My PHRF:___________________________ My Start Time: ____________________

GBCA 2014 Rum Race Series Sailing Instructions

Galveston Bay May 31 – September 13, 2014

1500 Marina Bay Dr. Suite 1592, Building 113B, Clear Lake Shores, TX 77565

I. Introduction

The Rum Race Series will consist of eight races. The dates of the races are listed in Section XII. The start is staggered, based on the handicap starting time provided in Attachment #1. Five classes are anticipated: Spinnaker Sprit, Spinnaker Non-Sprit, Non-Spinnaker, GBCA Club Handicap and SOS-TEX Shorthanded.

The intent of Rum Race Series is fun, informal racing. No entry fee or form is required to participate. The races are governed by the Racing Rules of Sailing 2013-2016, with the following exceptions:

LUFFING another boat shall NOT be allowed. Luffing shall be defined as changing course to windward after another boat has approached within two boat lengths from any direction.

A boat passing to windward or leeward of another boat must maintain at least two boat lengths to either side until no overlap exists.

Yachts participating in the SOS-TEX class may use autopilots and other self-steering gear in accordance with the SOS-TEX Bylaws. Formal provision for processing protests has not been established. Skippers are requested to discuss any infractions and resolve them in the best Corinthian fashion. The "720 Rule" – now called the “Two Turns Penalty”, is in effect. The race chairman may disqualify any boat that starts early or who was in violation of any other rules.

II. Start / Finish Line

The Start/Finish line will be between Clear Lake Entrance Marker #1 and Marker # 2, located in Galveston Bay. See Section V for course descriptions.

N29 33.183’ W094 59.535’ Clear Lake Entrance Marker #2

III. Marks of the Course

The large "J" platform has been removed by the Texas General Land Office and for racing purposes is replaced by, Galveston Shellfish Harvesting Boundary Marker “M 54” in Galveston Bay. The mark is a piling in 10’ of water with a signage of orange and black markings on a white background (see picture on last page), located approximately

N 29o 30.814' W 094o 54.963' (0.82 nm due north of Eagle Point and 0.72 SSW of the former “J”)

"E", the Low Range Marker (Upper Range "A") in Galveston Bay. The mark is an orange and white structure near Houston Ship Channel Marker #73, at approximately

N 29o 35.787' W 094o 56.935' (0.23 nm NNW of the old low range)

IV. Starting Times

The starting times are listed in Attachment #1. Participating yachts may obtain the correct time on any WWV frequency or by calling 1-303-499-7111, or from a GPS. The start times in Attachment #1 are based on a course length of 13.4 nautical miles, and are computed so that a yacht with a rating of 284 will start at 4:30:00 pm. If you do not find your rating in Attachment #1, you may compute your start time as follows:

Let R be the yacht's PHRF or GBCA Club Handicap rating and Seconds be the starting time adjustment in seconds. Seconds = 13.4 x (285-R) Starting Time = 4:30:00 PM + Seconds

V. Course Description

Two courses will be used for the Rum Race series. The schedule of races in Section XII gives the course to be used in each race.

Standard Course: Start between Clear Lake Channel Markers #1 and #2 and sail to "M54" Mark leaving it to port. Sail from Mark "M54" to Mark "E" leaving it to port. Sail from Mark "E" to the finish as outlined in Section II.

Reverse Course: Start between Clear Lake Channel Markers #1 and #2 and sail to "E" Mark leaving it to starboard. Sail from Mark "E" to Mark "M54" leaving it to starboard. Sail from Mark "M54" to the finish as outlined in Section II.

Boats shall not enter the Houston Ship Channel. The Houston Ship Channel shall rank as an obstruction.

VI. Course heading and Distances

Standard Course: o #2 to "M54" approximately 4.63 nm bearing approximately 116o o "M54" to "E" approximately 5.27 nm bearing approximately 337o o "E" to #2 approximately 3.5 nm bearing approximately 217o

Reverse Course: o #2 to "E" approximately 3.5 nm bearing approximately 37o o "E" to "M54" approximately 5.27 nm bearing approximately 157o o "M54" to #2 approximately 4.63 nm bearing approximately 296o

The total course length is 13.4 nautical miles

VII. Handicaps

Handicaps are those shown on each yacht's 2014 PHRF-GB rating certificate. Yachts sailing in the spinnaker class use their normal rating. Yachts sailing in the non-spinnaker class use their non-spinnaker rating directly, without further adjustment. The SOS-TEX class will sail in accordance with the SOS-TEX Bylaws and will not subdivide. Yachts may not take adjustments for different headsail sizes on a per race basis. Yachts may elect to race in any class on a per race basis. Points earned in one class will not be transferred to another. Skippers who do not have a valid Galveston Bay PHRF certificate may obtain a provisional rating from the race chairman, Christopher Dees at cddees@comcast.net or by calling 713.823.1577. Skippers are urged to obtain a PHRF certificate, as provisional ratings tend to be more conservative (faster) than a valid PHRF-GB certificate and are intended only for first time racers or those new to the area. Yachts which do not have a valid 2014 PHRF-GB certificate as of the date of the last race are not eligible for Series Awards.

GBCA Club Handicap:

Yachts intending to participate in the GBCA Club Handicap class shall register at: https://www.regattanetwork.com/clubmgmt/applet_club_events.php?CLUB_ID=162 . Skippers shall fill out the form as completely as possible and include a valid e-mail address. The Class Coordinator will correspond via e-mail with rating and other special information. Participants and current ratings will be updated and posted at: http://www.regattanetwork.com/clubmgmt/applet_registrant_list.php?regatta_id=2575&custom_report_id=2. Ratings will be adjusted based on fleet performance after each race.

VIII. Special Instructions

Yachts racing in the Rum Series shall clearly display their class flag(s) from the backstay or other prominent visible position on the stern of the yacht throughout the race.

The Spinnaker Sprit class flag is white. The boat has a fixed or movable bow sprit.

The Spinnaker Non-Sprit class flag is white. The boat does not have a bow sprit.

The Non-spinnaker class flag is dark.

The SOS-TEX class will display a white flag over a dark flag.

The GBCA Club Handicap class flag is bright orange.

Attention is called to RRS 4: Decision to Race, “The responsibility for a boat’s decision to participate in a race or to continue racing is hers alone.”

IX. Finishing

The first yacht in each class to cross the finish line will be the winner of the class and be required to record the next 4 places in her class by legibly recording the boat name and or sail numbers. The finishing information then must be presented to the race chairman at the social event following the race. Remember, to score a first place, a yacht must both cross the finish line first and record the next four finishers.

GBCA Club Handicap: The first yacht in the GBCA Club Handicap class to cross the finish line will be the winner of the class and be required to record the next 4 places by recording the boat name and or sail numbers. The winning yacht shall also record the finish time for the next 4 places. Each yacht finishing shall record their finish time and report it to the Fleet Captain or another Club Officer at the post race party or by email or by posting on the discussion forum.

The race ends at 21:00. Any boat that has not finished by this time will not be scored.

X. Awards and Social

"Liquid" trophies in the form of rum will be awarded in each race, usually to the top two boats in each class. The Award is forfeited if not claimed at the social following the race. By longstanding tradition, winning yachts are encouraged to share their trophies with fellow competitors at the social event. Points will also be given for the series as follows:

Place Points

1st 5

2nd 4

3rd 3

4th 2

5th 1

Socials will be held at the GBCA office following each race, unless otherwise posted at the GBCA office by 8:00 AM the day of the race. Changes to the Race Schedule will be posted at the GBCA Office and on the GBCA website one week before the affected race. The GBCA office is located at 1500 Marina Bay Dr. Suite 1592, Building 113B, Clear Lake Shores, TX 77565.

XI. Series Awards

Trophies for the series will be awarded to the top three eligible yachts in each class based on points awarded per race. Yachts must be owned by a GBCA senior member AND have a valid 2014 PHRF-GB certificate as of the date of the last race in the series to be eligible for series awards. Trophies will be awarded at the Commodore’s Ball. Ties at the end of the series will be resolved according to RRS Appendix A

XII. Race Schedule

Scheduled race dates for the 2014 Rum Race Series:

Race Date Course

#1 May 31 Standard

#2 June 7 Reverse

#3 June 14 Standard

#4 July 12 Reverse

#5 July 19 Standard

#6 August 9 Reverse

#7 August 23 Standard

#8 September 13 Reverse

2014 Rum Race Series Start Times

PHRF # Start Time PHRF # Start Time PHRF # Start Time PHRF # Start Time PHRF # Start Time PHRF # Start Time

285 4:30:00 240 4:40:03 194 4:50:19 149 5:00:22 104 5:10:25 59 5:20:28

284 4:30:13 238 4:40:30 193 4:50:33 148 5:00:36 103 5:10:39 58 5:20:42

283 4:30:27 237 4:40:43 192 4:50:46 147 5:00:49 102 5:10:52 57 5:20:55

282 4:30:40 236 4:40:57 191 4:51:00 146 5:01:03 101 5:11:06 56 5:21:09

281 4:30:54 235 4:41:10 190 4:51:13 145 5:01:16 100 5:11:19 55 5:21:22

280 4:31:07 234 4:41:23 189 4:51:26 144 5:01:29 99 5:11:32 54 5:21:35

279 4:31:20 233 4:41:37 188 4:51:40 143 5:01:43 98 5:11:46 53 5:21:49

278 4:31:34 232 4:41:50 187 4:51:53 142 5:01:56 97 5:11:59 52 5:22:02

277 4:31:47 231 4:42:04 186 4:52:07 141 5:02:10 96 5:12:13 51 5:22:16

276 4:32:01 230 4:42:17 185 4:52:20 140 5:02:23 95 5:12:26 50 5:22:29

275 4:32:14 229 4:42:30 184 4:52:33 139 5:02:36 94 5:12:39 49 5:22:42

274 4:32:27 228 4:42:44 183 4:52:47 138 5:02:50 93 5:12:53 48 5:22:56

273 4:32:41 227 4:42:57 182 4:53:00 137 5:03:03 92 5:13:06 47 5:23:09

272 4:32:54 226 4:43:11 181 4:53:14 136 5:03:17 91 5:13:20 46 5:23:23

271 4:33:08 225 4:43:24 180 4:53:27 135 5:03:30 90 5:13:33 45 5:23:36

270 4:33:21 224 4:43:37 179 4:53:40 134 5:03:43 89 5:13:46 44 5:23:49

269 4:33:34 223 4:43:51 178 4:53:54 133 5:03:57 88 5:14:00 43 5:24:03

268 4:33:48 222 4:44:04 177 4:54:07 132 5:04:10 87 5:14:13 42 5:24:16

267 4:34:01 221 4:44:18 176 4:54:21 131 5:04:24 86 5:14:27 41 5:24:30

266 4:34:15 220 4:44:31 175 4:54:34 130 5:04:37 85 5:14:40 40 5:24:43

265 4:34:28 219 4:44:44 174 4:54:47 129 5:04:50 84 5:14:53 39 5:24:56

264 4:34:41 218 4:44:58 173 4:55:01 128 5:05:04 83 5:15:07 38 5:25:10

263 4:34:55 217 4:45:11 172 4:55:14 127 5:05:17 82 5:15:20 37 5:25:23

262 4:35:08 216 4:45:25 171 4:55:28 126 5:05:31 81 5:15:34 36 5:25:37

261 4:35:22 215 4:45:38 170 4:55:41 125 5:05:44 80 5:15:47 35 5:25:50

260 4:35:35 214 4:45:51 169 4:55:54 124 5:05:57 79 5:16:00 34 5:26:03

259 4:35:48 213 4:46:05 168 4:56:08 123 5:06:11 78 5:16:14 33 5:26:17

258 4:36:02 212 4:46:18 167 4:56:21 122 5:06:24 77 5:16:27 32 5:26:30

257 4:36:15 211 4:46:32 166 4:56:35 121 5:06:38 76 5:16:41 31 5:26:44

256 4:36:29 210 4:46:45 165 4:56:48 120 5:06:51 75 5:16:54 30 5:26:57

255 4:36:42 209 4:46:58 164 4:57:01 119 5:07:04 74 5:17:07 29 5:27:10

254 4:36:55 208 4:47:12 163 4:57:15 118 5:07:18 73 5:17:21 28 5:27:24

253 4:37:09 207 4:47:25 162 4:57:28 117 5:07:31 72 5:17:34 27 5:27:37

252 4:37:22 206 4:47:39 161 4:57:42 116 5:07:45 71 5:17:48 26 5:27:51

251 4:37:36 205 4:47:52 160 4:57:55 115 5:07:58 70 5:18:01 25 5:28:04

250 4:37:49 204 4:48:05 159 4:58:08 114 5:08:11 69 5:18:14 24 5:28:17

249 4:38:02 203 4:48:19 158 4:58:22 113 5:08:25 68 5:18:28 23 5:28:31

248 4:38:16 202 4:48:32 157 4:58:35 112 5:08:38 67 5:18:41 22 5:28:44

247 4:38:29 201 4:48:46 156 4:58:49 111 5:08:52 66 5:18:55 21 5:28:58

246 4:38:43 200 4:48:59 155 4:59:02 110 5:09:05 65 5:19:08 20 5:29:11

245 4:38:56 199 4:49:12 154 4:59:15 109 5:09:18 64 5:19:21 19 5:29:24

244 4:39:09 198 4:49:26 153 4:59:29 108 5:09:32 63 5:19:35 18 5:29:38

243 4:39:23 197 4:49:39 152 4:59:42 107 5:09:45 62 5:19:48 17 5:29:51

242 4:39:36 196 4:49:53 151 4:59:56 106 5:09:59 61 5:20:02 16 5:30:05

241 4:39:50 195 4:50:06 150 5:00:09 105 5:10:12 60 5:20:15 15 5:30:18

Class: Spin NonSpin SOS Club Race:________________Date:______________ Place Boat name Sail# Time (Club) 1st ___________ _____ ____:____:____ 2nd ___________ _____ ____:____:____ 3rd ___________ _____ ____:____:____ 4th ___________ _____ ____:____:____ 5th ___________ _____ ____:____:____ ======================================= Class: Spin NonSpin SOS Club Race:________________Date:______________ Place Boat name Sail# Time (Club) 1st ___________ _____ ____:____:____ 2nd ___________ _____ ____:____:____ 3rd ___________ _____ ____:____:____ 4th ___________ _____ ____:____:____ 5th ___________ _____ ____:____:____ ======================================= Class: Spin NonSpin SOS Club Race:________________Date:______________ Place Boat name Sail# Time (Club) 1st ___________ _____ ____:____:____ 2nd ___________ _____ ____:____:____ 3rd ___________ _____ ____:____:____ 4th ___________ _____ ____:____:____ 5th ___________ _____ ____:____:____

Class: Spin NonSpin SOS Club Race:________________Date:______________ Place Boat name Sail# Time (Club) 1st ___________ _____ ____:____:____ 2nd ___________ _____ ____:____:____ 3rd ___________ _____ ____:____:____ 4th ___________ _____ ____:____:____ 5th ___________ _____ ____:____:____ ======================================= Class: Spin NonSpin SOS Club Race:________________Date:______________ Place Boat name Sail# Time (Club) 1st ___________ _____ ____:____:____ 2nd ___________ _____ ____:____:____ 3rd ___________ _____ ____:____:____ 4th ___________ _____ ____:____:____ 5th ___________ _____ ____:____:____ ======================================= Class: Spin NonSpin SOS Club Race:________________Date:______________ Place Boat name Sail# Time (Club) 1st ___________ _____ ____:____:____ 2nd ___________ _____ ____:____:____ 3rd ___________ _____ ____:____:____ 4th ___________ _____ ____:____:____ 5th ___________ _____ ____:____:____