•1.               RULES

The races will be governed by the Racing Rules of Sailing, the prescriptions of U.S. Sailing, the rules of the Bullseye Class (except as any of these are altered by these sailing instructions), and by these sailing instructions.

•2.               SPORTSMANSHIP

All Skippers and crew sailing with the Card Sound Sailing Club are expected to show good sportsmanship and good fellowship.  Sailors are expected to communicate with each other both on and off the water.  When a sailor damages the boat of another, that sailor is expected to offer to pay to have the damaged boat repaired. 

•3.               ENTRIES

Skippers must be members of the Card Sound Sailing Club, and by January 15, 2010, the Bullseye Class Association and the United States Sailing Association.  Boats must compete with a skipper and a crew of one or two.  Skippers, crew and Race Committee personnel must sign a release agreement.  The agreement must be filed with the CSSC Secretary to be eligible to race.

With the permission of the Race Committee, guest skippers may be allowed to compete in races, other than Pumpkin Key, provided receive a copy of the Sailing Instructions and sign a release. Guest skippers can win daily prizes (if available), but their result will be counted as a DNS for the applicable series.

•4.               NOTICE TO COMPETITORS

Notices to competitors will be posted on the official notice board located at Baker Harbor.

•5.               CHANGES IN SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

Any change in the sailing instructions will be posted before 0800 hours on the day before it will take effect, including any change in the schedule of races.

•6.               SCHEDULE OF RACES

Two or three races a day are scheduled for all series with the exception of the Pumpkin Key Race. 

•7.               RACING AREA

All courses will be set in Card Sound in the vicinity of Pumpkin Key Island.

•8.               COURSES

All marks will be left to Port unless a gate is used, in which case each boat must pass between the gates from the direction of the previous mark and round the inside of either gate mark before heading in the direction of the next mark.

Race courses will be displayed from the Committee Boat.  The panel display will show course marks in the order of rounding -- example:  1-3-1-3-F or 1-2-3-F.

When the course for the second (or subsequent) race is changed, the Committee will display Code Flag "C" (red-white-blue horizontal stripes) accompanied by (1) one long sound signal one minute before the beginning of the start sequence set forth in Rule 11.

When a course is designated 1-3-1-3-F, 1-2-3-F or 1-3-F, the Race Committee may at its discretion move the finish line from the middle of the leg to No. 1 (windward mark).  If the finish line is moved to No. 1, the starting line will be removed after all boats have made their start.  A change of course will be signaled. 

The starting area for the Pumpkin Key Race will be either directly downwind from the Island or directly upwind from the Island.  The race will be around the Island and finish in vicinity of the Starting area.  The number of times around the Island and the setting of any other marks will be at the discretion of the Race Committee on the day of the race.  Boats may go around the Island in either direction. 

•9.               SAFETY:  The following safety gear is required during races.

•a.                A 5-lb. anchor, 6 feet of 1/4" chain and at least 100 feet of 3/8" anchor rope.

•b.               One U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket of suitable size for each person on board.

•c.                A paddle or an oar at least 4 feet in length.

•d.               A horn or whistle in working order. 

•e.                A bucket suitable for bailing, a manual bilge pump may also be carried.

•f.                A VHF radio capable of receiving channel 72.

When the Race Committee displays code flag Y (rectangular diagonally stripped red and yellow flag) or prominently displays a life jacket in the rigging, life jackets shall be worn while racing by all competitors. 

•10.            CHECKING IN

Before the warning signal of the first race of the day, each yacht shall sail past the stern of the Race Committee Signal Boat and hail her sail number until acknowledged by the Race Committee.  Even more important, should a yacht decide to head home before a race is finished, or before it is clear that no more races will be run that day, they shall hail, or if out of range, call the Committee boat reporting their intention to retire. 

•11.            MARKS

Marks 1, 2 and 3 will be inflated tetrahedrons.  The starting and finishing marks are described in instruction paragraphs 12 and 13.

•12.            THE START

The Race Committee will attempt to be on station 15 minutes prior to the warning signal.  Competitors should not interfere with the marks boats when they are setting the marks.

For all races, Racing Rule 26 Starting Races is modified as follows:

The starting line will be between a staff displaying an orange flag or shape on the Race Committee boat at the starboard end and a small inflated tetrahedron at the port end.

•13.            THE FINISH

The finishing line will be between a staff displaying an orange flag or shape on the Committee boat and either a small inflated tetrahedron or Mark 1 on the port end.

•14.            RECALLS

Individual recalls will be signaled in accordance with Racing Rule 29.1.  The Committee may hail the sail number of the yacht or yachts starting prematurely on Channel 72 VHF.

If a General Recall is necessary, the Race Committee will sound 5 or more blasts of the horn and lower the Starting Flag.  Thereafter, the regular Starting Procedure will be repeated, starting with the warning signal.

•15.            CHANGE OF COURSE

A change of course will be hailed by an Attendant Boat at the Mark that begins the leg being changed.  The change will be signaled before the leading yacht has begun the leg, although the new mark may not be in position at that time.

•16.            TIME LIMIT

The time limit for each race will be one half hour (1/2) to the first mark in the Dingley, Connors, Combs, Magic, Dort, Mills and Metcalf series; one and one half hours (1-1/2) to the finish in the Dingley, Connors, Combs, Magic, Dort, Mills and Metcalf series.  Yachts failing to finish 30 minutes after the first yacht finishes will be scored ‘Did not finish.'

•17.            PROTESTS; REDRESS

 Protesting boat will notify the protested skipper of the protest on the water at the time of the incident, giving the protested skipper the option to do the penalty turn(s). If the protested skipper does not do the penalty turn(s), the protesting boat will, at the conclusion of the race and before leaving the race course, advise the Race Committee verbally of the protest and identify the number of the boat and/or name of the protested skipper. By 1300 hours on the day of the race or 30 minutes after returning to shore, whichever is greater, the protesting skipper shall deliver to the Race Committee a written protest, in a form provided for by that Committee. The protest must cite the US Sailing rule that was violated. Only if all the protest rules, terms and conditions are in order will the Race Committee refer the matter to a Protest Committee for a decision. 

If a protested skipper withdraws the protest before the Protest Committee meets, he may use that race as one of his throw outs.  If after a hearing he is disqualified, he will be credited with DSQ, and must use this as a race sailed. The decision of the Protest Committee shall be final.

Request for redress shall be governed by Racing Rule 62. The request shall be in writing and given to the Race Committee in the same manner and time as a Protest.

•18.             PENALTIES

Racing Rule 44.2 applies. If a boat touches a mark, a 360° turn penalty shall apply. For other penalties, a 720° turn penalty shall apply.

•19.            SCORING

The low point Scoring System Appendix A4 of the Racing Rules will apply.

In the Mills and Metcalf Series the fleet will be divided into two divisions for scoring. 

•20.            HAUL-OUTS

Once a yacht is launched for her first race of the season, she'll remain in the water except for haul-outs to repair damage.

•21.            PRIZES

Prizes will be awarded to the skipper and crew placing first, second, and third in each series.