Racing Rules

​We race to the rules of the Royal Yachting Association, as adapted for Model Yachts, by appendix E; plus Guidance from the MYA. The race program is published on this BMYC web site. It shows the class of yacht to be raced and the name of the Race Officer.  In the event that a Race Officer is not present, the group should appoint an agreed replacement.

To support the training and development of Novice Sailors; during club only events, the following two rules will apply to competent sailors but appropriately disregarded to support Novice Sailors. 

Rule E2.2 “A competitor shall not give tactical or strategical advice to a competitor controlling a boat that is racing”. Rule E4.2 “A boat or the competitor controlling her shall not receive help from any outside source”.​

The RYA guidance; “Races should start as soon as possible after the last boat of the previous race has finished”.  During club only events, this  guidance shall be interpreted by the Race Officer as “Allowing ​ a short delay, (typically 2 - 5 minutes) to enable a competitor to tweak their boat”.  The Race Officer should inform all other competitors that this decision has been taken.

If a longer delay is required e.g. a rig change, this delay should not be allowed.  The competitor will need discard the next race in order to create the required time.  This will not significantly jeopardise the competitor as the scoring system automatically disregards the competitor’s poorest results. (6 Races, Best 5 results count.  8 Races, Best 6 results count)

Members who wish to sail any class of R/C yacht, without entering the race may do so, by sailing clear of designated race course.

As guests of Sutton Sailing Club we respect their facilities, in particular not allowing wet boats to soil the furniture and carpets.
A towel or equivalent is required to be placed under wet boats to provide protection.

Race Day Procedures

1   Attendees on the day
Race Officer:
(In the event of a no-show Race Officer, ALL present agree how to best share the roles.}
  • Manages the session and ensure all tasks are undertaken.
  • Officiates the racing.
  • Supplies the Milk & Biscuits. (Not Reimbursed as we all undertake this role equally). N.B. A carton of long-life milk will be held in the stock cabinet –in case there is a RO no-show.
  • Establishes who will undertake the roles of making tea and washing up.  (See item 3.)
“Sailing” attendees on the Day:
  • Arrive in time to take an active role and equal share in the tasks listed below.
 “Non-Sailing” attendees on the day: 
  • Take an active role and equal share in the tasks listed below, if they wish.
2   The first few people to arrive:
The “Start-up Team”
  • Turn on the heating, lighting and the urn, as appropriate.
    If you turn a heater on, YOU turn it OFF.
  • Open up the Boat Shed and Buoy storage box. Replace the keys on the hook in the Club House.
  • Retrieve the Tug Boat and Starter Speaker from their lockers and put them on charge.
The “Tea Setup Person(s)”
  • Collect consumables and cash box from locker and place in kitchen. 
  • Put out cups, biscuits and money collection dish onto the counter.
  • Identify shortfalls in consumables stock.  At the 5 minute bell, identify a volunteer to purchase replacements (Refundable).
The “Sailing Set-Up Team”
  • 2 – 4 people, work as a team to set up the course.  Usually under the guidance of the Race Officer.
  • 1 person, places the “Start Speaker Box” close to the Start Line & returns the start box to the locker at the end of racing.
3   Prior to Race start time:
The Race Officer identifies the “Tea Break” Team”:
(Non-sailors are not obliged to volunteer, however very appreciated.)
  • Make and serve the tea. (The first to finish the last race prior to tea break or Non-Sailor(s).)
  • Wash up. 3 Sailors - or a Non-sailor(s).
  • Dry and put away.  3 Sailors - or a Non-sailor(s).
  • Cash up and return consumables to the locker. 3 Sailors - or a Non-sailor(s).
4   Racing Protocol:
We sail using the RYA rules with appendix E
  • Rules E2.2 & E4.2 “Giving advice” is interpreted as “Coaching less competent members is allowed during club racing”.
  • Fiddle time between races is allowed for a maximum of 5 minutes after the last boat finishes.
5   Start of Racing:
The “Race Officer”
  • Describes the course.
  • Officiates the racing.
  • If there is a large Fleet, the Race Officer may wish to request that the first person to finish assists with scoring. In this case the second person to finish makes the tea – if required.
6   Tea Break
When the first person finishes the last race before Tea Break
  • The person nominated by the Race Officer, makes and serves the Tea. 
5 minutes before racing recommences.
  • The Race Officer calls “Time”.  (“5 minute bell”)
  • The “Tea Setup Person” identifies someone to purchase consumables – if required. (Fully Reimbursed)
  • Everyone places their cups on the counter.
  • Any person, who switched ON a heater, switches it OFF.
  • The “Tea Break Team” turns OFF the urn, cash up, wash up (Use hot water from Urn), dry up and put away.
  • Racing does not recommence until the “Tea Break Team” Sailors are pool side and ready to sail.
7   End of last race of the day.
All Sailors.
  • Stay Pool Side and assist until the Tug Boat has been unplugged, switched off and drained; everything is put back where it belongs; the Start Box is returned the locker; the Boat Shed and Buoy storage box locked up.
  • Then return to club room and clear their belongings, mess and water spillage.
The Race Officer.
  • Sends a copy of the Race Results to the BMYC “What’s App” Group.
  • Ensures that there is someone to lock up.
  • Ideally, there should be at least 3 people who leave together, after checking that the facilities are as we found them and all lights and heaters are switched off and all doors and gate are locked.

Club Rules
1  Safety Boat - A kill cord must be worn at all times when operating the outboard motor and personal buoyancy aids must be worn when afloat.
2  Access – Members should park their vehicles to allow access at all times for the emergency services to reach front door and slipway.
3  Smoking – The clubhouse and grounds are at all times designated as a non-smoking area.
4  Bosun’s Store - The Bosun is responsible to the Management Committee for maintenance of the store cupboard and the equipment therein.
5  Children - whilst at the Club are the responsibility of their parent or guardian. The Club does not act in any way in loco parentis
6  Race Entries -  All boats must be signed on at the beginning of the race or face disqualification
7 Prizes – The number of prizes awarded to be awarded shall be decided by the Committee following advice from the Racing Secretary.
8  Courses – The race course will normally be displayed on a notice board ahead of the race and  the number of laps shall also be indicated.
9 Starting - The starting sequence shall be of one minute duration and three boats will constitute a race.
10  Recalls – Individual boats OCS shall be signified by a hail by the Race Officer. Should the boat continue to race they will be disqualified  without a hearing. Where there is a General Recall, all boats should return to the starting area as soon as practicable.
11  Finishing – The Finishing line may not be the same as the start line and a boat finishing shall normally have her number hailed to that effect.
12  Retirement – A boat that retires shall inform the Race Officer as soon as possible after all other boats have finished the race.
13  Protests – A boat wishing to protest should have first hailed the alleged offending boat by calling ‘protest’ and then inform the Race Officer  of their intention to protest as soon as possible after the conclusion of the race.
The club has adopted the RYA Advisory Hearing procedure to settle all protests. 
14  WhatsApp - may be used by members with the primary purpose of enhancing communications within the club. It must not be used to make personal comments about members in particular or to express critical views about the club, its management or officers in general. Such views will be removed from the site and the offending member shall be given a written warning from the committee If the member repeats this action, they will, at the discretion of the committee, be excluded from posting further articles on the WhatsApp Group.
15  Sailing is now permitted at anytime but there should be at least two persons present and we must keep clear of SSC boats and paddleboards 

Club Rules - These rules may be amended and updated by a decision of the Committee.
           
January 2022
Updates - February 2022 - Rule 14 . June 2021 rule 15
AGM - Dec 19 Constitution Rule 16 changed  to allow visitors a further three visits @£5 each visit after the first three free visits.