Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th July 2024
The Organising Authority is the Marconi Sailing Club.
1. RULES
The event is governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) except any that are changed by the event Sailing Instructions
The Organising Authority implements the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Racing Charter. Competitors shall undertake to sail in accordance with the Charter.
The RYA Exoneration Penalty and Arbitration will be available.
RRS 63.7 is changed so that in the event of a conflict between the Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions, the Sailing Instructions shall prevail.
2. SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
The sailing instructions will be available through the East Coast Piers Race website at least three days prior to the event, and also available on the official notice board throughout the weekend. Paper copies will not be available at the event.
3. COMMUNICATION
3.1 The official notice board is located within the clubhouse corridor.
3.2 From the first warning signal until the end of the last race of the day, except in an emergency, a boat shall not make voice or data communication that is not available to all boats. [DP].
4. ELIGIBILITY AND ENTRY
4.1 The East Coast Piers Race is open to small catamarans of classes that have a handicap rating of 1.055 or faster in the International Small Catamaran Handicap Rating System (SCHRS – www.schrs.com) and to such other boats as the race committee may, in its absolute discretion, accept.
4.2 The Colne Point Race is open both to small catamarans of classes that have a handicap rating in the International Small Catamaran Rating System (SCHRS) and to fast dinghies with a PY rating of 1050 or faster.
4.3 All competitors for the ECPR and Colne Point Race shall be at least 16 years old on the day of the race. At least one person on each boat shall be at least 18 years old on the day of the race. Any competitor under the age of 18 shall have written parental consent by means of a parent or guardians signature on the entry form.
4.4 The Saturday series is open to all boats eligible for the East Coast Piers Race, and Colne Point Race. The age restrictions still apply.
4.5 Eligible boats may enter online at: https://www.eastcoastpiersrace.com/. Entries close at midnight on Wednesday 10th July 2024. Entries will not be accepted after this time.
4.6 To be considered an entry, a boat shall complete all registration requirements and pay all fees. The Organising Authority may, in their absolute discretion, reject any entry.
4.7 Competitors have the option to change their race and course entry up to one hour before the first scheduled race start on Sunday morning. Competitors who do not advise Race Reception of a change of course or other change to their boat (including sail numbers) are liable to disqualification without right of protest.
4.8 An RYA Parent/Guardian Consent and Supervision Form must be completed by the Parent or Guardian of any competitor under the age of 18 on the first day of the event.
5. FEES
5.1 The entry fee is £80 for a two handed boat and £60 for a single handed boat.
- The fee includes all racing and prizes plus a Saturday evening meal for each competitor on the boat. Additional meal tickets may also be purchased with your entry. The fee also includes free camping from Friday night through to Monday morning.
6. ADVERTISING
Boats may be required to display advertising chosen and supplied by the Organising Authority. See World Sailing Advertising Code.
7. SCHEDULE
The schedule is as follows:
| Date | Time | Item | First Warning Signal |
| Saturday 13th July | 10:00 | Registration Opens – Reception in ground floor of clubhouse | |
| 12 noon | Saturday Race Briefing – Clubhouse | ||
| 13:00 | Two Saturday Series Races scheduled. | 12:55 | |
| 18:00 | Competitors briefing for ECPR & Colne Point Races – Clubhouse | ||
| Sunday 14th July | 08:30 | Scheduled start for the East Coast Piers Race | 08:25 |
| 09:00 | Scheduled start for the Colne Point Race | 08:55 |
- All competitors are strongly recommended to attend the briefing for Sundays races which will take place in or around the Marconi Sailing Club clubhouse at approximately 18.00hrs on Saturday of the race weekend.
8. SAFETY
8.1 Adequate personal buoyancy for all crew members shall be worn at all times whilst afloat and be centered above the waist. This changes RRS 40
8.2 All crew members shall wear wetsuits or drysuits with appropriate thermal undergarments.
8.3 A minimum level of safety equipment is a condition of entry and this will be enforced. All boats shall carry a:
- 10 metre towline
- Compass
- One or more distress flares per crew member (including the helm) to be carried on the person
- Adequate personal buoyancy (a wetsuit is not adequate)
- At least one paddle
8.4 We strongly recommend you take a mobile phone with you for the race and download the RYA Safetrax app. We also recommend you have an appropriate waterproof case.
8.5 The patrol and support boats will give priority to the safety of competitors over preventing damage to boats or equipment.
8.6 All competitors shall sign on before going afloat, and shall sign off immediately after finishing or on retiring from the race before finishing. If a competitor goes ashore anywhere other than at Marconi Sailing Club they should call the race office immediately to make them aware. The club’s phone number will be communicated to you at the race briefing.
8.7 All competitors shall make their declaration by correctly returning the allocated tally band as instructed in the sailing instruction within 20 minutes of finishing or within 20 minutes of coming ashore after retiring from a race before finishing.
8.8 All competitors will need to collect a GPS tracking device and attach it to their boat before going afloat. GPS devices are available for those who enter using online entry before the cut off.
8.9 Failure to comply with paragraphs 8.1 to 8.8 shall be grounds for disqualification from the race without a hearing. This alters RRS 63.1. A boat or equipment may be inspected at any time for compliance with safety requirements.
9. EQUIPMENT INSPECTION
No formal measurement process is required for this event; however, the race committee reserves the right to inspect any competing boat during the course of the event.
Boats may be inspected at any time, including for compliance with safety requirements.
10. VENUE
The venue is Marconi Sailing Club, Stansgate Road, Steeple, nr Southminster, Essex CM0 7NU
The racing area will be on the River Blackwater and as specified in the courses.
11. COURSES
Subject to conditions on the day, the course for the East Coast Piers Race is from Marconi Sailing Club on the River Blackwater to Walton Pier and return.
Subject to conditions on the day, the course for the Colne Point Race is from Marconi Sailing Club on the River Blackwater to Colne Point and return.
Time Limit: Boats not having completed the course or not having retired by 17:00 will be scored DNF.
12. PENALTY SYSTEM
RRS 44.1 is changed so that the Two-Turns Penalty is replaced with by the One-Turn Penalty.
13. SCORING
International Small Catamaran Handicap Rating System (SCHRS- www.schrs.com) will be used.
The Portsmouth Yardstick handicap scoring system will be used for Dinghies taking part in the Colne Point Race.
The Race Committee may in their absolute discretion vary any handicap rating and/or allocate a rating to any class.
Scoring will be to RRS Appendix A except as modified by the Sailing Instructions
14. DATA PROTECTION
The personal information you provide to the Organising Authority will be used to facilitate your participation in the event. If you have agreed to be bound by the Racing Rules of Sailing and the other rules that govern the event (the rules), the legal basis for processing that personal information is contract. If you are not bound by the rules, the legal basis for processing that personal information is legitimate interest. Your personal information will be stored and used in accordance with the Organising Authority’s privacy policy. When required by the rules, personal information may be shared with the RYA, your national authority and/or World Sailing. The results of the event and the outcome of any hearing or appeal may be published.
15. RIGHTS TO USE NAMES AND LIKENESS
Competitors automatically grant to the Organising Authority without payment the right in perpetuity to make, use and show any motion pictures, still pictures and live, taped or filmed television of or relating to the event.
16. RISK STATEMENT
Rule 3 of the Racing Rules of Sailing states: ‘The responsibility for a boat’s decision to participate in a race or to continue racing is hers alone.’
Sailing is by its nature an unpredictable sport and therefore inherently involves an element of risk. By taking part in the event, each competitor agrees and acknowledges that:
- They are aware of the inherent element of risk involved in the sport and accept responsibility for the exposure of themselves, their crew and their boat to such inherent risk whilst taking part in the event;
- They are responsible for the safety of themselves, their crew, their boat and their property whether afloat or ashore;
- They accept responsibility for any injury, damage or loss to the extent caused by their own actions or omissions;
- Their boat is in good order, equipped to sail in the event and they are fit to participate;
- The provision of a race management team, patrol boats and other officials and volunteers by the event organiser does not relieve them of their own responsibilities;
- The provision of patrol boat cover is limited to such assistance, particularly in extreme weather conditions, as can be practically provided in the circumstances;
- It is their responsibility to familiarise themselves with any risks specific to this venue or this event drawn to their attention in any rules and information produced for the venue or event and to attend any competitors briefing held for the event.
17. INSPECTIONS
The fact that race officials may conduct inspections of a boat does not reduce the responsibilities of each competitor set out in this Notice of Race.
18. INSURANCE
Each participating boat shall be insured with valid third-party liability insurance with a minimum cover of £3,000,000 per incident or the equivalent.
19. PRIZES
The Prize Giving for Saturday and Sunday racing will take place at Marconi Sailing Club on Sunday as soon as possible after the races have finished. A wide range of prizes will be awarded across the event.
20. FURTHER INFORMATION
Please note: the galley does not take card payment and our card machines can be temperamental, we recommend you bring some cash with you for the weekend.
Marconi Sailing Club has a strict no tolerance policy on drugs, you will be asked to leave the club site immediately.
All Competitors may camp on the site from 8am on Friday until noon on Monday of the race weekend.
For more information please contact us using the following details:
info@eastcoastpiersrace.com
http://www.facebook.com/eastcoastpiersrace
END OF NOTICE OF RACE
Accommodation Information:
Free onsite camping is available from Friday 12th to Monday 15th July. There are a range of other local accommodation options – further information can be found here: www.marconi-sc.org.uk/about-marconi-sailing-club/accommodation/
Shore Based Programme:
| Date | Time | Event |
| Friday 12th July | 8am | Club site open for boat drop off and camping set up. |
| 19:00 | Bar open | |
| Saturday 13th July | 08:30 | Galley open for breakfast |
| 18:30 | Evening Meal and Bar Open | |
| Sunday 9th June | 06:30 07:00 ASAP after racing | Galley open for breakfast Hard open for competitors to bring boats through scrutineering. Prizegiving |
