Below are the combined sailing instructions for both dinghy and cruiser competitors.
There are three sections to these instruction:
Dinghy sailors should read the General and Dinghy sections
Cruiser sailors should read the General and Cruiser sections
These instructions should be read in conjunction with the Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) available on the World Sailing website.
General – This sections applies to all competitors
1. Rules
1.1. Racing will take place under the current Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) 2025 – 2028 (copy available at the Race Desk), these Sailing Instructions and appropriate class rules unless modified by a Notice of Race or Sailing Instructions for any specific event. In the event of a conflict with class rules these Sailing Instructions shall prevail (see RRS 86.1).
1.2. For all events governed by these Instructions advertising will be as described for ISAF Regulation 20.
1.3. In the case of discrepancies between copies of these Sailing Instructions the version printed in the current Penzance Sailing Club Handbook and any published amendments made under SI 4.2 shall prevail.
2. Liability
2.1. The race organisers shall not be liable for any loss, damage, death or personal injury howsoever caused to the owner/competitor, their skipper or crew as a result of their taking part in the race or races, whether afloat or ashore. Moreover every competitor warrants the suitability of their boat for the race or races. The term ‘organisers’ encompasses everyone helping to run the race and the event, and includes the organising authority, the Race Committee, the Race Officer, time keepers, safety boats, patrol boats and beachmasters.
2.2 The safety of a boat and its entire management, including insurance, shall be the sole responsibility of the owner/competitor who must ensure that the boat is fully found, thoroughly seaworthy, and manned by a crew sufficient in number and experience who are physically fit to face bad weather. The owner/competitor must be satisfied as to the soundness of the hull, spars, rigging, sails and all gear. They must ensure that all safety equipment is properly maintained, stowed and in date and that the crew know where it is kept and how it is to be used.
3. Conditions of Entry
3.1. The competitor is required to hold adequate insurance and in particular to hold insurance against third party claims in the sum of at least £5,000,000 (five million pounds).
3.2. The provision of safety or patrol boats does not relieve the competitor of their responsibilities.
3.3. The fact that the Race Committee may conduct inspections of a boat does not reduce the responsibilities of the competitor set out in these instructions.
3.4. The Race Committee may reject or cancel the entry of a boat which in its view is unseaworthy.
3.5. At least one member of the crew shall be a member of Penzance Sailing Club or shall have submitted an application form and appropriate fees. This alters RRS 75.
3.6. All boats shall carry a distinguishing number on the mainsail. The Dinghy or Cruiser Committee (as appropriate) may permit the use of sails carrying a distinguishing number other than that required by RRS 77 and RRS Appendix G and given in the Penzance Sailing Handbook.
For additional dinghy entry requirements, see S.I. 8.
For additional cruiser entry requirements, see S.I. 23.
4. Notices to Competitors
4.1. Signals made ashore will be hoisted on the clubhouse flagpole.
4.2. Changes to Sailing Instructions will be posted at least 45 minutes before the advertised starting time on the Penzance Sailing Club Official Notice Board.
4.3. Schedules of races and start times will be as in the Club Sailing Program. Additional events and changes to the scheduled events will be posted on the Penzance Sailing Club Official Notice Board at least 18 hours prior to the start time of the event.
4.4. Notices will be posted on the Penzance Sailing Club Official Notice Board, Dinghy or Cruiser, in the clubhouse porch.
4.5. Cruiser race courses will be posted on the notice board in the clubhouse porch.
5. Protests
5.1. Protests shall be lodged with the Race Officer or a Sailing Committee member within 60 minutes of the last boat finishing in its class.
5.2. Protest forms are available from the Race Desk.
5.3. The protest will be held as soon as possible; the date, time and location will be posted on the official noticeboard
6. Signals – general
6.1. All signals to competitors may be displayed on the clubhouse flag pole, the light sequence on
the seaward side of the clubhouse or the committee boat on the water.
6.2. When the light sequence in Table 1 is not used, flag signals as shown in Table 1 will be used.
6.3. Signal flags displayed over IC Flag “C” indicates the cruiser fleet only. Signal flags displayed
over IC Flag “D” indicates the dinghy fleet only.
6.4. If for any reason scheduled racing has to be postponed or abandoned appropriate signals will
be displayed on the clubhouse flag pole.
6.5. If IC Flag “U” is displayed, no dinghy shall leave the launch area until the flag is removed. If a
dinghy has already launched, the dinghy shall endeavour to return to the launching area. Failure
to do so may lead to disqualification from any subsequent race without a hearing. This alters RRS 26
6.6. When an orange flag is flown at the clubhouse it indicates that dinghies will start from the clubhouse line.
7. Local Variations
7.1. Boats may use sails other than those meeting the appropriate class rules in normal club racing providing prior permission is granted by the appropriate sailing sub-committee.
7.2. All PzSC boats/competitors shall keep clear of any large commercial vessels approaching or exiting Penzance Harbour. Any PzSC boat/competitor failing to keep clear shall be subject to instant disqualification by the Dinghy/Cruiser Race Officer without hearing. This alters RRS 63.
Dinghies:
8. Dinghy Conditions of Entry
8.1. All competitors must wear adequate personal buoyancy at all times when afloat, except briefly while adjusting or changing clothing or personal equipment. Neither a wetsuit nor a drysuit constitutes adequate personal buoyancy. Inflatable type buoyancy aids will not be considered adequate unless fully inflated. Failure to comply will result in automatic disqualification. This alters RRS 40.1
8.2 All competitors must ensure that their boat has adequate built-in buoyancy and may be asked to demonstrate this at any time.
8.3. Members under the age of 18 may participate in club sailing and related activities only when a valid Parental/Carer Consent Form for the current year has been signed and lodged with the Club. All members under the age of 11 shall be supervised by a responsible adult (18 years or older) at all times during Club activities. This adult must either be the child’s parent or carer or a person that has the parent or carer’s agreement.
8.4 Competitors and Rescue Boat crews shall ensure that names of the helm and crew are entered on the Entry Form and the skipper, or if under 18 a responsible adult, shall sign on the Entry Form. Race desk personnel should enter their names on the Recording sheet. Any competitor, rescue crew or desk personnel requesting average points that do not comply with this procedure will be scored as DNC without a hearing. This adds to RRS 63.1.
9. Postponements
9.1. A postponement of the start will be signalled by two sound signals and the flag AP being raised.
9.2. The start sequence will commence 1 minute after the lowering of flag AP and 1 sound signal.
10. Boat starts
10.1 The starting line will be between the orange flag on the committee boat and the leeward mark.
10.2. The course will be displayed on the committee boat showing either a T (triangle) or O (Olympic) or W (windward/leeward).
10.3 The course direction will be displayed by a red (to port) or green (to starboard) flag.
11. Finishing – boat start
11.1. The finish line will be between the blue flag on the committee boat (or a boat acting on their behalf) and a mark of the course (generally the leeward mark).
12. Starting – Clubhouse start
12.1 The start line is the ODM and the orange triangle on the clubhouse, and between the ODM and the IDM if laid.
12.2. The course will be displayed on a board on the clubhouse balcony showing either a T (triangle) or O (Olympic) or W (windward/leeward).
12.3. The course direction will be displayed by a red (to port) or green (to starboard) flag.
13. Finishing – Clubhouse start
13.1. The finish line will be as the start line, but travelling in a Northerly direction.
14. Course Management
14.1. The start sequence will be in accordance with RRS 26: ie 5 – 4 – 1 – start.
14.2. All boats will start together in a mass start.
14.3. The warning signal will be flag H.
14.4. the Race Officer may decide to finish boats at any time at his discretion. This may not be the lead boat, but results will be calculated on average lap time to ensure fairness, the aim being to keep the finishing window as short as practicable.
14.5. The Race Officer may award a finishing position to boats which are still racing for a fleet not racing on handicap. The decision of the Race Officer is final and will not be grounds for competitors to seek redress. This amends RRS 35
14.6. Once a boat has finished, she should not re-cross the line.
14.7 When the 1st boat of any class finishes all other boats in this class shall cross the finishing line at the end of the lap they are sailing.
14.8. The target time for a race is 60 minutes, but will be at the Race Officer’s discretion.
14.9 Course marks are cylindrical inflatable buoys unless otherwise stated.
14.10. The Race Officer may decide that a mark should be moved after the start to maintain a good course. There may not be any notification of this; however, the Race Officer will endeavour to cause as little disruption as possible. This amends RRS 33.
14.11. On occasions the Race Officer may reverse the direction of the course. This may only be done after 1 lap has been completed. This amends RRS 33.
14.12. If the course is changed on the instruction of the Race Officer then neither a compass bearing nor any indication of a change of leg length will normally be given. This changes RRS 33.
15. Recalls
15.1. Individual Recalls. IC flag ‘X’ will be displayed, with 1 sound signal. IC flag X will remain flying until all dinghies which started incorrectly have restarted correctly.
15.2. In the event of a general recall the fleet IC flag 1st substitute will be raised, with 2 sound signals.
16. Shortening Courses
16.1. At the Race Officer’s discretion, IC flag ‘S’ may be displayed with 2 sound signals indicating that the course is shortened for all classes. The 2 sound signals may be repeated to bring competitors attention to the IC flag “S”.
16.2. The course may be shortened at any course mark by a safety boat acting on the authority of the Race Officer. A safety boat will make the flag and sound signals described above.
17. Abandoning Races
17.1. A race may be abandoned by the committee boat displaying abandon race signals (flag N over H or N over A, with 3 sound signals).
17.2. A race may be abandoned by displaying an orange flashing light from the clubhouse and/or a safety boat with 3 sound signals.
18. Handicaps
18.1. Dinghies will sail under the PY handicap system.
19. Dinghy Pursuit Races
19.1. A dinghy’s start time for a pursuit race shall be calculated using PY handicaps.
19.2. Each class shall start at the time indicated for the class in a table displayed at the Race Desk for a given start time and length of race.
19.3. A horn may be sounded at the start time for each class racing.
19.4. No signals will be displayed to indicate a premature starter(s). This alters RRS 29.1. and S.I. 15.1 signals.
19.5. The finishing mark is defined as the first mark the lead boat passes after the “Bogey Time”.
19.6. The “Bogey Time” is 60 minutes after the published dinghy start time unless displayed in the club handbook.
20. Scoring System
20.1. The Low Point System of scoring will be used as in RRS Appendix A4 with the following amendments (these alter RRS Appendix A):
DNF, RET – number of boats scored as competing boats in an individual race + 1
DNS, OCS – number of boats scored as competing boats in an individual race + 2
DSQ, BFD, ZFP, UFD, DNE, DGM – number of boats scored as competing boats in an individual race + 3
DNC, NSC – (Dinghy) – number of boats scored as competing boats in an individual race + 3
20.2. Discards allowed for all Club series are as follows: 1 – 3 races 0 discards, 4 – 7 races 1 discard, 8 – 9 races 2 discards, 11+ races 3 discards. Overall trophies are determined by the sum of their best positions obtained from three of the primary series. The primary series are defined as Monday, Thursday and Combined.
20.3. Where a member acquires an alternative boat within a class, they may apply in writing to the Sailing Sub-Committee to request to transfer results to the new boat.
20.4. Average points are calculated as the mean average points of all races sailed in the series by a member and can be claimed by the member when he can not race due to have undertaken a rota duty. This includes taking part in training activities as sanctioned by the training group.
20.5. The number of average points for an individual helm for dinghies to count per series may be varied at the discretion of the dinghy committee and re-scored.
20.6 In a racing series helms using a different class of boat will be scored as a new entry.
21. Groups within Fleets
21.1. Laser radial and/or 4.7 rigs may form an individual Group which shall sail the same course as the Laser fleet.
21.2. A boat shall sign on as a radial/4.7 and to qualify as a group they shall use the same rig for at least half plus one races in a series.
21.3. A minimum of three different boats must compete to constitute a series.
21.4.This Group will also be scored as part of the Laser fleet.
21.5 Other class groups may be formed at the discretion of the Dinghy Sailing Committee and shall sail within their fleet as described in 21.3 and scored as part of the relevant fleet.
22. Junior Group
22.1. Junior helms and crews under 18 years old on 1st April of the season in question may form a Group whilst sailing in any class of boat.
22.2. The helm and crew shall sign on the Race Sheet as Juniors and to qualify as a Group shall do so for at least half plus one races in a series.
22.3. A minimum of three boats shall compete to constitute a series. Boats will be scored on PY handicap, finishing times will be taken for all Junior competitors.
22.4. This Group will also be scored as part of their fleets and shall start with these fleets. The number of laps will be the same as for the main fleets.
Cruisers
23. Cruiser Conditions of Entry
23.1. For a boat to be eligible to race in the current PzSC cruiser events a valid entry form must be completed by the owner and the entry form to have been received by the Hon. Sailing Secretary (cruisers) prior to the scheduled race or series of races that the boat wishes to enter.
23.2. Boats shall be equipped with a VHF radio capable of receiving Channel M1, (Channel 37).
23.3. For all self-timed races (ie. races other than Evening 1, Evening 2 and Regatta) competitors shall ensure that they have a person ashore who is aware of their intention to go to sea.
23.4. For all races (except self-timed races) competitors shall ensure that the name of the boat, sail number and number of persons on board is entered on the correct race entry sheet at the race desk prior to going afloat. Any competitor not complying with this procedure is liable to disqualification without a hearing. This adds to RRS 60.2
23.5. Cruisers are permitted to use automatic steering.
23.6. Any changes to equipment that may materially alter a boat’s performance must be notified to the Cruiser Race Committee
24. Start Times
24.1. All cruisers entered will start on the published race time for Evening 1 & 2, Mid-Distance and Offshore series.
24.2. The division between Cressar and Ryeman fleets is determined by a boat’s current RYAYTC number – the split being displayed on the Club’s Official Notice Board.
25. Course Setting
25.1. Cruiser course setting is the responsibility of the rota Cruiser Race Officer or a nominated deputy. In their absence, the following people may act as Race Officer, in order of preference: Rear Commodore (Cruisers), a member of the Cruiser Sub-Committee, the Commodore, Vice Commodore, or any skipper. It is the responsibility of the Race Officer to check the race marks are visible and in place before setting a course.
25.2. A separate course may be set for each fleet, Cressar and Ryeman, but every effort should be made to make the first leg the same.
25.3. The race course shall be posted on the noticeboard in the clubhouse porch at least 45 minutes before the start of the race. If not posted at this time it is the responsibility of the Cruiser Race Officer to transmit the course on Channel M1 at the warning signal AND the preparatory signal.
25.4. A cruiser course may not be changed once posted unless considered dangerous by a Flag Officer and then only before the preparatory signal. Any changes will be notified on Channel M1, at the warning signal AND the preparatory signal. This changes S.I. 25.3
25.5. Gear pole is NOT to be used as a turning mark and Cressar and Ryeman Cardinal poles are to be passed to seaward on any course.
25.6. Mount and Ryeman marks shall not be used as the first mark of a course, except for pursuit races.
25.7. The positions of race marks are listed in Appendix B.
25.8. As a guide ‘Standard’ set courses have been defined for differing wind directions and strengths and can be referred to by the Cruiser Race Officer and communicated to all competitors. The courses are listed in Appendix C.
26. Signals
26.1. For starts from the clubhouse start line (see also S.I. 6) the light sequence as shown in Table 1 may be used with signals as follows:
Cruiser: Single fleet start: 10 minute warning, 5 minute preparatory, start
27. Starting
27.1. The clubhouse start line shall be used unless otherwise signalled or indicated in these Sailing Instructions.
27.2. The clubhouse start line will be between the orange triangle on the clubhouse and a yellow buoy approx 800 yards to the east (the cruiser Outer Distance Mark or cruiser ODM).
27.3. The clubhouse starting area is defined as the water north of the start line and west of the Cruiser ODM.
27.4. When laid, no boat shall pass between the yellow Inner Distance Mark (IDM ), which shall be laid to the west of the ODM, and the clubhouse when starting.
27.5. The Round-an-End Rule as defined in RRS 30.1 shall apply except that it will apply from the first warning signal of the whole starting sequence. This alters RRS 30.1.
28. Shortening Courses
28.1. The course may be shortened to finish at any rounding mark with the finishing line defined as for a pursuit race (see SI 33.2).
28.2. The decision to shorten course shall be made by the Cruiser Race Officer. The decision to shorten course shall be communicated on VHF Channel M1 (Channel 37). Failure of a boat to hear this message will not in itself be considered grounds for redress.
28.3. During an Evening 1 or Evening 2 race all boats are requested to take their time rounding any marks after 60 minutes from the published start time (the time of rounding taken as the boat crosses the line as defined in S.I. 31.2. These times may be requested by the Race Officer if the course is shortened to a mark that a yacht has already rounded. Failure of a boat to not be able to supply a correct time will not in itself be considered grounds for redress.
28.4. In the event of a shortened course, competitors shall radio their time to the clubhouse or if this is not possible, record their finish time and submit a time on WhatsApp as normal as for a self-timed race, S.I. 34.1.
29. Abandoning Races – ( this alters RRS 32 )
29.1. The decision to abandon a race will be made by the Cruiser Race Officer.
29.2. The decision to abandon a race will be communicated on VHF – CH M1 (Channel 37).
29.3. A race may also be abandoned by displaying an orange flashing light from the clubhouse.
30. Finishing
30.1. The clubhouse finish line shall be used unless otherwise signalled or indicated in these Sailing Instructions.
30.2. The clubhouse finish line is defined identically to the clubhouse start line.
30.3. When laid, no boat shall pass between the IDM and the clubhouse when finishing.
30.4. After dark, cruisers shall illuminate their sail number when finishing.
30.5. Once a boat has finished she should not re-cross the line in the reverse direction to the finish.
31. Special Finishing Lines
31.1. The clubhouse finish line will be used except as follows or otherwise signalled.
31.2. For cruiser pursuit races the finish line is defined as an imaginary line from the previous mark extending beyond the finishing mark. As a signal to those following, each boat shall make, with due regard for seamanship, a 360° turn as soon as reasonably possible after finishing.The finishing time should be recorded and sent to the cruiser WhatsApp group. Times not sent within 4 hours of finishing may be scored DNC, S.I. 34.1.
31.3 For cruiser Offshore and Middle Distance races the finishing line is formed by a transit extending from the southern edge of St. Mary’s Church Tower (conspic) and the northern edge of the Lighthouse on the South Pier.
32. Time Limits
32.1. The time limit shall be 40 minutes elapsed time for every hour (pro rata) of elapsed time that the leading monohull takes to complete the course.
33. Pursuit Races
33.1. A cruiser’s start time for pursuit races shall be posted on the Cruiser Official Notice Board at least 45 minutes before the published start time. It is calculated by adding (150 – (RYAYTC Number ÷ 10)) minutes to the programmed start time rounded to the nearest second, e.g. for a RYAYTC of 1100 and a published start time of 1430: first calculate (150 – (1100 ÷ 10)) = 40, you therefore start 40 mins after 1430, i.e. 1510.
33.2. The finishing mark is defined as the first mark the lead boat passes after the “Bogey Time”.
33.3. The “Bogey Time” is 140 minutes after the published cruiser start time unless displayed on the Official Notice Board.
34. Self-timed Races
34.1. For self timed races boats shall send their finishing times to the cruiser WhatsApp group. Times not sent within 4 hours of finishing may be scored DNC.
35. Handicaps
35.1. All cruiser club races will be sailed under the RYAYTC handicap system. Information will be posted for the respective cruiser fleets prior to the commencement of the race calendar.
36. Scoring System
36.1. The Low Point System of scoring will be used as in RRS Appendix A4 with the following amendments (these alter RRS Appendix A):
DNF, RET – number of boats scored as competing boats in an individual race + 1
DNS, OCS – number of boats scored as competing boats in an individual race + 2
DSQ, BFD, ZFP, UFD, DNE, DGM – number of boats scored as competing boats in an individual race + 3
DNC, NSC – (Cruiser) – the maximum number of boats competing in any one race of the series + 3
36.2. Discards allowed for all Club series are as follows:
1 – 3 races 0 discards, 4 – 7 races 1 discard, 8 – 9 races 2 discards, 10 -11 races 3 discards, 12 + races 4 discards.
A series is constituted for a boat when it counts as a starter in half plus one of the races sailed in that series; rounded down if necessary to a whole number. Cruiser Overall trophies are determined by the sum of the overall positions in each of the primary series, including the series for which the boat is ineligible for a prize. No discard is allowed. The primary series for cruisers are Evening 1, Evening 2, Offshore, Middle Distance and Pursuit. Where a member acquires an alternative boat within a class, they may apply in writing to the Sailing Sub-Committee to request to transfer results to the new boat.
36.3. The number of average points for an individual yacht to count per series may be varied at the discretion of the cruiser committee and re-scored.
Appendix A – Cruiser Marks
The Cruiser Racing Marks are Yellow Marks positioned in Mounts Bay in the following positions (positions given in WGS84 datum).
These buoys are also marked on all new charts of Mounts Bay.
ODM – 50º 07’.30 N, 005º 31’.48 W
Gear Mark (NOT Gear Pole) – 50º 06’.55 N, 005º 31’.45 W
Prom Mark – 50º 06’.63 N, 005º 32’.03 W
Newlyn Mark – 50º 06’.33 N, 005º 32’.48 W
Central Mark – 50º 06’.25 N, 005º 30’.30 W
Midbay Mark – 50º 05’.70 N, 005º 29’.35 W
Mount Mark – 50º 06’.92 N, 005º 29’.00 W
Ryeman Mark (NOT Ryeman Pole) – 50º 07’.11 N, 005º 30’.33 W
Appendix B – Set cruiser course
