R A C I N G   P R O T O C O L

 The Radio - Controlled Sailboat Racing League --Racing Rules-- and the RACING PROTOCOL govern the competitor, race committee and the protest committee. The boats and the radio equipment entered shall conform to the class specifications and regulations, respectively.

 PRESCRIPTIONS

1. Starting a Heat or Race

a)      Boats assigned to compete in a heat or race shall sail in the proximity of the starting line before the ‘one minute countdown’ begins,                                                                                        

b)      The competitors’ first heat or race shall have a practice start,   

c)      A heat or race may have one ‘five minute hold’  declared by a competitor assigned in a heat or race before the ‘one minute starting countdown’ begins by informing the starting judge,

d)    Boats shall not touch a starting mark during or after the ‘one   minute starting countdown’,

e)      The racing rules apply when the ‘one minute starting countdown’ begins,

f)       A boat called ‘over early’ by the starting judge shall be identified by sail number and, or hull color , at least twice, loud and clear. The boat loses all rights of the racing rules when she begins to alter course to re-start completely behind the starting line, until she is on a proper course. The starting judge declares, ‘CLEAR’, after the boat is completely behind the starting line and repeats, ‘CLEAR’, after the boat starts correctly,

g)     The starting judge may call, ‘GENERAL RECALL’, if three or more boats are over early when the starting signal sounds, unless the conditions permits a proper identification of the boats over early,

h)     A boat may re-start by the competitors own volition if not called ‘over early’ by the starting judge. The boat loses all rights of the racing rules when it begins to alter course to re-start completely behind the starting line, until she is on a proper course,

i)       The starting judge will declare, ‘ALL CLEAR’, after the boats clear the starting line and the marks after the start signal sounds.

2.    Finishing a Heat or Race

After finishing the heat or race, the boat shall stay clear of;      

a) other boats racing,

b) the finish line area,

c) the finishing marks or

d) an obstruction.    

3. PROTEST

 If a boat infringes a racing rule while racing, the competitor may;

a)     hear the words, ‘PROTEST , the sail number and, or, hull color’, at least twice, loud and clear,

b)    acknowledge the infringement and lose all rights of the racing rules when, as soon as possible, the boat alters course to sail clear from the other boats racing and perform a 720degree turn; one tack, then one jibe, wind permitting, twice and continuously for infringing another boat racing or a 360degree turn; one tack, then one jibe, wind permitting, continuously for touching a mark. The penalty is exonerated after the respective turns are complete and the competitor shall notify the protestor, unless it is obvious,

c)     mention the incident to the finishing judge and, or the RACE OBSERVER and submit a PROTEST FORM to the race committee,      

d)    hail, ‘PROTEST, the sail number and, or hull color’, at least twice, loud and clear, unless it is obvious,

e)     inform the other boats’ skipper of acceptance of the penalty points and continue the race with all the rights of the racing rules,

f)      be summoned by the race committee for a protest hearing concerning the infringement or,

g)     lose all rights of the racing rules when she alters course to perform a 720degree turn; one tack, then one jibe, wind permitting, twice and continuously, for infringing another boat racing or a 360degree turn; one tack, then one jibe, continuously for touching a mark on its own volition.

3.1 Boats that were affected by the ruled wrongdoer shall be scored their;

a) placement at the time of the incident or

b) average of all the finishing, plus any penalty points, scores if she was disabled and couldn’t finish in a timely fashion or                           

c) actual finish if it was not influenced by the incident.

3.2 Competitors assigned in a heat or race are the only people allowed to hail, ‘PROTEST, the sail number and, or hull color’, at least twice, loud and clear, towards a competitor that allegedly infringed a racing rule or fundamental during the heat or race.

3.3  Any party of the race or regatta can protest any other  party of the race or regatta by submitting a PROTEST FORM to the race committee.

3.4        The race committee may alter the 720degree turn to a 360degree turn to exonerate a penalty due to an excess or lack of wind.

4.  RACE COURSE

a)     The start and finish line is the course side of the respected marks.

b)    A course change shall be stated before the next heat or race begins or before the lead boat reaches the next mark by the race committee or its’ assignees.

 5.  SCORING - See scoring sheet                                        

 6.  RACE OBSERVERS

a)  The Race Observers are assigned by the race committee to report an ignored alleged infringement of the racing rules or fundamentals by a competitor and, or competitors to the race committee.                   

 b) The competitors shall be summoned for a protest hearing concerning the report of the ignored alleged infringement.               

c)     The Race Observers can be witnesses in the protest hearing.               

d)     The boats placement during the incident will be recorded to establish a proper finishing placement, if needed.

7.  MARK  JUDGES

Mark Judges are assigned by the race committee to hail  the;   

a)     sail number and, or

b)    hull color

at least twice, loud and clear after a boat that is racing touches a mark.

 8. OUT OF CONTROL

 a)  The boats ‘OUT OF CONTROL’ or disabled while racing are obstructions.

 b)  If a competitor declares, ‘OUT OF CONTROL’ or words  to that effect, while racing, the boat be will scored a D.N.F.(Did Not Finish).

 9.  RECOGNITION                                                 

a) The audience of a race may applaud and cheer when a boat crosses the finish line.                

b)  Awards of some device will be given after a heat, race and, or the regatta is complete either by the race director or a dignitary.