General Instructions

MANAGEMENT

These races will be under the sponsorship of the Scituate PHRF, Inc., or the sponsoring yacht club, which shall have the authority to interpret the rules and conditions of the race, to modify these general sailing instructions, to decide protests and to reject the entry of any yacht prior to the start of any race.

RULES

The racing rules for sailing 2005-2008, the rules of PHRF and the rules of the participating one-design classes shall govern except as any of these sailing instructions are changed by the sailing instructions.

NOTE: Please be aware, floatation devices must be worn by all on board, at the start and finish of all races.

NOTICES

Change to the sailing instructions shall be in writing and posted on the official notice boards (Satuit Boat Club, Scituate Harbor Yacht Club, Harbormaster) six hours before they take affect. Changes in the racing schedule shall be made and posted seven days prior to the change.

RATINGS

Boats shall race under the PHRF system with current ratings as assigned by the PHRF-NE or by the Scituate fleet handicapper.

ELIGIBILITY

All cruising and racing boats are invited to participate. To be eligible for awards, a boat must be registered to a member of Scituate PHRF, Inc. and have paid the entry fee prior to the third scheduled race in a series.

CLASS ASSIGNMENTS

Unless otherwise designated in a special race circular, there will be three classes based on racing (base) handicaps:

Class A Class B Class C Sonar Class Class J

0-120 121-185 186-up One Design J/24 one-design

Boats participating in all twilight races shall race according to these class assignments.

SAIL RESTRICTIONS

Only those headsails specifically designed on your rating form for use during cruising races shall be used in races where cruising ratings are employed. For those races, neither spinnaker nor any staysails will be permitted. The use of “poleless spinnakers” (i.e. cruising spinnakers), are considered under PHRF as regular spinnakers and must be set flying a pole.

WHISKER POLE RESTRICTIONS

Whisker pole length shall not exceed the boat’s rated J measurement. A telescoping whisker pole must be marked in a contrasting color at the proper length and be visible to other racing boats. When a whisker is used in lieu of a spinnaker pole it may not be extended beyond the rated spinnaker pole length. The whisker pole shall be attached to the foremost mast.

SAFETY EQUIPMENT

Boats must adhere to class rules as to safety equipment, but as a minimum, must carry suitable anchor and rope, bailing equipment, USCG approved life preserver for each person on board, display proper lights when racing after dark, and be equipped with auxiliary power. Boats may be subject to inspection and disqualification for failure to meet minimum safety requirements. A boat’s owner and/or skipper assumes the sole responsibility in connection with participation in the events of Scituate PHRF, Inc. including, but not limited to, the safe handling and equipping of his/her boat. Scituate PHRF, Inc. is not responsible for accidents or injuries to boats or individuals suffered in connection with participation in its events.

RACE COMMITTEE RESPONSIBILITY

Skippers who are scheduled for race committee duty shall perform that duty continuously from Sinbad leaving harbor to Sinbad being moored at the end of activity. Skippers who choose to race in lieu of performing race committee duty shall be scored DNS.

SPINNAKERS

Will be allowed for class A in all series.