1. RULES
The races will be governed by the curent Racing Rules of Sailing, the prescriptions of USSA;
the appropriate class rules, except as any of these are altered by the Sailing Instructions; and by these Sailing Instructions.
2. NOTICES TO COMPETITORS & CHANGES IN SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
2.1 Notices to competitors will be posted on the SSSS web site. Race results will be posted here too.
2.2 Additions or amendments to these instructions will be posted on the SSSS web. Any change in the sailing instructions will be posted two days prior to race day.
3. ENTRIES
Register with the RC boat on the water, or pre register by calling the RC Chair.
The RC needs to know your sail number, boat type, boat name if any, your name and contact information.
4. SAFETY
4.1 All boats shall have aboard a means of propelling the boat in a calm. The test is the ability to do so.
4.2 All boats shall meet minimum US. Coast Guard safety requirements. This includes having a PFD
for each person; it should be worn when appropriate.
4.3 This MINIMUM list is NOT everything all boats may want or need in all conditions.
Every skipper shall determine that the boat is adequately prepared before racing.
The safety of a boat is the responsibility of the skipper.
4.4 Any yacht not reporting their withdrawal from a race to the Race Committee may be score DNS.
5. DIVISIONS
All boats will be scored together. If attendance warrants, the fleet may be divided into classes.
6. SCHEDULE OF RACES
6.1 Races will be held on the dates shown on the Portsmouth Schedule.
6.2 The first race will start: 1830 hrs. on Thursdays and noon on Saturdays, or shortly there after. Other races will follow as soon as possible after each previous race.
| Time to Start | Name/purpose of Signal | Signal |
| pre start | means come get the course | raise yellow flag |
| Attention Signal | means be ready to race | many short sounds |
| 3 minutes | Preparatory | 3 long sounds |
| raise blue flag | ||
| 2 minutes | 2 long sounds | |
| 1.5 minutes | 1 long and 1 short sound | |
| 1 minute | 1 long sound | |
| lower blue flag | ||
| 30 seconds | 3 short sounds | |
| 20 seconds | 2 short sounds | |
| 10 seconds | 1 short sound | |
| 0 minute | Start | 1 continuous sound |
| after the start | means the race is in progress | raise blue flag, fly until the last boat finishes |
8. COURSES
8.1 The start/finish line will be between the Committee Boat and a nearby mark.
Start and finish lines are the same, unless the course is shortened at an other mark.
8.2 The start / finish line may be closed by race committee. If they choose to do so, they will write “closed” on the course board.
8.3 Courses are as written on the course board or as hailed by the RC boat. Marks are shown on the chart of the racing area.
8.4 Temporary marks may be set for course marks. They will be shown as W for windward, L for leeward, P for the starting pin, and 9 being the committee boat.
8.5 Round all marks to port unless “starboard” is written on the course board, in which case round the marks to starboard.
9. RECALLS
9.1 Individual Recall - The Committee Boat will TRY to hail premature starters. The Committee Boat will
NOT display Code Flag X. This amends RRS Rule 29.2, Individual Recall. The onus of starting correctly shall be the responsibility of the competitors.
9.2 General Recall - In the event of a general recall, the RC boat will make additional two sound signals. The Committee Boat will NOT display the first substitute. This amends Rule 29.3, General Recall. The preparatory signal will be made one minute after the attention signal is sounded.
That class shall re-commence a 3 minute start sequence until started.
10. PENALTIES
10.1 Boats less than 16 feet long : The Two-Turn penalty will be in effect for infringement of a rule of Part 2 of the RRS. This is in accordance with RRS 44.2, One-Turn and Two-Turn Penalties.
10.2 Boats more than 16 feet long and multi hulls : The One-Turn penalty will be in effect for infringement of a rule of Part 2 of the RRs. This is in accordance with RRS 44.2, One-Turn and Two-Turn Penalties.
12. SHORTENING THE COURSE
The race may be shortened at any rounding mark of the course. Finish between the
RC boat and that mark.
13. TIME LIMIT
13.1. The first yacht in each class must finish in 45 minutes.
13.2. The time limit will expire 60 minutes after the start. The race is then over. Boats starting and not finished by then will be scored DNF. This amends RRS 35, Time Limit.
13.3. The Race Committee may ask the last boat in a class to sail directly to the start/finish line prior to finishing in which case they will be scored as a finisher. Amends the definition of "finishing".
14. SCORING SYSTEM
14.1 Places will be awarded using the Portsmouth Yardstick Wind Dependent Handicap Factors , scored as rounded by our race scoring software, this amends RRS Appendix A3 Finishing Places.
14.2 All the races on a given day constitute a regatta and will be scored as such.
14.3 The Low Point Scoring System, Appendix A of the RRS, will apply, except that Appendix A4, Point Systems, is amended to award 3/4 of a point for first place and additional points as follows:
DNF = number of starters . DNC = number of starters +1. DSQ = number of starters +2. A set number of races is not scheduled. One race constitutes a series, and each boat’s total score will be the sum of ALL races. This amends RRS Appendix A2.
14.4 In the event of a tie, the yacht which finished ahead of the other the in the most races
shall win the tie. If still tied, the tie stands. This amends Appendix A8, Series Ties.
15 SERIES SCORING
15.1 The races will be divided into series as per the schedule, which is in this Handbook.
15.2 The Series will be scored as the regattas are scored, except that:
15.2.a each regatta, each day, will be scored as if it were one race
15.2.b only your best three days will be counted, except to break ties and the throw out is the first tie breaker. This amends RRS Appendix A8, Series Ties.
15.3 A boat serving as Committee Boat, if racing at least one day in that series, shall be scored the average of her other scores for that series. If she was Committee Boat for more than one day, she will be scored DNC for all additional RC duty days that series.