Dinghy Events

2024 Dinghy Programme

Our first dinghy racing on the sea for the 2024 season will be the Easter Regatta on Saturday 30 March.

We hope to start our Sunday racing on Sunday 21 April with the usual start time of 10.30 and this will run on a weekly basis until our final event, the Laser Regatta on Saturday 5 October.

The Thursday Evening Series will  start on 25 April with a 19.00 start, this will continue each week until the evenings draw in too much to make racing possible.

Dinghy Racing Schedule – This is an interactive Calendar that will be updated with additional events during the season.

SAILING INSTRUCTIONS FOR THURSDAY AND SUNDAY CLUB RACING

Rules

The racing will be governed by the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS), excellent bedtime reading, and these Sailing Instructions. 

Notices to competitors

Notices to competitors will be displayed on a whiteboard located in the garage, under the ‘Lookout’.

Schedule of races

Thursday Evening  Race 1 warning signal  19.00, Race 2  as soon as Race 1 has finished

Sunday Morning   Race 1 warning signal 10.30, Race 2 as soon as Race 1 has finished

Racing area

The racing area will be Ramsey Bay – South of the Grand Island Hotel Plot, North of the Iron Pier.

Courses

The course will be indicated by a letter displayed by the Race Officer on the South Stone Pier. 

‘S’  windward leeward, 2 marks , including start 

‘T’  triangle, 3 marks, including start

The mast on the pier will display which side to leave the marks. Red flag, marks to port. Green flag, marks to starboard.

Classes

All boats shall sail within the same mixed handicap fleet.

The Start

Races will be started under rule 26 with the warning signal (ICF Numeral 1) made 5 minutes before the start. (5,4,1,GO)

The starting line will be between the mast on the South Stone Pier and an orange mark, care must be taken as the depth could be shallow at low water.

Any doubts about which direction to cross the start line, ask the race officer before the start count down. Not after, that would be ‘outside assistance!’

Boats not starting within 4 minutes after the start signal will be scored ‘DNC’.

The Finish

The finishing line will be between the mast on the South Stone Pier displaying the 

orange finish flag and the start mark. The line can be crossed in either direction, hook finish not required.

Penalties

RRS Rules 44.1 and 44.2 will apply (Two turns).

Handicap System

The duration of each race will be approximately 40 minutes.

The Average Lap/Portsmouth Number system will apply.

Protests

Boats wishing to protest shall inform the Race Officer immediately after finishing and within 30 minutes of the finish of the last boat in the last race of the day.

Protest Notices will be posted on the whiteboard within 30 minutes of the protest time limit to  inform competitors of hearings in which they are parties or named as witnesses.  Competitors must check the notice-board as there will be no onus on the Race Committee to contact individuals.

Scoring

The low point scoring system of Appendix A will apply.

Safety

Adequate personal buoyancy (Buoyancy Aid) for all crew members must be worn in the dinghy at all times. It is the intention of the Committee that this rule will be implemented at all times. Anyone not in compliance with this instruction will be disqualified without a hearing.

If you’re using a Club dinghy then a mast float must be deployed, there will be no exceptions to this rule.

Please rig your dinghies on the beach in front of the clubhouse.  If you do rig on the road/pavement in front of the clubhouse do not attach your boom in case it either injures a passer-by or damages someone’s car.

Competitors are reminded that the first consideration of patrol boats is the safety of competitors.

Patrol boats are provided on race days for competitors taking part in club racing. In the normal sequence of events, they will not be available to other boats outside the race area, nor will they be available once club racing has finished.

Boats retiring from a race shall notify the Race Committee as soon as possible.

Disclaimer of Liability

Competitors participate in the Club Racing entirely at their own risk (RRS Rule 4. Decision to Race).

Manx Sailing & Cruising Club, Committee, Race Officer, patrol crews will not accept any liability for material damage, personal injury or death sustained in competition with or prior to, during, or after the racing.

Each participating boat shall be insured with valid third party liability insurance with the minimum of cover £5 million.