ZIHUA SAIL FEST – 2003

PURSUIT RACE RULES

General Race Description: First and foremost, the purpose of this race is for the having of fun. (Please note “violations & remedies” below.)  This race is open to any sailing vessel with a reasonably accurate PHRF rating.  If you do not know your PHRF rating (or do not know what a PHRF rating is) we will attempt to look it up for you.  If we can’t find one for your boat type we will make one up.  TRUST US!

This is a reverse handicap race with start times staggered by PHRF rating.  Slower vessels start first and are “pursued” by faster boats.  Each entered boat will be given a separate starting time based on the international time tick (UTC) and an offset, in minutes, from the official starting signal.  A boat may cross the starting line at any time AFTER this offset time has elapsed.  This starting time and offset will be calculated by factoring a boats PHRF rating against the length of the official course.  If you are unhappy with your scheduled start time, please refer to “violations & remedies” below.

Example:  The official starting signal is scheduled to sound at 1800Z.  The Dry Martini has an assigned start time of 1812Z, an offset of 12 minutes.  The Dry Martini may start at any time after precisely twelve minutes following the official starting signal.  Note the OFFSET is the determining factor not the Zulu time, which is provided as a general guideline to aid the skipper.  Thus, if the race committee screws up and the official starting signal were to actually occur at 1801Z, it is the individual skippers responsibility to time his offset from the sound of the signal.

Course:  An official course description will be made available prior to the start of the race.  A combined start/finish line will be established between a fixed mark and the committee boat.  All boats will cross the starting line taking the committee boat to starboard and will cross the finish line taking the committee boat to port.  The course will proceed from the starting line, passing two turning marks, A and B.  A boat may, at the skipper’s election, pass BOTH turning marks clear to port OR both clear to starboard.  Boats will finish the course by crossing the finish line.

Starting Procedure and Race Signals:  A preparatory signal will be sounded at 1750 Zulu consisting of one horn blast and display of a blue flag.  A warning signal will be sounded at 1755Z consisting of one horn blast and display of a yellow flag.  The official starting signal will be sounded at 1800Z consisting of one horn blast and display of a red flag.

Vessels crossing early will be signaled by wild yelling and waving from the committee boat and will be required to restart by re-crossing the start line with the committee boat to Starboard.  Boats making such a restart shall give way to any other vessel starting properly.

No vessel shall cross the starting line in any direction prior to their official attempt to start.

Finishing boats will be greeted with a single horn blast and gleeful waving from the committee boat.  To insure accurate recording of finishing order all finishing boats will hail the race committee on channel 68 to report their boat name.

Channel 68 will be monitored by the race committee throughout this event.

Awards:  Actual order of finish will determine awards.  Prizes will be awarded to the first three finishing boats AND the last three finishing boats.

Governing Rules:  The International Rules Of The Road will determine Right of way in any meeting between two or more racing vessels except as noted for re-starting boats, above.

Race Specific Rules:  Within fifty yards of the starting line or any turning mark, all skippers are required to behave as gentlemen/gentlewomen and give clear way to the vessel arriving first at the mark and to smile while doing so.  In any situation where adequate sea room is required for safe navigation, right of way shall be allowed the vessel in jeopardy.

COMMERCIAL VESSELS OF ANY SIZE OR TYPE SHALL BE GIVEN RIGHT OF WAY IN EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE!

The following violations and remedies are to be considered a part of the race rules for this event.  The race committee will adjudicate all violations and all decisions will be final.

Violation                                                                       Remedy

Failure to have fun                                                        Disqualification

Displaying a protest flag                                                Disqualification

Filing a protest with the race committee             Disqualification

Complaining, whining or sniveling                                  Disqualification

Failure to smile frequently whenever having

conversation with any member of the race

committee                                                                     Disqualification

Protesting a disqualification under these rules     Disqualification