Sailing Instructions

Race Dates : Nov. 9 - 30, 2008 (following the No More Turkey Nov. 1 & 2)

Start Time : First Race will start at 1:00pm.

Required Equipment : Life Jackets and (Wet suit or Dry suit) shall be worn whenever you leave the boat launch area on your laser. The penalty for not wearing these two required items is a DSQ in every race for that day.

Series Cost : $5 per day.

Courses :  All marks are rounded to port. The course will be posted on the Race Committee boat.

Modified Windward Leeward (W)

• MW – once around

• MW2 – twice around

Modified Triangle (T)

• MT – once around

• MT2 – twice around

Start Sequence :

A three (3) minute start sequence will be used.

NOTE: The Race Committee can use any solid color flag (except Orange) for the fleet flag. The Laser Class flag is preferred.

Attention horns, a few short horns are blown 10 seconds before the 3 minute horns

Start / Finish Line : The Laser fleet start and finish line will be the start / finish pin and the solid orange flag located on the Race Committee boat. In the event of a shorten course with a rescue boat, the finish line will be between a solid blue flag on the rescue boat and the mark of the course that the rescue boat is shortening course at.                                                                  

Changing Sails during the series (full rig & radial rig) : (Males who are 65 or older) and (Female who are 45 or older) can switch from full rigs to radial rigs and back in strong wind conditions if they have the same sail number on both rigs.

Practice sails : Competitors may use Laser practice sails or class legal ILCA sails for this event.

Storage of Laser at AYC : Non AYC members may store their laser at AYC after the No More Turkey and for the 3 weeks of the series. Competitors must park their trailers in the gravel parking spaces nearest to the Race Committee boat dock. These boats are to be removed by November 26, 2007. All trailers must have a name on them, so AYC knows who to call if not removed by November 26, 2007. Trailers must also have tire chocks and tongue locks for safety and security.

Scoring : The Low point scoring system will be used, first = 1 point, second = 2 points, third = 3 points, etc.

Minimum Number of boats for a Race : For a race to be counted and scored, five (5) boats must start. If less than this number show up to race, we may race, but races completed with less than the minimum number of starters will not count towards the series.

Series Scoring & Throw outs : Sailors will need to race 50% of the total races (counted and scored) to qualify for the series. Lowest scores are counted initially and used to reach the 50% race total. The sailor with the lowest series total wins. All races (above 50%) are thrown out.

Posting of Scores : We will attempt to email scores to competitors weekly.

Series Tie Breakers : Racer with the most number of first wins, if that does not break the tie, then most number of seconds, then most number of thirds, etc.

If this still does not break the tie, then thrown out scores are used to break the tie, i.e. add in the throw outs one at a time (starting with the lowest scores), until the tie is broken. If they are still tied, and one sailor runs out of throw outs to use before the other sailor, then the other sailor (who started more races) will win the tie breaker.

If both sailors started equal number of races and after all thrown out scores are compared and the tie is still there, then the last race in which both sailors raced together will break the tie. The sailor who beat the other sailor in that race will win the tie.

Alternate Penalty : For this series, the standard 720 rule is modified to a 360 rule. Complete one circle instead of two.

Protest : The protestor must notify the boat they are protesting at the time of the incident that they intend to file a protest. Protestor must inform the Race Committee (RC) after the race that they intend to file a protest against "Laser xxx", where xxx = the sail number...  Then once the RC docks, the protestor will have 30 minutes to fill out and file a protest form with the RC. The Laser Fleet captain will attempt to organize a protest hearing that day, but reserves the right to schedule the protest hearing on a future date.

Awards : Awards will be presented following the last day of racing.

Contact : Michael Carlson, 770.268.4383
email