Gorge Cup Rules

Scoring & Racing Instructions

1. Any changes to be made in the sailing instructions will be made at the skippers' meeting before the races begin. Skippers' meeting is at 10:00 or TBA.

2. All competitors must have a sail number to race.

3. Course and marks will be reviewed at the skippers' meeting. See course here.

4. We will be using a 5 minute starting sequence (as outlined by the ISAF)

When the race committee is in place the postponement flag will be raised. There will be multiple horn blasts when the postponement flag is lowered.
1 minute after it is lowered the first 5-minute sequence of the day shall begin.
5 min. CLASS FLAG up with one sound signal.
4 min. P, I, Z, Z with I, or BLACK FLAG up with one sound signal
1 min. PREP FLAG down with one long sound signal
START: CLASS FLAG down with one sound signal

Click here to view the flags.

Times will be taken from the flags and a failure or mistiming of a sound signal must be ignored.

5. Over early: 1; Individual recall will be displayed by an 'X' flag (a white square- shaped flag with a blue cross on it), 2; General recall will cause the committee to display the 'First Substitute' flag (a blue and yellow pennant flag) and three sound signals. One minute after the 'First Substitute' is lowered, a new 5 min. starting sequence will begin.

6. The committee may postpone, abandon, or cancel a race before the starting signal for any reason. The committee may abandon or cancel a race after the start for any reason affecting the fairness of the competition. The 'Answering Pennant' flag will be displayed when the start of a race is POSTPONED. The 'N' flag (black and white squares) will be displayed if a race is ABANDONED. FIVE min. after the 'Answering Pennant' or 'N' flag is lowered, a 5 min. starting sequence will begin.

7. Each racer will sail the course so as to round or pass each mark on the required side in the correct sequence. The time limit will be 30 min. after the first finish. The 'Z' flag will be displayed until the time limit is over. The race committee may decide to lengthen the 30 min. time limit for reasons such as light wind conditions or length of course. When all racers have finished or the time limit has been reached, the 'Z' flag will be lowered. Five min. after the 'Z' flag is lowered the next 5 min. sequence will begin or the Postponement flag (Answering Pennant, red and white stripes) will be raised.

8. The courses will be discussed at the skippers' meeting. The course that is sailed the FIRST race shall be used for all races UNLESS the race committee displays the 'L' flag (yellow and black squares). This flag means "come within hail" and the new course will be indicated on the official race board on the beach. Information at the race boat is not reliable.

9. All events shall be scored by fleet using the “100 point” method. This is a low-point scoring method that weighs the scoring based upon the number of entrants per fleet. The number of entrants in each fleet is divided into 100 to come up with a per finishing position scoring factor. For example if there are 10 entrants in the First Fleet then 1st place gets 10 points, 2nd gets 20 points, 3rd gets 30 points, etc. If there are 25 entrants in the First Fleet, then each place is worth 4 points. This system rewards success in a large fleet and reduces the significance of dominating a small fleet. Positions will then be awarded in each class (Open Men, Women, Masters, Sport, etc.) based on the overall scoring/finishing. The finishing score for DNF is 105 points. The finishing score for non-entry, DNS, or DSQ is 110 points.

10. Each race will be scored separately. One race will be thrown out per 4 completed. Two races will be thrown out per 7 races completed. If a tie exists, the higher place finisher will be determined by 1) who has the most firsts, seconds, and 3rds. 2) who beat who the greater number of times 3) who has the better score including throw-outs.

11. All racers will sail together and be scored together by fleet, and will be separated for awards at the end of the series: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, open, Masters, Gr. Masters, Women, Juniors, etc.

12. If you wish to protest you must follow this procedure:

1) Notify the racer being protested by hail at the first opportunity after the incident.
2) Notify the committee as soon as possible after the finish of the race.
3) Remind the person you are protesting to meet with you and the committee following the days' races, and set a time.

13. A racer who acknowledges infringing a rule may exonerate himself by making a 360 degree turn (with no requirement for a tack or a gybe) per rule B2.1(c).