16ft Skiff Sailing Instructions

Part A - General

  1. Program of events shall be as defined in the Port Hunter 16ft Skiff Sailing Programme.
  2. Courses shall be as defined by the Port Hunter 16ft Skiff Courses.
  3. Skiff racing starts at 2:40pm for scratch starts and 30 minute limit for handicap starts at 2:30pm
  4. All racing shall be conducted under the current rules of the NSW 16ft Skiff Association.
  5. Each skiff must conform to the class rules.
  6. Each skiff must have registered with the NSW 16ft Skiff Association before competing in it's sixth Pointscore race.
  7. Sails may be used only once in a non-championship race before measurement. No equipment may be used in a Club Championship before measurement. Measurement must be conducted by an appointed Club Measurer and sails marked and initialled by same. (Note: The Club Measurer's boats and sails should be checked by someone else.)
  8. Skiffs and equipment must be made available to be checked by the Club Measurer upon the request of 3 members of the sailing committee.
  9. All sailors must be members of the Club. Sailors who have competed in 3 Pointscore races without paying membership fees are ineligible to compete in further events.
  10. A representative from each registered skiff must attend each meeting of the sailing committee, which occur at 1:00pm on the 1st Racing Day of each month of the sailing season.
  11. When entering Association regattas, it is the responsibility of each skipper to notify the Sailing Secretary by the day of the last Club event before the closing date.
  12. Notices to sailors will be posted on the Official Noticeboard at the western end of the Club hall.
  13. Any changes to the sailing instructions will be posted by 2:00pm on the day it will take effect.

Part B - Club Championship

  1. To qualify for the Club Championship a skiff must start in at least 50% of non-championship pointscore races.
  2. The Championship pointscore is a low-points system as per RRS Appendix A Low Point System.

Part C - Season Pointscore and Handicaps

  1. The Season Pointscore is a low-points system as per RRS Appendix A Low Point System. All programmed Pointscore races to count.
  2. Skiffs attending Association approved regattas when a Pointscore race is conducted will receive points equal to the average of that skiffs points from the previous 3 Pointscore races. The skiff does not rank as a starter.
  3. Handicaps are maintained by the Handicap Committee that is appointed by, and responsible to, the Sailing Committee. No two members of the Handicap Committee may sail together in the same skiff.
  4. A 5-minute handicap bonus will apply to skiffs sailing 4-handed in all club races.
  5. For its 1st handicap win a skiff will be penalised 3 minutes, 2nd win 4 minutes and each win thereafter 5 minutes. A 2nd place incurs a penalty of 2 minutes. 3rd place incurs 1 minute.
  6. Where the scratch skiff fails to start the next lowest handicap becomes the effective scratch skiff. For example, if the lowest handicap skiff “A” to start is on 5 minutes, and comes 3rd, then it will push all other finishers out 1 minute. If, in this example, a skiff “B” on 6 minutes records it's 1st win, then “B” shall go to 5 minutes and push all those skiffs that finished out 2 minutes. This means that skiff “C” which finished but did not run a place will gain 2 minutes from, say, 10 minutes to 12 minutes. Skiff “A”, mentioned previously, will gain (2 - 1 =) 1 minute and will be on 6 minutes for the next race.

Part D - Fees and Prizemoney

  1. Membership, registration and shed rent are all payable in the early weeks of the season - failure to pay may result in loss of points and prizemoney.
  2. Regatta entry fees are payable with entries.
  3. In the case that prizemoney does not cover outstanding sailing debts, the skipper will be liable.
  4. Prizemoney will be determined by the Sailing Committee at the end of the season when all sponsorships & donations have been received. It is in each sailor's interest to attract as much money to the Club as possible.