BUCS Sailing: Fleet Racing Championships

1.1. The regatta will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS).

1.2. The bye-laws of Datchet Water Sailing Club will apply and may be found at www.dwsc.co.uk

1.3. Racing Rules 40 and 62.1(a) will be changed under NoR 2.8.3 and 9.1. The Sailing Instructions may also change other Racing Rules.

1.4. The Post-race Penalty and the Advisory Hearing and RYA Arbitration of the RYA Rules Disputes Procedures will be available. The Post-race penalty will be 30%. Decisions from RYA Arbitration can be referred to a protest committee, but cannot be reopened or appealed.

2.1. To be eligible each competitor must meet the BUCS General Regulations (Reg 4 Individual Eligibility). 

2.2. All competitors must be from an institution which is currently a member of the British Universities Sailing Association, or be an individual member of the British University Sailing Association.

2.3. The helm and any crew of a boat must be from the same institution.

2.4. All competitors shall enter through BUCSPlay. This includes any reserves who may be used. Each entry must confirm the Competitors/Fleet/Class/Sail number in order to enter the event. The ‘Stage 1’ entry deadline is 23:59 on Tuesday 3 rd November 2020, with IA Admin approval required by 23:59 on Thursday 5 th November 2020.

2.5. After the entry deadline, and in the event of an institution wishing to change the crew selected to race in a particular boat, it must apply to the Organising Authority for permission to do so. The Organising Authority will only give permission where the replacement crew has also been registered on BUCSPlay on the ‘Competitors and Reserves List’. Any crew, boat, or sail number change requests made to the Organising Authority after 23:59pm on Thursday 12th November will incur a £5 donation to the Sail4Cancer charity.

2.6. ‘Stage 2 – competitors’ entry deadline is 23:59 on Tuesday 10th November 2020, with AU Admin approval by 23:59 on Thursday 12th November 2020, entries may be accepted at the discretion of the Organising Authority and will incur an additional 20% fee per boat on top of the entry fee. No entries will be accepted after 23.59 on Tuesday 10th November 2020.

2.7. Reserves must be entered through BUCSPlay onto the BUCS Sailing Competitors and Reserves List by 23.59 on 10th November 2020, with AU Admin approval required by 23:59 on Thursday 12th November 2020

2.8. The regatta is open to all boats of the following classes:
2.8.1. Firefly
2.8.2. ILCA Handicap (Inc ILCA 4,6,7)
2.8.3. Slow Handicap and Fast Handicap Fleets – dinghies with Portsmouth Yardstick Numbers between 1240 and 700. Portsmouth Yardstick Numbers can be viewed on the RYA website- http://www.rya.org.uk/racing/Pages/portsmouthyardstick.aspx. The split between the fleets will be decided after entries have closed. The decision of the Organising Authority or Race Committee as to which division a boat shall compete in shall not be grounds for redress. This changes RRS 62.1(a). Boats with a handicap outside of this range or without a published Portsmouth Yardstick Number may be accepted at the discretion of the OA. (NB. on BUCSPlay entries will be split into single and double handers. This is purely due to the admin of the online entry system and not how the fleets are split for the event.)
2.8.4. All craft entering the event must be in a good state of repair and adequately prepared for winter sailing. Any craft deemed by the Organising Authority or Race Committee to present a danger to its crew or the event may be excluded from the event or prevented from going afloat under RRS 76.1.

2.9. Any class which receives less than 15 entries may be cancelled or merged with another class at the discretion of the Organising Authority.

2.10. Each Insitution is limited to 15 entries in the 1st Stage. More can be added before the closing of Stage 1; however they will not be confirmed until the OA has reviewed the entry numbers and if there is sufficient space at the event. These will be allocated on a first come first served basis and are subject to approval from the Organising Authority.

2.11. All competitors must produce at registration their University Registration/Matriculation Card - an NUS card will not suffice.

2.12. All sail numbers must be clearly displayed. No changes of sail number will be permitted except with the prior written permission of the Race Committee (for example all Fireflies shall have a sail number corresponding to their hull plaque number). [DP]

3.1  Required fees are as follows:

• Single handed boats: £75
• Double handed boats: £110

3.2. Entries shall be made via the BUCPlay online entry system. 

4.1. Registration: Registration will take place at Datchet Water Sailing Club at the following times:-

• Friday 13st November 2020 1500hrs – 1900hrs
• Saturday 14nd November 2020 0800hrs – 0915hrs

4.2. A Briefing will be pre-recorded and available to view on the Championship web page on the BUSA website from Wednesday 11th November. All helms and crews are required to watch the briefing. [DP]

4.3. Schedule of Races 

Saturday 14 November 

• Race 1 Warning Signal: 10:55hrs 
• Race 2 Warning Signal: as soon as possible after Race 1 
• Race 3 Warning Signal: as soon as possible after Race 2 

Sunday 15 November 

• Race 4 Warning Signal: 10.25hrs 
• Race 5 Warning Signal: as soon as possible after Race 4
• Race 6 Warning Signal: as soon as possible after Race 5

4.4. The Organising Authority may alter the schedule of races, including the start times.  Any changes to the schedule of races or start times shall be posted on the Official Notice Board before 20:00hrs on the day before the day the changes are to take effect.

4.5. Two completed races are required to constitute a series. 

9.1. Rule 40 is changed so that personal flotation devices must be worn at all times whilst competitors are afloat or on the pontoons. Flag ’Y’ will not be displayed.

9.2. All competitors shall also wear wet suits or dry suits whilst afloat. [DP]

9.3. Launching trolleys for all craft shall have a line of at least 2 metres attached to aid recovery on the slipway. [DP]

12.1. Prizes will be awarded as follows and in accordance with REG 7 Individual and Team Championships (Events)

12.1.1. Men’s Team Prize: The Men’s team prize will be awarded to teams from the same institution which has the 3 boats of all males having the combined lowest score. Each boat must have raced in a class which has 15 or more entries. If a class has less than 15 entries and is Day Race Warning Signal Saturday 14th 1 10:55hrs 2 As soon as possible after Race 1 3 As soon as possible after Race 2 Sunday 15th 4 10.25hrs 5 As soon as possible after Race 4 6 As soon as possible after Race 5 combined with another class, a boat which would have raced in the former class will not count. BUCS points are awarded to the top 8 teams

12.1.2. Women’s Team Prize: The Women’s team prize will be awarded to teams from the same institution which has the 3 boats of all females who have the combined lowest score. Each boat must have raced in a class which has 15 or more entries. If a class has less than 15 entries and is combined with another class, a boat which would have raced in the former class will not count. BUCS points are awarded to the top 8 teams.

12.1.3.. BUCS Medals and points will be awarded to boats placed 1st, 2nd and 3 rd in the Firefly, Ilca Handicap, Fast Handicap and Slow Handicap fleets. Boats placed 4 th in the Firefly, Ica Handicap, Fast Handicap and Slow Handicap fleets will also be awarded BUCS points.

13.2.  BUCS Points allocations 

Team points: 

• 1st: 20pts 
• 2nd: 14pts 
• 3rd: 10pts 
• 4th: 7pts
• 5th: 5pts
• 6th: 3pts 
• 7th: 2pts
• 8th: 1pt

Fleet Points

• 1st: 12pts 
• 2nd: 8pts 
• 3rd: 6pts 
• 4th: 4pts

13.1. Rule 4 of the Racing Rules of Sailing states: “The responsibility for a boat’s decision to participate in a race or to continue racing is hers alone.”  Sailing is by its nature an unpredictable sport and therefore involves an element of risk. By taking part in the event, each competitor agrees and acknowledges that:

a) They are aware of the inherent element of risk involved in the sport and accept responsibility for the exposure of themselves, their crew and their boat to such inherent risk whilst taking part in the event;

b) They are responsible for the safety of themselves, their crew, their boat and their other property whether afloat or ashore;

c) They accept responsibility for any injury, damage or loss to the extent caused by their own actions or omissions;

d) Their boat is in good order, equipped to sail in the event and they are fit to participate;

e) The provision of a race management team, patrol boats and other officials and volunteers by the organiser does not relieve them of their own responsibilities;

f) The provision of patrol boat cover is limited to such assistance, particularly in extreme weather conditions, as can be practically provided in the circumstances;

g) It is their responsibility to familiarise themselves with any risks specific to this venue or this event drawn to their attention in any rules and information produced for the venue or event and to attend any competitor briefing held for the event; 

For information about entry and BUCSPlay please contact Cleo Lyn,  BUCS Event Adminstrator. 

For Organising Authority queries, please contact Hannah Peters, BUSA Administrator.