2008 Trans-Erie Yacht Race

August 22, 2008

Preliminary Sailing Instructions

1. RULES
The race will be governed by The Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS), the prescriptions of the United States Sailing Association (US Sailing) and the rules of the respective PHRF or MORC classes, except as any of these are changed by these sailing instructions. The regatta is designated Category A.

2. ELIGIBILITY
This race is open to monohull yachts with a current valid PHRF or MORC rating certificate. Yachts shall carry required equipment as specified by Coast Guard regulations and in addition, the MORC Handbook for MORC Class yachts. Yachts shall be equipped with a VHF radio capable of transmitting and receiving on Channel 16 and Channel 71. Also, a cell phone will be carried by all yachts. Number to be provided to the race committee. Crew limitations required by PHRF or per the MORC handbook (for MORC classes) will be in effect. All yachts racing MORC must have a current member of MORC International on board during the race.

3. RATINGS
3.1 PHRF classes are open to any yacht with a PHRF rating of 225 or lower. Any discrepancies in PHRF rating due to area differences (i.e. Lake Erie, Essex County, or DRYA) will be resolved by the race committee, whose decision will be final.
3.2 Any yacht which claims a roller furling headsail credit must have the headsail to be used during the entire race attached to the furler at the start of the race, and may not change headsails once the race starts. Violation of this rule may make the yacht subject to disqualification.

4. NOTICE TO COMPETITORS
Notices to competitors will be posted on the official notice board located at Erie Yacht Club. Scratch sheets will be posted here when completed.

5. CHANGES IN SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
Any change to the sailing instructions will be posted before 1400 on Friday, August 22, 2008, on the official notice board located at Erie Yacht Club.

6. CLASS FLAGS
Yachts shall carry the colored backstay pennant, included in their race packet, on their backstay 6 feet above deck.

7. STARTING AREA
The starting area will be located in the vicinity of the Presque Isle Bay entrance buoy R2 (N42.09'.87) (W80.03.20).
8. COURSE
The course will be from the starting line at the Presque Isle Bay entrance buoy R2 , to a white buoy, WSSC N, located at (N 42.02.073 W 83.06.627) at the northwestern end of Lake Erie. Course distance for handicapping purposes is 140 nautical miles.

9. THE START
9.1 POSTPONEMENT
Flag AP with two horn blasts (one horn blast when lowered) means the race is postponed. The warning signal will be made one minute after AP is lowered.

9.2 The starting line will be between the orange flag on the race committee boat and
the entrance buoy R2 to Presque Isle Bay (N42.09'.87) (W80.03.20).
9.3. A yacht shall not enter the starting area except for the five minute period minute immediately preceding its starting signal.
9.4. One or more protection buoys may be tethered near the race committee boat. If a yacht touches a protection buoy, race committee boat, or passes between any of them, she shall have touched the starting mark in violation of Rule 31.1. She may exonerate herself in accordance with Rule 31.2.
9.5. Races will be started in accordance with the instructions in Addendum A of these sailing instructions.
(See addendum A)

10. RECALL
Individual recalls shall be signaled in accordance with Rules 29.2 and C3.2b. In
addition an effort may be made to hail the sail number of each premature starter on VHF C71.
11. REQUIRED RADIO PROCEDURES
Yachts will check-in with the race committee when abeam of Grecian Shoal, Canada on VHF C71.
(Please note that the check in will be with the race committee who will be aboard one of the competing yachts.)

12. FINISH LINE AND PROCEDURE
12.1 The finish line shall be between a white buoy (WSSC N) located at (N 42 02 073 W83 06 627) and the race committee boat, which will be anchored to the south of the finish buoy. After dark both the Committee Boat and the finish buoy may have an amber flashing light attached to it. All finishing yachts shall illuminate their sail numbers at night while finishing and well beyond the finish line. After finishing all yachts shall contact the race committee on VHF C71 giving the following information:
*Yacht's name and sail number
*Yacht ahead and yacht astern, if known
12.2 In addition, yachts shall record their own finishing time using GPS time and record the yacht ahead and yacht astern on the card provided in the skippers packet. The yacht's representative shall check-in at race committee headquarters within sixty minutes after landfall and turn in the completed and signed card in the box at the race committee table.

13. YACHTS RETIRING FROM THE RACE
Yachts retiring from the race for ANY REASON SHALL notify the race committee by telephone at (734) 676-0211 or (734) 347-4590 as soon as possible. Also, you should attempt to contact the race committee on VHF C71 or C16. Failure to comply with this sailing instruction may subject the offending yacht to protest and to be denied an invitation to participate in the Trans-Erie Yacht Race in the future.

14. PROTESTS
Protests shall be written on USSA forms. Protests should be filed at the race committee table within four hours of finish. Protests will be heard approximately in the order of receipt as soon as possible.

15. SCORING
Each yacht shall be ranked by her corrected time in her division and class. The yacht with the lowest corrected time wins. Corrected times will be calculated on a time on distance basis using a course distance of 140 NM.

16. Communications While Racing
16.1 RRS 41(d)- Outside Help: help in the form of information available to all boats is permitted. Use of the internet for weather broadcasts or weather information from sources available to all competitors on a publicly offered free or subscription basis is permitted.
16.2 From her prep signal on, a boat shall not use her radio or any electronic communication device , or any other system, to transmit or to receive any information that is transmitted for the direct benefit of an individual boat as distinct from generally being available to all other boats participating in the race.
16.3 Accordingly, a boat may receive regularly scheduled weather fax transmissions, may receive weather information from a publicly available web page on the internet or a publicly available subscription like XM Weather. However, a boat shall not receive e-mail or other non publicly available communication containing weather or routing information.

17. AWARDS 17. AWARDS
Skippers, crew, and guests are invited to attend the Trans-Erie Awards Party
beginning at 1300, August 24, 2008, at Grosse Ile Yacht Club. (Time might change depending on early or late finish)

18. SKIPPER"S MEETING
There will be skipper's meeting for all competitors at 1400 on Friday August 22th on the west porch of Erie Yacht Club.

   Addendum A

 TO PORT

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