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Notice of Race

Sailing Instructions

The 2nd Annual Lake George Night Navigator Race

Sailing Instructions

The 2nd Annual Lake George Night Navigator Race

Sponsored by the Lake George Corinthian Yacht Club
Friday September 15, 2006

Start

The starting line for all yachts will be between the Hogback Reef Buoy “U6” and the round orange buoy located just west of “U6.” All Yachts will cross the starting line in a northerly direction regardless of wind direction. All yachts must check in for the race prior to the start by taking the stern of Ivory Blue (the Committee Boat and Race Committee) and hailing yacht name and sail number between 18:00 and 18:30. There will be one start for all yachts. There will be no stationary committee boat starting this race. The start will be by sound signals only (no flags) and will be broadcast on VHF Channel 68 as well. Yacht Captains will keep their own elapsed time from the race start and report it to Ivory Blue at the end of the race via VHF or cell phone.

The start sequence will be as follows:

19:00 Six minute signal (one short sound)
19:01 Five minute signal (one short sound)
19:02 Four minute signal (one short sound)
19:05 One minute signal (one long sound)
19:06 Race Start (one short sound)

RECALLS
USSA Rule 29 shall apply. For individual boats who have started early. The Race Committee will attempt to notify each premature starter via VHF. Failure to hear notification does not relieve a boat of her obligation to start properly. Captains are expected to monitor their own start and proceed accordingly.

In the event a general recall is required, it will be indicated by two horn blasts, and notification via VHF. In the event of a general recall the entire starting sequence of sound signals will be done.

Fleets

All Yachts: The course is approximately 35 statute miles. The northern mark is the “F1” Buoy located approximately one half mile south of Sabbath Day Point. No Race Committee personnel will man this mark.  Racers will take this mark to port. After rounding the “F1” Buoy, all boats will race south to a finish line located at the same location as the race start. Yachts may choose any course going to the north “F1” buoy and any course to the finish line.

Course:

Finish

The finish line is a line between the white U6 buoy at Hogback reef and the round orange buoy located just west of “U6”.

All yachts must hail name and number to the Race Committee prior to finishing (The Race Committee will monitor VHF channel 16 and use channel 68 as the working channel). Yachts must hail the race committee two minutes prior to crossing the finish line and illuminate their sail numbers as they cross the finish line. Yachts which have finished may be disqualified for interfering with yachts trying to finish.

The Race Committee will monitor Channel 16 and 68 until all yachts have finished. All yachts that drop out of the race must notify the Race Committee immediately, either via VHF or by phone at 518-361-2530. In the event of extremely dispersed fleets the Race Committee may abandon its finish station but will use its best judgment to provide an official finish for all boats who notify the Race Committee they intend to complete the course.

General Information

If no yacht in the Fleet reaches the northern mark by 12:00 pm Saturday, September 16, 2006, the race will be abandoned and rescheduled for a later date if possible.

Yachts which drop out or do not finish for any reason must contact the Race Committee in person, by VHF radio (channel 16 or 68) or by phone (518-361-2530) at the earliest opportunity. The Race Committee must be notified to verify that all boats are safe. The Race Committee will hail all yachts beginning at 9 pm Friday, September 15 and then every two hours after that on the hour until all boats have finished,to establish location of all yachts. If you are able to respond to the general broadcast please note all boats in your vicinity and relay the information back to the Race Committee.

A US Coast Guard-approved PFD shall be worn by all crew members at all times while on deck. All yachts, skippers and crew shall comply with regulations of the Lake George Park Commission. Any yacht which receives a summons from any official agency patrolling the lake may be disqualified.

Yachts may run electrical generating devices such as generators or engines to power ship’s electronic accessories as long as running such equipment in no way propels the vessel during the race.

PENALTIES & PROTESTS: All skippers are expected to adhere to the racing rules and sail considering the spirit and distance of the Night Navigator Race. If, however, there are violations of the rules, penalties shall be in accordance with Rule 44.1 and 44.2 (two turns) or as administered via protest.

Formal protests shall be submitted to the Race Committee within two hours after the last yacht finishes.

REDRESS: In accordance with Rule 86.1b, for this Night Navigator Race, an exception is added to Propulsion Rule 42.3 as follows: In the event of a serious storm, those skippers forced to use motor propulsion to assure safety of boat and crew may apply for redress provided: that the Race Committee is informed of this action as soon as practical after the motor use; that the action did not advance the position of the boat in the race; and that a written request is submitted to the Race Committee within two hours after the race outlining specific times of action taken and certifying the lack of race advance.

Awards

Awards will be given to the top three finishers in the fleet based on corrected time.

The acceptance of entry does not in any way curtail the complete and unequivocal responsibility of the skipper for the seaworthiness and safety of his/her yacht and crew.  By electing to participate, each participant agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Lake George Corinthian Yacht Club, the Race Committee, the Race organizers and its sponsors for any loss or damage to person or property. It shall be the sole responsibility of each yacht to decide whether to start or continue racing. The Race Committee reserves the right to determine eligibility of any entrant.

Yacht Requirements

All yachts must be sound with all equipment in place and in good, safe working condition and conform to all Federal, State and Local regulations and sailing class requirement. In addition due to the nature of this race special crew and equipment requirements are included below.  Vessel Captains are solely responsible for the safety of their crew and vessel.

Yachts must meet the following requirements:

STRUCTURAL FEATURES

• The yacht must be self-righting; cockpit must be self-bailing .
• There must be handrails on the cabin top or lifelines enclosing the deck, except for the transom.
• Yacht name must be visible on the hull; numbers on the mainsail, spinnakers and overlapping headsails must be in accordance with USSA rules.
• The yacht must have a NYS approved head on board.
• The yacht must have two (2) permanently installed bunks of six feet minimum length.
• No open multihull or day sailing vessels are eligible to participate.

CREW REQUIREMENTS

• All Vessels will maintain a minimum crew size of three human beings for the duration of the race.
• All crew members will wear a Coast Guard approved PFD at all times during the race.

REQUIRED GENERAL EQUIPMENT

• Auxiliary engine and mount, gas tank and battery. Auxiliary engine must be immediately available for emergency use.
• Anchor and line of sufficient length and strength.
• Flashlight with spare batteries and bulbs.
• Tools and spare parts adequate for general maintenance.
• A VHF radio with sufficient power supply to continuously monitor channels 16 & 68 for the duration of the race.
• Sufficient clothing for the prevailing weather conditions, including clothing for cold wet weather.

REQUIRED NAVIGATION EQUIPMENT

• Navigation lights as required by government regulations. Navigation lights must be lit as required by law during the race.
• Chart of Lake George.

REQUIRED EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT

• One bailing device.
• Day and night emergency signals per Federal and State law.
• One First Aid kit with instructions.
• Readily accessible fire extinguisher(s) as required by Federal and State Regulations.
• One USCG-approved life jacket for each person on board (must be worn while on deck).
• One USCG-approved throwable device within reach of the helmsperson.

RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT

• Cell Phone: Race Committee cell phone number is 518-361-2530.

Contact Info:

For additional information contact LGCYC Commodore Charles Pound at 518-792-7482 or cedpjr@aol.com