2023 Bluegrass Regatta

       Highlander Class International Association
Sailing Instructions

2023 Bluegrass Regatta
Louisville Sailing Club
Louisville, KY
Sept 30 and Oct 1 2023

1. RULES
   1. The regatta will be governed by the rules defined in the Racing Rules of Sailing except as modified by Article IIII of the Rules Governing Highlander Racing (RGHR) and where modified herein.
   2. All boats, sails, and individual participants shall meet the eligibility requirement as specified in Article II of RGHR sections 1,2,3
   3. This regatta is designated as non-advertising
   4. In the event of a conflict between the Notice of Race and these sailing Instructions, the Sailing Instructions will prevail.
2. ENTRIES
   1. The competition is open to all highlanders
3. CHANGES TO SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
   1. Any changes to sailing instructions will be posted on the officially designated notice board located inside the Clubhouse window no later than 0800 hours on the day said changes take effect.
4. NOTICE TO COMPETITORS
   1. All Notices to competitors will be posted on the officially designated notice Board located inside the Club.
   2. All Safety Notices including daily weather forecast as well as those that become required due to changing weather conditions will be posted on the officially designated board inside the Clubhouse
5. SIGNALS MADE ASHORE
   1. Signals made ashore will be displayed from the Committee Boat docked at the seawall.
6. SCHEDULE OF RACES
   1. Up to 10 races are planned
   2. Within a given day, as many as 7 races may be sailed due to conditions.
   3. Schedule of races as follows:
      1. Saturday 12:00 PM; Skippers meeting
      2. Saturday 1:00PM; First race, with several following depending on weather conditions, max of seven (7).
      3. Sunday 9:30 AM; First race on Sunday, no starts after 12:00 PM Sunday
7. COURSE
   1. “W/L” Windward Leeward Course. Number of laps will be posted with flags a gate may be used depending on size of fleet.
8. MARKS
   1. A white ball will serve as the pin at start and finish between the flag on  the committee boat and the white ball
   2. Windward, Windward off set (if used), gate marks (if used) and Leeward marks will be an orange ball
9. START
   1. Races shall be started by flags and horn
   2. The start line is between the orange staff on the RC Boat and a starting pin (see above)
10. RECALLS
    1. Individual and General Recalls will be signaled in accordance with RSS 29.2.  The Race Committee intends to make an attempt to hail boats that have not started properly on Channel 71, however, it is the skipper’s responsibility to start properly.
    2. The following are not grounds for redress:
       1. Failure of RC to hail any or all boats
       2. Failure of RC to accurately hail one or more boats
       3. Failure of a boat to hear its hail
       4. Timeliness of the hail, or order of boats within the hail.
11. CHANGE IN COURSE AFTER START
    1. A change in course after the start will be signaled before the lead boat has begun the changed leg, although the new mark may not be in position.
    2. After setting the new mark the RC will attempt to lift the original mark as soon as possible.
12. THE FINISH
    1. The Finish Line will be between an orange flag on the RC Boat and the finish mark unless shortened of abandoned.
13. TIME LIMIT
    1. Time limit for each race will be three (3) hours for the first boat to finish and 45 minutes for the 1st windward leg for the 1st boat to round the first mark.
    2. RC reserves the right to abandon any race that has become un-sailable or unfair due to course conditions.
    3. Boats not finishing within 40 minutes of the first boat in each division will be scored DNF
14. PROTESTS
    1. Please settle on the water
    2. Protests must be written on available forms available at the Clubhouse and lodged with Protect Committee’s Representative within 60 Minutes of the time the RC Boat docks which will be announced by signal.
    3. Notice will be posted within 30 minutes of Protest Filing Time expiration informing all
15. SCORING
    1. The Low Point System of Appendix A of RRS will apply.
    2. One race will be thrown out if 7 or more races are completed. If less than 7 races are completed, then all scores will count.
16. SAFETY
    1. All participants are subject to the direction and control of the Race Committee. However, each competitor is responsible for the personal safety of him/herself, his/her crew, and boat. It is the sole and inescapable responsibility of the skipper and crew to decide to whether to start, continue or finish a race.
    2. All boats are may  have a working VHF radio c 18.3 A competitor that is retiring shall notify the Race Committee via the designated VHF Channel before leaving the racing area. Failure to notify the RC of retirement is grounds for protest.
    3. Any boat receiving outside assistance during a race shall receive a DNF solely for that race.
17. CHECK IN
    1. All boats are required to check in before the start of each racing day. This is completed by sailing on starboard tack behind the RC boat displaying the Code Flag “L” and verbally hailing the RC Staff with sail number.
18. RADIO COMMUNICATION
    1. A participating boat shall not make a radio transmission while racing nor receive any radio communications (VHF or cell/mobile phone) not available to all boats.
    2. The RC may broadcast information pertinent to competitors using VHF but calls to RC should not be initiated by competitors , except to retire.