Regatta Regulations

  1. Regattas will be run to the Racing Rules of Sailing (ISAF 2001-2004), RYA and SSSA rules
  2. Competitors must be on the roll of the school that they represent in the term in which the regatta takes place.  If members of an affiliated youth organisation, competitors must also be on the full time roll of an educational establishment during the term in which the regatta takes place.  They must be under 19 years old on the 31st August of the current academic year.
  3. Schools and Youth Organisations must be affiliated to the Association.
  4. Each group must be accompanied by a qualified (RYA/NSSA) member of their own staff.  One member of staff to 4 boats and up to a maximum of 8 pupils.  There can be no exception to this rule for tidal waters, but inland pupils may, by prior arrangement, be in the charge of a member of staff from another group providing the pupil/staff ratio above is not exceeded.
  5. All entries must be notified in advance on the entry form sent out prior to each regatta.  Late entries will only be accepted at the discretion of the competition secretary.
  6. Entry fees will be decided in the light of regatta expenses.
  7. Boats must be sailing dinghies of a RYA recognised class with a Portsmouth Yardstick rating, crewed within class regulations.  Certificates will not be required but boats should conform to class rules and may be measured at the discretion of the committee.
  8. Boats must be equipped with:
    1. Paddle or oars (“Praddles” will be accepted for boats excused bailers)
    2. Bailer of minimum capacity one gallon with the exception of Lasers, Toppers, Comets, Bytes and dinghies with self-draining cockpits.
    3. Head rope at least 4m long with a minimum diameter of 8mm.
    4. Adequate buoyancy to support boat and crew. Bags must be properly secured.
    5. Rigging must be secure and standing rigging must be taped.
  9. At inland regattas all competitors shall wear a lifejacket to CE 150 Newton or BSI 3595 standard or a buoyancy aid bearing a BMIF, SBBNF or CE mark.  Buoyancy aids should be of  CE 100 Newton standard, or if the Teacher/Adult in charge of the team is satisfied that the competitor is a competent swimmer in the prevailing conditions a CE 50 Newton standard buoyancy aid may be worn.
    All personal buoyancy must be correctly worn, in a serviceable condition and clearly visible.
  10. In estuary and coastal waters all competitors must wear a BSI 3595 lifejacket or a minimum of a CE 150 Newton standard lifejacket.
  11. At TYM regattas, TYM buoyancy may be worn.
  12. Pupils on pontoons or being ferried in rescue boats must also wear personal buoyancy.
  13. All competitors must be of RYA Level 2 or Start Sailing 2 standard and have a knowledge of the basic racing rules.
  14. Competitors must be familiar with the capsize drill, distress signals and the race and flag procedures.
  15. Crews capsizing must stay with the boat until they right it and sail on, or are rescued.  Crews must obey the instructions of the rescue boat crews.
  16. Staff in charge of groups should report to the Race Officer on arrival.
  17. All competitors must attend a briefing before sailing.
  18. It is the responsibility of the accompanying staff to ensure that competitors understand the procedures.
  19. Boats must be inspected by the beachmasters before going afloat.  Swamp tests may be ordered by the beachmasters.
  20. Boats may not go afloat without the permission of the Race Officer.  Cruising is not allowed during racing.
  21. The Race Committee shall consist of the Commodore, the Safety Officer, the Race Officer and others as required.
  22. Protests will be heard by the above committee, or as appointed by the Commodore.  Protests not affecting the prizes may not be heard.
  23. All trophies will be held by the school or group and returned to the Race Officer, clean and engraved, in good time.
  24. There will be an adequate number of rescue boats as decided by the Safety Officer.  On tidal waters there will be one rescue boat for every six competing boats and on non-tidal waters one to eight.
  25. At residential regattas there will be a billeting officer appointed by the committee.
  26. Sail numbers must be clearly visible and conform to class rules.
  27. All boats used in SSSA events must be covered by third party insurance for a minimum of £2,000,000.  It is the responsibility of each Senior member of staff or Team leader to ensure that all helpers are adequately trained and/or qualified for the tasks they are asked to undertake and are adequately covered for third party liability.

Disclaimer of Liability

A boat is entirely responsible for her own safety, whether afloat or ashore, and nothing, whether in the Notice of Race or Sailing Instructions or anywhere else, reduces this responsibility.

It is for a boat to decide whether she is fit to sail in the conditions in which she will find herself.  By launching the boat confirms that she is fit for those conditions and her crew is competent to sail and compete in them.

The boat is required to hold adequate insurance and in particular to hold insurance against third party claims in the sum of at least £2,000,000.

Nothing done by the organisers can reduce the responsibility of the boat nor will make the organisers responsible for any loss, damage, death or personal injury, however it may have occurred, as a result of the boat taking part in the racing. The organisers encompass everyone helping to run the race and the event, and include the organising authority, the race committee, the race officer, patrol boats and beachmasters.

The provision of patrol boats does not relieve the boat of her responsibilities.

The fact that the race committee conducts inspections of a boat does not reduce the responsibilities of the boat set out in this paragraph.

Sailing Lemming

Last updated: 16 October, 2002