2008 Rum Race Series Sailing Instructions

I. Introduction

The TGIF 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. Three classes are anticipated: Spinnaker, Non-Spinnaker and SOS-TEX.

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 2005-2008, with the following exceptions: NO LUFFING is allowed. Luffing shall be defined as changing course to windward after another has approached within two boat lengths from any direction. A boat passing to windward or leeward 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" 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.

III. Marks of the Course

"J", a large platform located approximately   N29 31.353'   W94 54.424'

"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   N29 35.787'   W94 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 13.3 nautical miles, and are computed so that a yacht with a rating of 284 will start at 4:44:00pm. 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 rating and Seconds be the starting time adjustment in seconds.
Seconds = 13.3 x (284-R)
Starting Time = 4:44:00 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 "J" Mark leaving it to port. Sail from Mark "J" 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 "J" leaving it to starboard. Sail from Mark "J" 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

The total course length is 13.3 nautical miles

Standard Course:
#2 to "J" approximately 4.8 nm bearing approximately 108
"J" to "E" approximately 5.0 nm bearing approximately 330
"E" to #2 approximately 3.5 nm bearing approximately 216

Reverse Course:
#2 to "E" approximately 3.5 nm bearing approximately 36
"E" to "J" approximately 5.0 nm bearing approximately 150
"J" to #2 approximately 4.8 nm bearing approximately 288

VII. Handicaps

Handicaps are those shown on each yacht's 2008 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, Kevin Box, kevinb{AT}uescontrols{DOT}com. 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.

VIII. Special Instructions

Yachts racing in the TGIF Series shall display their class flag(s) from the backstay throughout the race. The Spinnaker class flag is white. The Non-spinnaker class flag is dark. The SOS-TEX class will display a white flag over a dark flag. Yachts racing must fly the correct flags prominently or may not be scored.

In the event that the Race Chairman determines that the weather is too severe to race, the Race Chairman may cancel the race by announcing on the VHF, Channel 68, that the race is officially canceled. This announcement will be made at approximately 4:00 PM.

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 by 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.

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. Points will also be given for the series as follows:

1st Place 5 Points
2nd Place 4 Points
3rd Place 3 Points
4th Place 2 Point
5th Place 1 Point

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 #59B, 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 2008 PHRF-GB certificate as of the date of the last race in the series to be eligible for series awards.

Ties at the end of the series will be resolved according to RRS Appendix A

XII. Race Schedule

Scheduled race dates for the 2008 Rum Race Series:

May 31, Standard Course
June 14, Reverse Course

July 5 Standard Course
July 12, Reverse Course

July 19 Standard Course
August 9, Reverse Course

August 16, Standard Course
August 30, Reverse Course

2008 Rum Race Series Start Times

PHRF
#
Start
Time
PHRF
#
Start
Time
PHRF
#
Start
Time
PHRF
#
Start
Time
PHRF
#
Start
Time
PHRF
#
Start
Time
284 4:44:00 239 4:53:59 194 5:03:57 149 5:13:55 104 5:23:54 59 5:33:53
283 4:44:13 238 4:54:12 193 5:04:10 148 5:14:09 103 5:24:07 58 5:34:06
282 4:44:27 237 4:54:25 192 5:04:24 147 5:14:22 102 5:24:21 57 5:34:19
281 4:44:40 236 4:54:38 191 5:04:37 146 5:14:35 101 5:24:34 56 5:34:32
280 4:44:53 235 4:54:52 190 5:04:50 145 5:14:49 100 5:24:47 55 5:34:46
279 4:45:07 234 4:55:05 189 5:05:03 144 5:15:02 99 5:25:00 54 5:34:59
278 4:45:20 233 4:55:18 188 5:05:17 143 5:15:15 98 5:25:14 53 5:35:12
277 4:45:33 232 4:55:32 187 5:05:30 142 5:15:29 97 5:25:27 52 5:35:26
276 4:45:46 231 4:55:45 186 5:05:43 141 5:15:42 96 5:25:40 51 5:35:39
275 4:46:00 230 4:55:58 185 5:05:57 140 5:15:55 95 5:25:54 50 5:35:52
274 4:46:13 229 4:56:11 184 5:06:10 139 5:16:08 94 5:26:07 49 5:36:05
273 4:46:26 228 4:56:25 183 5:06:23 138 5:16:22 93 5:26:20 48 5:36:19
272 4:46:40 227 4:56:38 182 5:06:37 137 5:16:35 92 5:26:34 47 5:36:32
271 4:46:53 226 4:56:51 181 5:06:50 136 5:16:48 91 5:26:47 46 5:36:45
270 4:47:06 225 4:57:05 180 5:07:03 135 5:17:02 90 5:27:00 45 5:36:59
269 4:47:20 224 4:57:18 179 5:07:17 134 5:17:15 89 5:27:13 44 5:37:12
268 4:47:33 223 4:57:31 178 5:07:30 133 5:17:28 88 5:27:27 43 5:37:25
267 4:47:46 222 4:57:45 177 5:07:43 132 5:17:42 87 5:27:40 42 5:37:39
266 4:47:59 221 4:57:58 176 5:07:56 131 5:17:55 86 5:27:53 41 5:37:52
265 4:48:13 220 4:58:11 175 5:08:10 130 5:18:08 85 5:28:07 40 5:38:05
264 4:48:26 219 4:58:25 174 5:08:23 129 5:18:21 84 5:28:20 39 5:38:18
263 4:48:39 218 4:58:38 173 5:08:36 128 5:18:35 83 5:28:33 38 5:38:32
262 4:48:53 217 4:58:51 172 5:08:50 127 5:18:48 82 5:28:47 37 5:38:45
261 4:49:06 216 4:59:04 171 5:09:03 126 5:19:01 81 5:29:00 36 5:38:58
260 4:49:19 215 4:59:18 170 5:09:16 125 5:19:15 80 5:29:13 35 5:39:12
259 4:49:33 214 4:59:31 169 5:09:29 124 5:19:28 79 5:29:26 34 5:39:25
258 4:49:46 213 4:59:44 168 5:09:43 123 5:19:41 78 5:29:40 33 5:39:38
257 4:49:59 212 4:59:58 167 5:09:56 122 5:19:55 77 5:29:53 32 5:39:52
256 4:50:12 211 5:00:11 166 5:10:09 121 5:20:08 76 5:30:06 31 5:40:05
255 4:50:26 210 5:00:24 165 5:10:23 120 5:20:21 75 5:30:20 30 5:40:18
254 4:50:39 209 5:00:37 164 5:10:36 119 5:20:34 74 5:30:33 29 5:40:31
253 4:50:52 208 5:00:51 163 5:10:49 118 5:20:48 73 5:30:46 28 5:40:45
252 4:51:06 207 5:01:04 162 5:11:03 117 5:21:01 72 5:31:00 27 5:40:58
251 4:51:19 206 5:01:17 161 5:11:16 116 5:21:14 71 5:31:13 26 5:41:11
250 4:51:32 205 5:01:31 160 5:11:29 115 5:21:28 70 5:31:26 25 5:41:25
249 4:51:45 204 5:01:44 159 5:11:42 114 5:21:41 69 5:31:39 24 5:41:38
248 4:51:59 203 5:01:57 158 5:11:56 113 5:21:54 68 5:31:53 23 5:41:51
247 4:52:12 202 5:02:11 157 5:12:09 112 5:22:08 67 5:32:06 22 5:42:05
246 4:52:25 201 5:02:24 156 5:12:22 111 5:22:21 66 5:32:19 21 5:42:18
245 4:52:39 200 5:02:37 155 5:12:36 110 5:22:34 65 5:32:33 20 5:42:31
244 4:52:52 199 5:02:50 154 5:12:49 109 5:22:47 64 5:32:46 19 5:42:44
243 4:53:05 198 5:03:04 153 5:13:02 108 5:23:01 63 5:32:59 18 5:42:58
242 4:53:19 197 5:03:17 152 5:13:16 107 5:23:14 62 5:33:13 17 5:43:11
241 4:53:32 196 5:03:30 151 5:13:29 106 5:23:27 61 5:33:26 16 5:43:24
240 4:53:45 195 5:03:44 150 5:13:42 105 5:23:41 60 5:33:39 15 5:43:38