2023 Fat Boys Regatta
SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
Date: Sunday Nov 5, 2023
Location: Sail Newport Beach
Schedule: Skipper’s meeting at 11:00 am. First race noon (12:00), no start after 4:00 pm. 1 race will constitute a series, RC will run as many as possible. – Note the Daylight Savings Time Change!
Registration: Sailors must register and complete waivers before sailing. Competitors under 18 years of age must have a waiver signed by a parent or guardian. Registration will be available on the Fleet 413 website www.NewportLaserFleet.org.
Waivers: All competitors must sign a liability waiver before sailing. Failing to properly sign a waiver will nullify registration. Participants under 18 must have a waiver signed by their parent or guardian.
Entry Fee: The entry fee is paid at the time of registration. If you register online it makes the process much easier. Web address is www.NewportLaserFleet.org. The fee is $30 per adult or $20 per student or out-of-state competitor.
Eligibility: Open to registered sailors in Laser and Laser Radial rigs. Competitors are welcome to switch between Full and Radial rigs as conditions dictate, however sail numbers must be the same regardless of the rig used.
Safety & Responsibility: Frostbiting can be dangerous. Competitors choose to sail in this regatta entirely at their own risk. Sailors are required to wear wet suits or dry suits and other appropriate gear to ensure their own safety. Each participant must gauge their own ability to participate. Sailors agree to indemnify and hold harmless Newport Beach Club, Fleet 413 and any and all officers, employees and members of these organizations.
Starts: The Start Line will be between an orange flag on the RC boat and the orange flag on the pin buoy to the left of the RC boat. Starts will be 3-minute dinghy starts. The ‘I’ flag (around the ends) is in effect for all starts. In the event of a general recall, the next start the ‘Z’ flag (20% penalty) is also in effect with the ‘I’ flag. In the event of another general recall, the ensuing start will be under the Black Flag. These flags will not be flown but will be announced by the RC.
Finish: The finish line will be between the race committee boat and a small orange buoy set on the opposite side of the RC boat from the starting line.
Marks: Large yellow balls will be used for the windward and leeward marks. The start pin will be a stick with an orange flag.
Courses: Courses are designated by lettered and numbered boards or verbally. Courses generally include a start/finish line half-way between the windward and leeward marks with the start to the left of the RC, and the finish to the right. The start and finish lines are un-restricted when not starting or finishing.
- W – Windward/Leeward: Windward (to port) – Leeward Gate – Finish
- T – Triangle: Windward (to port) – Reach Mark (to port) – Leeward mark (to port) – Finish
Note: If a leeward gate is still set, the leeward mark is the right-hand mark looking downwind.
- H – Harry Anderson: Windward (to port)– Reach Mark (to port) – RC Boat (to starboard) – Leeward Gate – Finish
- M – Modified W/L: Windward (to port) – Leeward Gate – Finish Line as a Windward Gate – Leeward Gate – Finish
The RC has discretion to combine courses (i.e. HW), make courses with multiple laps (i.e. W2), and finish races at any mark. For example, when the M is the second letter in a course designation it adds to the course the following: Finish Line as a Windward Gate – Leeward Gate – Finish
In addition, the RC may announce course modifications or courses other than those outlined herein. The RC’s decision on courses is entirely at their discretion. The RC has the option of using gates for leeward marks and offsets at windward marks.
Sail Numbers: Sailors are required to have UNIQUE sail numbers. Please use your full sail number to ensure that it is the only one in the fleet. The RC and organizers WILL NOT listen to any complaints about sail numbers that are duplicates. It takes 20 minutes to put the full sail number on your sail. It can take hours for the organizers to sort out duplicates.
Protests: 360 turns are required of boats that foul. In the spirit of Pete Milnes and Fleet 413 frostbiting, protests must be settled on the water. Should a protest not be resolved amicably on the water, a race committee official may be available for consultation after racing. If you foul and don’t do your penalty turns (or later withdraw) you have cheated everyone else and yourself. Remember, “If in winning the race you have lost the respect of your fellow competitors then you have not won at all.” – Paul Elvström
Scoring: Low-point scoring, with no throw-outs. One race will constitute a regatta.
Festivities: At the IYAC on Thames St. in Newport following sailing.
Course Diagrams:
