as at 6 July 2026
1. RULES
Racing is governed by the following:
– Racing Rules of Sailing 2025-2028 (RRS)
– RRS Appendix A – Scoring
– RRS Appendix E – Radio Sailing Racing Rules
– Applicable Class Rules
– These Sailing Instructions (SI’s)
2. RACE OFFICERS
2.1 The Committee will appoint a Race Officer for each event who will be responsible for the control of the event, venue, competitors and compliance with the Club Health and Safety Plan.
3. CHANGES TO SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
3.1 Changes to the SI’s may be communicated verbally by the Race Officer prior to the preparatory Signal of any race.
4. ELIGIBILITY
4.1 Competitors must be Financial Members of the NRSC.
4.2 Boats must be registered with their relevant Class Association
5. SCHEDULE AND FORMAT OF EVENTS
5.1 Schedule
5.1.1 The starting date/time for the first race in all events will be as per the Sailing Calendar on the Club website.
5.1.2 Subsequent races will commence as soon as practical following completion of the previous race, except if a break is taken in accordance with paragraphs 8.3, 8.4 or 8.5 of these SI’s.
5.1.3 The last warning signal for any race will not be after 1630.
5.2 Trophy Series
5.2.1 Depending on the Trophy, races will be started using either the Handicap (Mark Foy) or Scratch racing systems.
5.2.2 Will consist of either four day or one day events.
5.2.3 Each day will, if possible, and at the discretion of the Race Officer, consist of at least eight races.
5.2.4 For four-day Trophy events the worst day score for each boat will be discarded, and if only three days or less are completed, then all days will count.
5.2.5 A minimum of three starters is required to constitute a race.
5.2.6 A minimum of three races is required for a day’s racing to be counted.
5.2.7 A minimum of nine races is required to constitute a four day Trophy event.
5.3 Social Sailing and Scratch Racing
5.3.1 Will be at the discretion of the Race Officer.
6 COURSES
6.1 Courses will be as set by the Race Officer.
6.2 Course descriptions may be displayed on a course board in the Control Area at the discretion of the Race Officer.
7 SCORING
7.1 The RRS Appendix A Low Point Scoring System will apply for both Scratch and Handicap Racing.
7.2 For both types of racing discards will be applied per event day as follows:
– after 4 races have been completed: 1 discard
– after 8 races have been completed: 2 discards
– after 16 races have been completed: 3 discards and so on for every 8 races completed
– all races count if less than 4 races are completed.
8 TIME LIMITS AND BREAKS
8.1 If the first boat does not complete the course within 20 minutes the race shall be abandoned.
8.2 Boats that have not finished within five minutes of the first boat will have their finishing positions recorded in accordance with their position on the water.
8.3 After four races in any event a break period, of 15 minutes maximum, will be instigated to allow for boat tuning and ablutions.
8.4 If conditions change and sufficient competitors request, a break period of 15 minutes maximum may be allowed for rig changes.
8.5 If a boat is given redress because she was damaged, her redress shall include reasonable time, but not more than 15 minutes, to make repairs before her next race.
9 HANDICAPS
9.1 Competitors’ handicaps will be as per the Club Handicap Policy.
10 LAUNCHING AND CONTROL AREAS
10.1 The launching area is each pontoon and their immediate access area.
10.2 The Control Area is all the raised area in the centre of the pond.
10.3 Only Race Officials, Competitors and their Support persons are allowed in these areas.
11 BOX RULE
11.1 With any Handicap starting system race there will be a BOX Rule in effect.
11.2 The BOX will consist of the area 3 boat lengths directly behind the starting line.
11.3 Boats must not enter the BOX until boats on the handicap ahead have reached their start time.
11.4 Boats that infringe this rule may, at the discretion of the Race Officer or Umpire, be required to start behind the last boat in the fleet.
12 RE CROSSING THE FINISH LINE
12.1 After finishing and clearing the finish line boats must not cross the line in any direction, unless they are doing so after completing a penalty under rule 44.2, and must inform the Race Officer of this.
12.2 Boats that infringe this rule may, at the discretion of the Race Officer, be required to re-cross the finish line for a new finishing time.
13 INTERFERING WITH BOATS STILL RACING
13.1 In a variation of RRS 21.3, if a boat that is not racing, interferes in anyway with a boat that is still racing, they may at the discretion of the Race Officer or Umpire, be liable to a One-Turn penalty and must then re-cross the finish line for a new finishing time.
14 PROTESTS AND REQUESTS FOR REDRESS
14.1 All protests, requests for redress and decisions can be made verbally.
15 COMPETITORS AS RACE OFFICERS, OBSERVERS, UMPIRES AND BOAT CREW
15.1 If required, Competitors may be assigned to these positions on a daily basis by the Club Committee.
15.2 Competitors who are assigned these duties will be credited their average points for their other events in the series.
16 REPLACEMENT OF EQUIPMENT
16.1 Substitution of lost or damaged equipment will not be allowed unless authorised by the Race Officer. Requests should be made at the first reasonable opportunity.
17 PUBLIC LIABILITY
17.1 All financial members of the Club are covered by the NZRYA Public Liability Insurance while taking part in Club sailing activities. This does not include boats or personal items.
Nelson Radio Sailing Club 