Mendota Yacht Club (MYC) welcomes both racing and non-racing members who are interested in sailing and wish to support MYC. This "Sailing Information" is intended to be general and to act as an overview of sailboat racing events held on Lake Mendota by the MYC. It should not be confused with MYC's Standard Sailing Instructions (SSls) which rank as racing rules and describe racing procedures comprehensively.
RACE COMMITTEE
The MYC Race Committee (RC) is in charge of the SSls and race management, i.e., organizing and carrying out all of the on-the-water activities necessary for racing events. The RC is composed of MYC Vice Commodore, Fleet Captains, Principal Race Officer, the Scorer, the SSls Committee and the Protest Committee. The MYC Protest Committee hears and decides protests and requests for redress and responds to rules issues. The RC is chaired by the MYC Vice Commodore.
QUALIFICATIONS
The MYC requires that boat registration fees be paid in full and be received by the membership chair at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to your sailboat's first race except for the unclassified fleet which must have at least one paid member aboard.
All competitors, including crew will be members of MYC. A non-member may compete in races on Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, Specialty Races and not more than two (2) other races per season. A sailboat which uses a crew in violation of this may be protested and disqualified. Skippers are responsible for ensuring that their crew register with the required fees.
New member Racing fees
Racing fees for a new member's first year may be reduced to 50% of regular fees if the following conditions are met:
- The member is new to the club or has not been a member in the last ten years.
- The boat raced is new to the club or, if it is purchased or leased from a club member, the previous owner no longer sails on said boat.
New members must pay full club membership dues. Racing fees will not be pro-rated at any time. New Racing members will be scored and recognized as full members in their respective fleet.
RACES
MYC conducts sailboat racing events for multiple fleets on Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays, as well as Handicap and Specialty Races. In addition there are single fleet races on Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons. A schedule of racing events and other club activities is listed in the calendar section in this directory. Racing schedules and starting sequences ar listed in the SSls.
Windward-Leeward, Windward-Leeward Modified or other courses diagrammed in the SSIs will be sailed at the discretion of the Principal Race Officer, unless the SSIs state otherwise, e.g. the Labor Day Handicap Race is an all-fleet start, around the lake race. The starting line for all events will be at the Signal Boat, which will be located within the racing area (except Labor Day) as shown on the map illustration "MARK LOCATION" in this Directory.
STARTING
Courses and racing information will be displayed in accordance with RRS rule 27. Races will be started in accordance with RRS Rule 26. The starting signal for each class will be the warning signal for the next class.
Friday |
Saturday |
Sunday |
Wednesday |
|
Warning Signal |
6:30 PM |
10:00 AM |
10:00 AM |
6:30 PM |
Preparatory
Signal |
6:31 PM |
10:01 AM |
10:01 AM |
6:31 PM |
(Long Sound, P Flag Down) |
6:34 PM |
10:04 AM |
10:04 AM |
6:34 PM |
Starting Signal |
6:35 PM |
10:05 AM |
10:05 AM |
6:35 PM |
CHAMPIONSHIPS
The E Season Championship is determined by combining the Wed. Sat. and Sun. series. The A Championship is the combined Fri. & Sun. series. The Crusier Classes, M-20, and I-20 Season Championships are determined by combining the Wed. and Sun. series. The MC Season Championship is the Wed. series. The Twilight Races will count toward a fleet’s respective series.
RACING NUMBERS
Racing numbers are assigned by the MYC Secretary as follows: All Class A, E, and I-20 boats are required to carry racing numbers plus the MYC designated letter "H". M-20, MC, and Cruising Class boats will carry their class designation and racing numbers. All boats will display current registration numbers and permits as required by law.
RACING RULES
All races will be governed by the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) and by the standard sailing instructions.
Updated April 2008
1. RULES
All races will be governed by the rules as defined in the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS), the prescriptions of the United States Sailing Association (US SAILING), (except as any of these are altered by these sailing instructions) and by the sailing instructions.
2. ENTRIES
Eligible boats may be entered by completing registration with the Mendota Yacht Club (MYC) in accordance with the conditions on the MYC Membership Application form. Participation is open to Class A (NCASA only), E, MC, and I-20 Scows, Cruiser Class I, II,III and the unclassified fleet. A Cruiser Class boat is any self-righting monohull with an enclosed cabin, containing a minimum of two adult berths, with provisions to seal off the cabin to prevent flooding from the cockpit in the event of a capsize. The unclassified fleet is any boat not belonging to a specific fleet, but is scoreable by the Portsmouth rating. The unclassified fleet is only scored on Memorial Day, 4th of July, Victory Day and Labor Day.
Cruiser Class Assignments:
- Class I PHRF less than or equal to 138
- Class II PHRF 139 to 199
- Class III PHRF greater than or equal to 200
All competitors, including crew, will be members of MYC, with the exception that a non-member may compete in Handicap Races, Specialty Races and not more than two other races per season. There are no alternating crew restrictions for MYC races. A boat which is sailing with a sail number different than which it is registered under will report that information to the RC Signal Boat before its preparatory signal.
3. NOTICES TO COMPETITORS & CHANGES IN THE SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
Notices and changes will be listed in the BILGEBOARD (the MYC newsletter) under “Race Committee Notices” or by special mailing. All Notices/Changes will be in the hands of competitors at least five days before being in effect. They may also be found on the club web page www.mendotayc.org.
4. SCHEDULE OF RACES/STARTING SEQUENCES
Races are listed in the MYC Directory Calendar of Events. The scheduled starting sequence for Sunday and Wednesday races: Class E first, Class MC second, Class I-20 third and Cruiser Classes fourth. The scheduled starting sequence for Saturday Races: Class E first, Cruiser Classes second (A third start will be added to the Saturday sequence if requested by any I-20 boat coming to the starting area). The scheduled starting sequence for all Handicap and Specialty races, except Memorial Day and Labor Day: Class A first, Class E second, Class MC third, Class I-20 fourth, and Cruiser Classes fifth. On Memorial Day the first start is reserved for the “Memorial Gun”, Class A second, Class E third, Class MC fourth, Class I-20 fifth, and Cruiser Classes sixth.On Labor Day all classes start together. The actual sequence of starts that is displayed at the starting area will govern. The Payton Regatta has four Races scheduled; no more than two races may be sailed each day. For the Payton Regatta, no warning signal will be made after 2:00 PM on Sunday if three races have been completed.
5. RACING AREA
The racing area is shown on the map “Mark Location,” which is part of these sailing instructions.
6. COURSES
The starting area may be located anywhere within the area entitled “Racing Area” on the map “Mark Location” at the discretion of the Principal Race Officer. Courses and the approximate compass bearing to the first mark will be displayed before the warning signal of each event: at the start area, on the Signal Boat, on the Display Board (hereinafter shortened to “Displayed at Starting Area”). On the previous page are some course types which may be used.
When two leeward marks are set, the “A” mark will be the one most to windward.
When a windward offset mark is used, it will apply as a mark of the course for downwind legs only. (not reaches.)
A leeward gate may be used in place of a leeward mark. A boat must pass through the gate, but may then round either of the gate marks. If one of the gate marks is missing and has not been replaced per RRS rule 34, then a boat will round the remaining gate mark to port.
All Marks except the windward offset will be large orange or yellow balls. The windward offset mark will be a smaller orange ball.
7. THE START
RRS rule 26 will apply, and is changed as follows:
The Class flags shall be alternating solid white and solid red flags. The first Class flag in the starting sequence will be the solid white flag. The starting line will be between a buoy at the port end and the staff or lanyard containing an orange flag on the Signal Boat at the starboard end. Failure to display the orange flag will not be grounds for a request for redress. A buoy may be tethered to the stern of the committee boat(s). Any boat touching this buoy will have broken RRS rule 31.1 and shall act in accordance with RRS rule 31.2. The sequence of starts will be displayed at the starting area. A boat whose warning signal has not been made will keep clear of the starting area and of all boats whose preparatory signal has been made. A boat starting later than 15 minutes after its starting signal will be scored Did Not Start. This changes rule A4.
Postponements will not exceed a total of 30 minutes per event (the “postponement period”). If, during the postponement period, the race committee begins the act of setting the starting line or marks of the course for the purpose of starting a race, the postponement period may be extended to a total of 45 minutes. For the Payton Regatta, there will be no limits on the number or length of postponements.
8. RECALLS
Individual recalls will be governed by RRS rule 29.1. The Race Committee may hail, and/or announce on VHF radio channel #78A, the sail number of any boat it identifies On Course Side of the starting line at the starting signal. Failure of a boat to hear her recall notification will not be grounds for a request for redress.
RRS rule 29.2 is changed so that restarts resulting from general recalls will follow the last scheduled Class start; in order of recall, and in sequence.
9. CHANGE OF COURSE AFTER THE START
RRS rule 33 will apply. In addition, the Race Committee may announce the course change on VHF radio channel #78A.
10. THE FINISH
The finish line will be between a buoy at the port end, and a staff or lanyard containing an orange flag on a race committee boat at the starboard end or the reverse of this configuration for a downwind finish. Failure to display an orange flag shall not be grounds for redress. A buoy may be tethered to the stern of the committee boat(s). Any boat touching this buoy will have broken RRS rule 31.1 and shall act in accordance with RRS rule 31.2.
11. PENALTY SYSTEM
For Class A and E boats only:
RRS rules 44.1 and 44.2 are changed so that only one turn, including one tack and one gybe, is required.
12. TIME LIMIT
The time limit for all races except for Labor Day is 2 1/2 hours. There is no time limit for Labor Day. RRS rules 35 and A4 are changed so that any boat not finishing its race, except for Labor Day, within 1 hour after the first boat in its Class finishes, will either be scored Did Not Finish, or the Race Committee has the option to assign finishes for one design fleets based on a boat’s position at the last rounding mark. An event will be abandoned unless the first boat, of the first Class to start, rounds the first mark within 45 minutes.
13. PROTESTS
Protest forms are available from the MYC Protest Committee, from the MYC Race Committee or may be downloaded from www.mendotayc.org. RRS rule 61.3 is changed so that the protests will be delivered to the Protest Committee by 7:00 p.m. on the Tuesday following weekend events, or by 7:00 p.m., within two days following other events. The Protest Committee will notify the parties to the protest of time, place and date of protest hearings.
14. SCORING
For the Payton Regatta:
Four races are scheduled, of which one race is required to be completed to constitute the regatta. All races count toward a boat’s regatta score. Cruiser Classes will be scored as a single fleet. The highest placing boat in the fleet competing for the Cup, whose skipper is a MYC member, will be awarded the perpetual Payton's Mallory Cup Trophy. Additional prizes may be awarded. The fleet that will compete for the Payton's Mallory Cup Trophy will be chosen by the MYC Board and announced at the spring banquet.For all boats except Class E - the first race on Saturday and Sunday shall be included in the respective club race Series. For Class E boats - the first race on Saturday and Sunday shall be included in the respective club race Series only if the race is started within the postponement period for club races as listed in Standard Sailing Instruction #7.
For all other races:
A “Series” consists of at least 3 completed races, but the total number of races in a Series (used to compute the Series results) is the total number of races in which at least one finisher has been scored. Abandoned races will not be rescheduled unless they are essential to meet the 3 race minimum requirement for a Series which counts towards a Season Championship. The Twilight Specialty races are part of the Wednesday Series. The Season Championship for Class A is determined by combining the Friday & Sunday Series races. The Season Championship for Class E is determined by combining the Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday Series races. The Season Championships for Cruiser Classes, M-20 Class, and I-20 Class are determined by combining the Wednesday and Sunday Series races. The Season Championship for MC class is the Wednesday Series.
For class I-20 boat’s Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday Series, a boat may request that it be awarded average points for a race that it was unable to compete in because of volunterring for the Race Officer Assisants Program. Average points will only be awarded if a valid race is completed. Average points for a boat is defined as the sum of its points for all races for that Series which it competed in divided by the number of those races. A boat may request that it be scored as such by informing the fleet captain before the start of the race. A boat may only be scored as such a maximum of two times per Series.
15. THROW OUTS
The following systems will be used to determine the throw-outs for each Series:
For, Class E, Class MC and Class I-20 boats:
For the Saturday, Sunday,and Wednesday Series, all races will count in a Series if 5 or less races are completed. If 6 races are completed, the worst race will be dropped as a throw-out race. If 7 or more races are completed, the worst 2 races will be dropped.
For the Season Championship Series, all races will count if 5 or fewer races are completed. If 6 or 7 races are completed, the worst race will be dropped as a throw-out race. If 8 races are completed, the worst 2 races will be dropped. An additional throw-out will be used after each increment of 4 additional completed races (i.e., 12 completed races = 3 throw-outs, 16 completed races = 4 throw-outs, etc.).
For Class A boats:
For the Friday, Sunday, and Season Championship Series, all races will count in a Series if 4 or less races are completed. If 5 races are completed, the worst race will be dropped as a throw-out race. An additional throw-out will be used after each increment of 5 additional completed races (i.e., 10 completed races = 2 throw-outs,
15 completed races = 3 throw-outs, etc.).
For Cruiser Class boats:
For the Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday, and Season Championship Series, all races will count in a Series if 3 or less races are completed. If 4 races are completed, the worst race will be dropped as a throw-out race. An additional throw-out will be used after each increment of 4 additional completed races (i.e., 8 completed races = 2 throw-outs, 12 completed races = 3 throw-outs, etc.).
16. HANDICAP RACES
Handicap races are scored using the handicap average of the 5 most recent Handicap Races; newer boats use at least 3 races. The scores from Hoofer boats will carry skipper handicaps in lieu of boat handicaps. The handicap for each race is calculated by dividing the elapsed time of a boat’s first 4 legs by the time of the first Class E boat to finish 4 legs. The Labor Day Race handicap is computed in the same way, except that the elapsed times for ‘one lap’ around the course are used for computation, in lieu of finishing ‘4 legs’.
17. GUEST SKIPPER
No boat shall be scored in the Victory Day race unless it has a Guest Skipper steer the boat for the entire race, excluding the MC fleet.
18. REPLACING BOATS
A boat owner replacing a boat with another of the same class may keep accrued scores for class racing, but not accrued handicap scores for Handicap Races.
19. PHRF SCORING
Time-on-Distance PHRF will be used for all Cruiser Classes. Current Lake Michigan PHRF handicaps will be used where available. Skippers will not be required to obtain a current LMPHRF certificate, however, it will be the responsibility of the skipper to obtain a current LMPHRF certificate if a LMPHRF handicap rating is not otherwise available for their boat. Base handicap appeals must be made through LMPHRF/US Sailing. If a boat does not have a current LMPHRF certificate, it may not appeal its base handicap. The MYC PHRF Committee may alter local handicaps with the consent of the boat involved and a majority of members in that Class. Boats using a LMPHRF ODR Rating will abide by their Class rules regarding equipment and crew requirements.
20. RADIO COMMUNICATION
VHF radio channel #78A will be used to communicate to boats. Boats may not monitor channel #71, which is reserved for use by the Race Committee. However, emergency calls may be made on channel #71. Whether racing or not, failure by a boat to hear or comprehend information broadcast on channel #78A will not be cause for a request for redress. Broadcast of information on channel #78A will not change, or be a substitute for, the posting of a notice.
21 GUEST SKIPPER
The Guest Skipper concept was developed to generate interest and growth in the sailboat classes sailed by MYC. The intent of this race is to encourage people with limited experience on the helm of a sailboat, or a specific class, to serve as skipper. For example: a crew member, a scow sailor on a cruiser (or vice-versa), a non-racing sailor, mother-in-law, etc. Pets are not excluded. Only Guest Skippers are eligible for awards in designated Guest Skipper races. 22. Prizes Prizes will be listed under Trophies in the beginning of this directory.