The club racing rules were revised in 2025. These changes are intended to make the rules easier to understand and more comprehensive, particularly for new members.

The most noticeable change is that they have been reorganized to comply with the requirements of the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) and the recommendations of US Sailing.

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Nearly all of the changes do not affect the way we race.

The exceptions are:

• Radios are now required for safety.

• New options are now available for courses. These courses will allow the Flying Scots to start their second race while the cruisers are still racing. Other benefits are listed below. The old courses will still be available.

• There are new procedures for changing the course if there is a persistent wind shift and the Race Committee moves the marks to a new bearing.

 

The rules now have two separate parts: the Notice of Race and the Sailing Instructions.

The Notice of Race contains the information you should know before heading out on the water. This includes:

• Racing schedule

•  Scoring

• Awards

 

The Sailing Instructions contain the rules on the water. This includes:

• Starting sequence

• Course diagrams

• Safety section detailing required equipment

 

Some current club rules that were not mentioned in the rules document are now included:

• You may not sail between Skull Island and Vaughns Neck.

• Cruising Fleet may fly spinnakers in only two races.

• All marks shall be left to port.

• Special races do not count toward season scores.

• The Race Committee will use WhatsApp to let everyone know when races are canceled due to wind conditions.

 

New rules recommended by US Sailing:

• VHF radio is required for safety (except for Sunfish).

• The Race Committee will display the approximate compass bearing to the first mark.

 

A detailed chart of the racing area:

• Shows depth and the location of the rocks.

• Islands and bays are labeled.

 

New courses recommended by US Sailing have been added as options:

• Flying Scots can start the second race while the cruisers are still racing.

• The Scots may be able to get in a third race.

• There are separate start and finish lines on each side of the RC boat.

• The start/finish line is downwind of the leeward mark, so it is not an obstruction.

• If the wind shifts and we want to adjust the course, only the windward mark needs to be moved; the leeward mark remains in place.

• Course L3 allows for longer courses with East or West winds. This option allows longer races since we only have about half a mile of lake in this direction.

• The old courses are still available as options.

• L courses mean windward/Leeward

• T course means Triangle

 

Other changes:

• The time limit for the first boat to finish has been changed to 75 minutes. In recent years, only two races in 2022 were longer than one hour. The average is about 45 minutes.

• If the race is taking too long, the RC will shorten the course.

• The rules for a Change of Course have been changed. If the chase boat indicates a Change of Course at a mark, the new course will skip the other marks and finish directly at the RC Boat.

• If the RC changes the bearing of the course for the second race, the RC boat will fly the “C” flag, and the first mark will be an ORANGE tetrahedron.

 

The rules are on the club website and are posted on the bulletin board outside the Sail Loft.

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