 when approximately 30 minutes sailing time from the finishing line; the radio should be left on and a further call made as the boat approaches the finishing line. The radio should be left on until the boat has berthed
Boats finishing during the hours of darkness are required to illuminate their sail numbers, or turn on their spreader lights when approaching the finishing line. The race committee may request further aids to identification as boats approach the line.
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FINISHING TIMES
Unless circumstances prevent it the finishing times of all boats will be taken by the race committee at the finish, but as a back-up, skippers are requested to record their own finishing times (accurate to 1 second) and to inform the race committee of this time if requested.
DECLARATIONS
Each boat is required to lodge a declaration on the form provided as Appendix E with the race committee ORCV within three hours of finishing.
If a skipper is uncertain as to whether a rule has been breached he/she should report the circumstances on the rear of this declaration form.
Any boats proceeding directly to another port after finishing the race shall make a verbal declaration to Ocean Racing within one hour of finishing and advise their intentions.
PROTESTS, REDRESS & PENALTIES
Protests shall be lodged with an official of the ORCV within two hours of finishing, in accordance with the requirements of the RRS Part 5 Section A. Protests will be heard at a time and place to be advised. If, after a protest and hearing, a boat is found to have infringed a rule, the Protest Committee may disqualify or otherwise penalise the boat by a percentage time penalty in accordance with the provisions of RRS 64.
BOATS RETIRING
Boats retiring shall inform Ocean Racing as soon as possible and give the following information:
Time, cause of retirement, and position Crew state, the port to which the boat is retiring, and ETA.
Retired boats should maintain radio schedules until port is reached.
COMMERCIAL SHIPPING
Yachts shall keep clear of all commercial shipping (vessels more than 25 metres in length) whilst within Port Phillip, and particularly while transiting Port Phillip Heads, as required by Port of Melbourne Corporation “Harbour Master’s Directions”. Ships are restricted in their ability to manoeuvre while entering or leaving Port Phillip and yachts should take any necessary avoiding action early.
BERTHING FACILITIES
Berths will be made available on the North side of the harbour (inner side of the breakwater)
Water depth at the harbour entrance (as advised by Harbourmaster 15 May) is 1.6m below chart datum when following the leads, and 2.4m if entering west of the leads.
Tides for 20 May: Low 0945 hrs High 1700 hrs, Low 2215 hrs,
Tides for 21 May : High 0440 hrs.
The street light on the jetty (west side of harbour) is missing, and is replaced by a single white light.
A large barge with a 70 tonne crane may be in the harbour, or may be berthed alongside the jetty.
PRESENTATION OF TROPHIES
Trophies will be presented at the ORCV Annual General Meeting / Presentation Night. Provisional results will be announced at Apollo Bay and will also be available on the ORCV website: www.orcv.org.au
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CREW BEHAVIOUR
Skippers are reminded that crew behaviour is their responsibility at all times.
RETURN VOYAGE PLAN
A return voyage plan is included as part of the Declaration at Appendix E.
APPENDICES
The attached Appendices A, B, C, D and E form part of these Sailing Instructions.
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Appendix A
Radio Communications
RACE FREQUENCY
All communications regarding this race will be on 4483 kHz except where indicated below and unless boats are directed to alternate frequencies.
RADIO STATIONS
The crew change and pre-race schedules will be conducted by Ocean Racing.
The routine schedules listed below will be conducted by Ocean Racing.
Finishing procedures will be handled by Ocean Racing.
CREW CHANGES
Where possible, crew changes should be made by phone to 0418 396 605 from 1800 hours until 2100 hours on Friday 19 May. A crew change schedule will be conducted by radio (4483 kHz) between 0505 and 0525 hours on Saturday 20 May and any late alterations to crew lists may be notified at this time. When nominating crew changes or additional crew, details must be provided of next of kin (name and relationship, contact address and telephone number) and YA membership number.
PRE-RACE SCHEDULE
The pre-race schedule will commence at 0535 hours on Saturday 20 May; boats will be called in the order in which they appear on the list of entrants (Appendix D). Any boat not replying shall be scored DNC.
SAILING INSTRUCTION ALTERATIONS
Any alterations to the Sailing Instructions or to TCF’s applicable for the race will be broadcast following completion of the pre-race schedule. All boats are required to maintain a listening watch at this time.
PRE RACE SHIPPING ADVICE (VHF Ch. 12)
At 0615 Ocean Racing will broadcast updated advice of shipping movements through Port Phillip Heads on VHF Ch 12. All yachts are required to monitor this broadcast and maintain a listening watch on VHF 12 until they are 2 nautical miles outside Port Phillip Heads. Any shipping transiting the Heads, and Point Lonsdale will be monitoring this frequency. Yachts should revert to VHF 16 and the race frequency when 2 miles clear of the Heads. If tide and weather conditions are suitable, the race start time may be delayed for a short period to avoid shipping in Port Phillip Heads.
ROUTINE SCHEDULES
Boats will be called on to give their position at the following times each day, until the last boat finishes. Time Station
1105 Ocean Racing 1705 Ocean Racing 2305 Ocean Racing These times may be altered by the race committee if circumstances make this necessary.
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As each boat is called she should give her position by latitude and longitude. The relative position of other boats in the vicinity should also be given if they can be positively identified.
SAFETY INFORMATION
Boats are encouraged to give safety-related information at these times, should the skipper consider it would be to the benefit and safety of the fleet, for example if conditions are severe. If weather conditions are given it is important that the transmission be kept as brief as possible and give factual information such as wind speed and direction, and wave conditions.
RADIO FAILURE
In the event of HF radio failure, an attempt should be made to contact Ocean Racing on VHF channel 73 fifteen (15) minutes after each radio schedule.
The reason(s) for failure to report at any of the scheduled times must be reported on the boat’s Declaration
Coast Radio Melbourne (VMF555) monitors HF distress frequencies 4125, 6215 and 8291 kHz, and VHF Ch 16 continuously.
FORECASTS
Bureau of Meteorology weather forecast schedules are available at : www.bom.gov.au
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Appendix C Alignment of the Finishing Line
Note: This photograph was taken from the edge of the breakwater at the western side of the
harbour entrance. At night the lead marks show a green light.
Appendix E Declaration & Return Voyage Plan
I, ____________________________ in charge of the boat ________________________
have complied with the rules and conditions of the race and noted any required
declarations on the rear of this form.
(signed) _______________________________________________
Return Voyage Expected crew for the return voyage (it is recommended that at least 50% of the crew
have completed a similar voyage):
Person in charge ______________________________________________
Navigator ______________________________________________
Remainder of crew: -
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Expected date of departure: __________________________________
Course for return voyage: ___________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Shore based contact who will be aware of crew changes and voyage progress:
Name: ______________________________________ Tel: _______________________
Shore Radio Station with which the boat will keep regular contact: ________________
Boats in company on return passage ___________________________________