Those of you who have, by now, read and memorized the 2010 GSIs NORs for the Offshore Events should regard this as a refresher.  For the rest of you this will be a teaser, with plot spoilers, but no substitute for actually reading them:

General Sailing Instructions

Most of the changes are minor and non-substantive corrections of typos, but there are 3 changes worth noting

Section 5 – Classes and class flags:

PHRF C has been broken out of B/C and the split has changed .  The split between PHRF B and PHRF C is now 161.  The split between PHRF A and PHRF B has not changed

The GSIs make provision for a Cruising Class – a non-sanctioned class using club-assigned handicaps.  This is intended to provide a format for cruising boats who do not want to regularly race PHRF Non-Spin to participate in racing events against like-minded and intentioned sailors, analogous to the Leukemia Class in the Leukemia Cup regatta.

Section 6 – Marks & Courses: 6.4 Course Displays

The GSIs now provide a uniform display format for government mark courses set in advance in a Notice of Race or in Special Sailing Instructions.  The course display formats in the NORs last year were not the same for all such races and generated some confusion for competitors and race committees.  New section 6.4(d) standardizes and explains the format for course displays and gives an example.

NORs

The same three series – Spring, Long Distance, and Fall – and major regattas – Leukemia and Stingray – are scheduled for 2010.  The differences from 2009 are that there will be 5, not 4, days of racing in the Spring Series, and that the Urbanna Race has been removed from the Long Distance Series.  Some other specific changes:

LEUKEMIA CUP – The Leukemia Cup NOR has been revised since the Sailing Events Book went to press.  Look for the revised NOR to be posted soon on www.fbyc.net , or contact Brooks Zerkel.

URBANNA RACE – The Urbanna Race has always been somewhat unique in our racing mix, as it draws boats that don’t race in other events and is designed to encourage a squadron run up the Rappahannock river for all of our offshore boats, to a rendezvous for a family picnic and celebration of the end of spring sailing on the lawn at Rosegill.  As a partial reflection of that spirit, it has been removed from the Long Distance Series, and a new trophy has been designated for the most “memorable” finish in each class. (Think Barnum & Bailey, John Carpenter, or Chorus Line, not rocking chair)  The social program at Rosegill is also being revised to substantially lower the cost and encourage families to attend and participate at Rosegill, so keep an eye on the web site and mark your calendar.

Time Limits:  In recent years we have revisited and updated time limits for our long distance races.  But In reviewing our NORs, it was also noticed that for years we have perpetuated a 2 hour per race time limit for drop mark (Appendix D) courses, regardless of race length.  This doesn’t necessarily make sense for a ¾ to 2 mile course, as it would only require average speeds <.5 to 1 knot over the course, which, though challenging, is not conducive to a fair test of skill.  Historical review immediately disclosed the origins of the 2 hour fixed time limit: in times past, the CBYRA High Point standard of minimum course length of 4 miles, was thought to apply to each race in a series, and a two hour limit would require an average of 2 knots over the course, also a minimum requirement for a race to count for high point scoring.  Current interpretation only requires a total of 4 miles raced for a single sanctioned day of racing, which gives race committees the ability, and the incentive, to set short courses on light air days or drastically shorten courses in a dying wind.  To catch up to this change in approach, the time limit language for Spring and Fall Series, and for certain other races, is now defined as the time necessary for the first boat to finish to sail the course (as shortened)  at an average speed of 2 knots (i.e. 30 minutes for a 1 mile course, or 3 hours for a 6 mile course).

Government Marks – Appendix A

The published coordinates for FBYC marks have been conformed to the government’s light list, changing  coordinates for FBYC marks E, L, N, P, Q and U.  Be sure to update your GPS waypoints.  An expanded version of Appendix A with light list numbers and a website address you can go to for updates is attached to this email.  Many thanks to Len Guenther for sending this along while the book was being put together.

If you see something not covered above and have a question, be sure to let me know

See you on the water

Allan M. Heyward, Jr.

2010 OFFSHORE DIVISION COMDR