Boston Harbor Sailing Club Local Rules
1. Hull Cleaning – No scrubbing allowed
2. Skipper ("anti-ringer") rule. A team member must skipper the boat. Guests
are allowed as crew as long as guest arrangements are made through the club.
3. Rule 30.1 (c) ("round the end rule") is in effect for all starts.
4. Alternative penalties as specified by rule 44.2 shall be in effect. The
club has modified this rule because of the short courses to be only one turn
(360 degrees). However racing rules do apply between the BHSC and the PHRF
fleets. A foul to a PHRF boat should be exonerated with two turns.
5. Collisions - All collisions must be reported to the race committee even if
the alternative penalties are performed. Failure to report a collision will
result in a DSQ.
6. Time limit - There is no race time limit. At the discretion of the race
committee, any boat that has not finished ten minutes after the first boat may
be scored as a DNF or given their position before finishing. The RC will
signal this with repeated blasts of the horn and the flying of both the red
and the blue flags. This gives the RC the ability to terminate a light air
race where a few boats are far behind, in the interest of getting another race
in before sunset.
7. Lights - The RC will try to get the boats back to the mooring area before
sunset. Coast Guard regulations require lights after sunset. It is the teams'
responsibility to have lights, as the boats are not equipped.
8. Protests - Protests will be heard after the races over dinner. The
protesting team must at minimum present in writing: who they are protesting,
which race, where within the race, and the proper rule.
9. Standing Rigging - It is illegal to adjust any of the standing rigging.
10. Spinnaker pole - It is illegal to reach or sail to weather with the
spinnaker pole on the foredeck.
11. Commercial traffic General - The tugs with tows and the large tankers have
right of way. The race committee is in radio contact over channel 13 with this
harbor traffic. The ferry and fishing boat traffic tend to get out of our way.
Between races, as a courtesy, try to avoid the ferry traffic. Use your best
judgment
12. Commercial Traffic Lead Boat - If you are in the lead and are about to
cross in front of commercial traffic, estimate to the best of your ability if
the remainder of the fleet can pass. If they cannot, it is your responsibility
not to cross and to signal the rest of the fleet not to cross. The race may be
abandoned at the discretion of the race committee.
13. Boat Return - It is mandatory that the backstay be loosened after the
boats are back at the moorings. Boats should be secured to the mooring pennant
with a bowline where possible. Mains and jibs should be rolled following the
leach of the sail. Also, take the innermost moorings first as to try to
alleviate the bird problem.
14. Registration - It is mandatory that all teams register before the start.
Hail to the RC the team letters and mainsail number. The boat name is not used
for scoring. It is required for safety’s sake to approach the RC on starboard
to hail. If you are late for the start you still must register at the RC end.
As it can be hard to hear in the wind, please use the NATO phonetic alphabet
listed in Appendix A. Do not include the sail number as the RC can read it
easily.
15. Last Race Home
The last mark on the last race of the day may be an “H”. The finish is between
the yellow mark S.E. of the BHSC mooring area and the RC. If the RC does not
get back in time, the finish is between the two yellow marks. All boats should
keep track of what boats finished in front and behind them for scoring. In
case of disputes, ties shall be used liberally.
Starting Sequence:
The starting system shall be governed by rule 26 with the following
modifications
A. The class flag is solid blue
B. The preparatory flag is the I flag (black circle on yellow field)
C. The first starting sequence may not begin before 6:00 PM on Wednesday
nights or before 10:00 PM on Saturday mornings.
D. The first warning signal of the day will be ten (10) minutes before the
start. The preparatory will six (6) minutes later at four (4) minutes before
the start. All subsequent starting sequences will be the standard five-minute
sequence.
E. Paragraph D is modified if the first starting sequence is more than 5
minutes later than the scheduled start time. In that case the first sequence
will be only five minutes.
Code Flags:
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| | Postponement |
 |
Answering Pennant: |
| Cancellation |
 |
Letter N: |
| No Spinnakers |
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Letter O |
Scoring:
The scoring system shall be governed by rule A2.2 using the low point system.
Section A5 shall be used. The term "series" will apply to each month (June,
July, August, September, and October) for the monthly results, to each season
(summer, fall) for season results, and to all the races for the Years results.
The term "number of boats entered in the series" is the sum total of all the
teams that participated at least once in a given series.
There shall be one throw out per five races. The throw outs will be
recalculated on a per series basis.
Note: The Club does its best to keep all the boats in racing condition.
However, on rare occasions an assigned boat might not be race ready. The team
can choose to race the boat as is or not to race. In either case the team can
be awarded average points for the day.
There are about 20 race days per full season. From past experience one can
expect to miss one race day per season due to circumstances beyond the club’s
control.
Notes from the Race Committee
1. The RC may ask one of the members to move the pin. Please keep clear of the
designated boat while it is helping the RC.
2. Always check the course board before each race.
3. Stay close to the starting area between races
4. On windy days the RC may drag anchor.
5. The RC uses a trip line with float on the anchor. It is permissible to sail
between the trip line ball and the RC. However, please do not sail over it.
6. With a larger Soling fleet, the PHRF boats, pleasure craft, ferry’s and
commercial traffic, Boston Harbor is quite crowded. Please keep a lookout at
all times.
7. Remember Fundamental Racing Rule #4.
Decision to Race: The responsibility for a boat’s decision to participate in a
race or to continue racing is hers alone.
8. For safety – keep a sharp knife readily available.
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