Course Instructions

SECTION 3 - COURSE DETAILS

RACE 13 – DERRY~LONDONDERRY TO LIVERPOOL

REFERENCES

The race will be sailed in accordance with the instructions below and the references included in them to:

• Clipper 2017-18 Race Notice of Race, dated 20 May 2017
• Clipper 2017-18 Race Sailing Instructions, dated 21 June 2017

GENERAL INFORMATION

• All times are local, Derry~Londonderry (UTC +1 hr) unless otherwise stated.
• Tidal Information on Sunday 22 July 2018 at:
• River Foyle (Lisahally)HW17151.90m
• Race distance is approximately 832 nautical miles.
• The estimated finishing date is approx. 1700 LT on 27 July 2018
• All bearings shown are relative to True North.

ARRANGEMENTS PRIOR TO THE START

22 July 2018

• 1000All Crew on Board Yachts in Foyle Marina
• 1100Skippers Dockside Briefing in Foyle Marina
• 1200Clipper Yachts Slip Lines from Foyle Marina
• 1300Parade of Sail begins
• 1330Depart and motor towards Greencastle
• 1600Fleet RV in vicinity of Greencastle
• 1700Race 13 start

START AND STARTING SIGNALS

Race start will be at 1700 LT on Sunday 22 July 2018

Sequence for the start will be :-

• 1650 - 10 minute warning signalClipper Race class flag and air horn blast
• 1656 - 4 minute preparatory signal‘P’ flag raised and air horn blast (engines off)
• 1659 - 1 minute warning signal‘P’ flag lowered and air horn blast
• 1700 - StartAll flags lowered and sound signal.

The Class Flag shall be the Clipper Race Flag.

All flags will be shown on the flag staff.

Sound signals shall be made by an air horn and are made to draw your attention to the flags.

The start will be signaled by an air horn blast.

The start sequence shall be called on VHF CH 77.

Engines are permitted to be used until the 4 minute preparatory signal.

STARTING LINE

The start line shall be at the entrance to Lough Foyle between the flag staff on the Greencastle shoreline at position 55°12.190N, 006°58.790W and the red navigation light (dolphin), Magilligan Point, at position 55°11.730N, 006°58.050W

• The start line will be approx. 0.55nm in length.
• There will be an orange Inner Distance Mark (IDM). This may not be on the line. No yacht is to pass between the IDM and the Greencastle shoreline.
• All flags will be shown on the flag staff.
• Sound signals shall be made to draw your attention to the flags.
• The start sequence will be called on VHF CH 77.
• The exact location of the start course and any marks will be determined by the Race Director and briefed at the pre-race skippers briefing.
• Any alterations to the proposed start courses shall be made on VHF CH 77.
• The Clipper Race Committee reserves the right to change or adjust the published starting procedures or start course and any aspect of the race course to ensure the overall objectives of the Clipper Race are achieved.

START COMMUNICATIONS

The Race Officer will communicate on VHF CH 77. The back up channel will be VHF CH 72. All yachts are to check in with Race Control on VHF prior to the 10 minute warning signal.

The final 10 seconds before the start will be counted down on VHF. This shall not count as outside assistance; failure to hear the transmission will not be cause for redress.

INFRINGEMENTS

• Amendment to SI 5e OCS – Delete and insert ‘If a yacht is deemed to be OCS at the start it may exonerate itself by returning to the non-course side of the start line and undertaking a 720 degree turn (2 tacks and 2 gybes) before re-crossing the start line. Once a yacht is OCS it has no rights of way over other racing yachts until it has restarted racing.
• Whenever possible yachts over the line will be advised by the starting authority on the designated VHF channel.

RACE MARKS

Race marks will be established buoys, race marks, navigational marks and virtual waypoints.

COURSE

WARNINGS

• Traffic Separation Schemes – no TSS shall be entered by a Clipper Race yacht and should be considered an obstruction. If for safety reasons a yacht is compelled to enter a TSS then that yacht must comply with IRPCS Rule 10. To exonerate herself the yacht crossing into a TSS must return to the exact position they crossed into the TSS before resuming racing. For the avoidance of doubt, the magenta area of a TSS as shown on the chart shall constitute part of the TSS and shall not be entered.
• Positions of racing marks given are approximate. If a mark is out of position this will not be grounds for a yacht to protest the Race Committee or apply for redress. It is always the Skipper’s responsibility to determine if any racing mark is surrounded by navigable water.
• Skippers should be aware of and must not impede the safe passage of any commercial traffic particularly around the approaches to Lough Foyle and Liverpool.
• Skippers shall not rely on GPS alone when navigating near coastlines and hazards and shall establish visual or radar fixes.
• Skippers shall review the warnings on charts and pilot books relevant to the area to be sailed. During daylight skippers shall avoid navigating too closely to any marked obstruction and at night significantly more sea room shall be given.

EXCLUSION ZONE

• There will be a 2nm exclusion zone from all coastline, islands and off lying hazards (awash or above the water at chart datum) between Virtual Mark Rowell and the Finish Line. This will apply when Virtual Mark Rowell (in position 55°30.000N, 007°15.000W) bears 180° True until crossing the Finish Line.
• In addition to the above, no Clipper vessel is to roam into an area of less than 20m deep (chart datum) between Virtual Mark Rowell and the Finish Line. This will apply when Virtual Mark Rowell (in position 55°30.000N, 007°15.000W) bears 180° True until crossing the Finish Line.
• Penalties will apply for any infringements of these rules as directed by the Clipper Race Committee. Any penalties will be a minimum of 6 hours.
• The safe navigation of all Clipper Vessels is the responsibility of the Skipper or person nominated by the Skipper. All Skippers MUST navigate with caution using all available means at all times. Due regard must be taken given the prevailing conditions and circumstances at the time.
• Skippers are warned that marks of the course are not necessarily placed in safe navigable waters, in fact in some cases they are placed on land, and therefore they should not be used as route waypoints. The safe navigation of the yacht is the sole responsibility of the Skipper and as such the Skipper shall ensure that when deciding on routing and selecting route waypoints consideration is given to all navigational hazards, crew strength, visibility and whether it is day or night.

STEALTH MODE

There will be no Stealth Mode in Race 13.

SCORING GATES

There will be no Scoring Gate in Race 13.

OCEAN SPRINT

There will be no Ocean Sprint in Race 13.

JOKER

As per Clipper SI 12, each team is allowed to play their ‘Joker’ once only during the 2017-18 Clipper Race. It can be played in any individual race and in order to be eligible this request must be submitted to the Race Office in writing at the pre-race Skippers briefing on the day before departure of the nominated race. In the event that there is no planned Skippers briefing then a team must inform the Race Office in writing no later than 24 hours before departure of the nominated race.

The ‘Joker’ means that all points gained from the yachts finishing position at the end of the nominated race will be doubled. e.g. if a team finishes 1st then they will be awarded 24 points and if a team finishes 11th then they will be awarded four points.

Any points gained from Scoring Gates or Ocean Sprints will be unaffected.

The Joker cannot be used and does not apply in the Sprint Finish section of the Race 13.

REPORTING POSITIONS

Lead Skipper:

• 22/07 – 25/07 Conall
• 26/07 – Finish Lance
• As per Clipper SI 7, each skipper shall report the position of their yacht to the Race Office by email at 0600 and 1800 UTC each day. Amongst other things, this email shall contain DTF. The email shall be sent to raceoffice@clipper-ventures.com (do not copy in the Lead Skipper or other yachts).
• In the event of Satcom email failure the skipper shall endeavour to pass the scheduled reporting information and daily report back to the Race Office via the sat phone or the Lead Skipper or any other Clipper yacht on VHF.

FINISH LINE

• Skippers are to report their position and ETA at the finish line to the Race Office by phone or email when within 20 miles (or 2 hours) of the finish line.
• The finish line is in the Irish Sea in an area due north of Anglesey.
• The finish line is located approx. 30nm from the Le Mans Start Area for the Sprint Finish.
• The finish line shall be between two virtual marks with the Northern end of the line being in position 53°41.000N, 004°15.000W and the Southern end of the line being in position 53°40.000N, 004°15.000W
• The finish line is approx. 1.0nm in length and in the event of a photo finish the actual positions given above will be used to verify the line.
• The finish line shall be crossed in a West to East direction.
• Skippers must record their own GPS time of crossing the finish line (UTC) and they must send this time to the Race Office via email or any other means within 10 minutes of finishing or as soon as practicable.
• There will not be a finish yacht on station at the finish line. A digital photograph clearly showing the exact position and GPS time (UTC) shall be taken when crossing the finish line. This photograph will be used to confirm the timings if required.
• The Race Committee reserves the right to finish the race in whatever manner is deemed suitable to best achieve the aims of the race, due to weather conditions or safety considerations or for any reason.
• Typically, this will be either by changing the position of the finish line, or by introducing a time limit such that at the specified time of the finish, the distance (great circle) to the finish of each team shall be used to determine the overall finish order for that race, or a combination of both methods.
• In the event of a shortened course, the ‘S’ flag will not be flown and the sound signal will not be made (amendment to RRS 32).
• Additional gates may be added to the course after the start signal. Skippers will be advised by email of any such changes.
• In the event of a change to the course, the next mark on the leg currently being sailed may be changed (amendment to RRS 33).

ACTIONS AFTER THE FINISH

Once finished, each team shall navigate with caution to the vicinity of the Sprint Finish Le Mans Start Area.

Each team must RV in position 53°31.000N, 003°30.000W by 0700 LT on the Saturday 28 July and prepare for the final Le Mans Start.

COMMUNICATIONS WITH OTHER CLIPPER RACE YACHTS AND RACE CONTROL

In addition to monitoring VHF CH 16 and relevant harbour channels the Clipper Race yachts shall use the following VHF Channels :-

Primary VHF CH 77

Secondary VHF CH 72

RACE 13 – SPRINT FINISH

REFERENCES

The race will be sailed in accordance with the instructions below and the references included in them to:

• Clipper 2017-18 Race Notice of Race, dated 20 May 2017
• Clipper 2017-18 Race Sailing Instructions, dated 21 June 2017

GENERAL INFORMATION

• All times are local, Liverpool (UTC +1 hr) unless otherwise stated.
• Tidal Information on Saturday 28 July 2018 at:
• Liverpool (Gladstone Dock)HW12318.60m
• Race distance is approximately 20 nautical miles.
• The finishing date is 28 July 2018
• All bearings shown are relative to True North.

ARRANGEMENTS PRIOR TO THE START

28 July 2018

• 0700 - Fleet RV in vicinity of 53°31.000N, 003°30.000W (2.4nm west of Le Mans start area)
• 0750 - 10 minute warning signal
• 0756 - 4 minute preparatory signal
• 0759 - 1 minute warning signal (Engines off)
• 0800 - Le Mans start for Sprint Finish

SAIL SELECTION

The Lead Skipper will decide on the starting choice of sail plan for the fleet. This will be communicated to the fleet as early as possible and by 0700 latest on the morning of the start.

NOTE:- No spinnakers are allowed to be used during this Sprint Finish at all.

RACE 13 LE MANS START AND STARTING SIGNALS

The Le Mans start for the Sprint Finish will be at 0800 LT (0700 UTC) on Saturday 28 July 2018 in approx. position 53°31.000N, 003°26.000W

The location will be approx. 7.5nm west of the entrance to the River Mersey (Queens Channel) and 20nm from Albert Dock.

• The start will be conducted by the nominated Lead Skipper in accordance with Clipper 2017-18 Race Sailing Instructions Annex A – Clipper Race Le Mans Start Procedure.
• The start sequence will be called on VHF CH 77.
• The specific Le Mans start order will formed from the yachts finishing positions at the end of the first part of Race 13. For example, the 1st placed yacht will occupy the most windward position and the 11th placed yacht will get the most leeward position. The Lead Skipper’s yacht will be at the centre of the line up in position number 6.
• Lead Skipper will be Lance Shepherd on CV20 Liverpool 2018.

INFRINGEMENTS

As per the Sailing Instructions – Annex 1 – Clipper Race Le Mans Start Procedure.

RACE MARKS

Race marks will be established buoys, race marks, navigational marks and virtual waypoints.

COURSE

WARNINGS

• Traffic Separation Schemes – no TSS shall be entered by a Clipper Race yacht and should be considered an obstruction. If for safety reasons a yacht is compelled to enter a TSS then that yacht must comply with IRPCS Rule 10. To exonerate herself the yacht crossing into a TSS must return to the exact position they crossed into the TSS before resuming racing. For the avoidance of doubt, the magenta area of a TSS as shown on the chart shall constitute part of the TSS and shall not be entered.
• Positions of racing marks given are approximate. If a mark is out of position this will not be grounds for a yacht to protest the Race Committee or apply for redress. It is always the Skipper’s responsibility to determine if any racing mark is surrounded by navigable water.
• Great attention should be paid to the pilotage within the River Mersey and in particular the location of the training banks on both sides. These training banks are physical structures that may not be entirely visible at certain states of tide. These areas MUST be avoided and a safe margin of error MUST be considered when racing within this area.
• Skippers should be aware of and must not impede the safe passage of any commercial traffic particularly within the River Mersey.
• Skippers shall not rely on GPS alone when navigating near coastlines and hazards and shall establish visual or radar fixes.
• Skippers shall review the warnings on charts and pilot books relevant to the area to be sailed.

EXCLUSION ZONE

• The safe navigation of all Clipper Vessels is the responsibility of the Skipper or person nominated by the Skipper. All Skippers MUST navigate with caution using all available means at all times. Due regard must be taken given the prevailing conditions and circumstances at the time.
• Skippers are warned that marks of the course are not necessarily placed in safe navigable waters, in fact in some cases they are placed on land, and therefore they should not be used as route waypoints. The safe navigation of the yacht is the sole responsibility of the Skipper and as such the Skipper shall ensure that when deciding on routing and selecting route waypoints consideration is given to all navigational hazards, crew strength, visibility and whether it is day or night.

JOKER

The Joker cannot be used and does not apply in the Sprint Finish section of Race 13.

LEAD SKIPPER AND REPORTING

Lead Skipper:

28/07 Lance Shepherd

Any reporting of positions to the Race Office should be done via VHF or Mobile Phone.

FINISH LINE

The finish line is located in the River Mersey just off the entrance to Canning Dock in approx. position 53°24.100N, 003°00.000W

The finish line shall be in transit with two hi vis orange triangles mounted on the Canning dock lock gate entrance on the lights mast and the lamp post.

There will be an Outer Distance Mark (ODM) and this will be the tug “Brocklebank” which will be anchored and on station. This ODM may not be on the line.

The finish line is approx. 500m in length.

The finish line shall be crossed in a North to South direction.

Skippers must record their own GPS time of crossing the finish line (UTC) and they must inform the Race Office via VHF or mobile phone within 10 minutes of finishing.

Race officials will be on station at the finish line. A digital photograph clearly showing the exact position and GPS time (UTC) shall be taken when crossing the finish line. This photograph will be used to confirm the timings if required.

The Race Committee reserves the right to finish the race in whatever manner is deemed suitable to best achieve the aims of the race, due to weather conditions or safety considerations or for any reason.

Typically, this will be either by changing the position of the finish line, or by introducing a time limit such that at the specified time of the finish, the distance to the middle of the finish line of each team shall be used to determine the overall finish order for that race, or a combination of both methods.

In the event of a shortened course, the ‘S’ flag will not be flown and the sound signal will not be made (amendment to RRS 32).

Additional gates may be added to the course after the start signal. Skippers will be advised by email of any such changes.

In the event of a change to the course, the next mark on the leg currently being sailed may be changed (amendment to RRS 33).

SPRINT FINISH POINTS SCORING

The first three teams across the finish line will receive three points, two points and one point respectively. The remaining yachts will receive no points for the Sprint Finish.

ACTIONS AFTER THE FINISH

Once finished, each team shall strike sails and muster in the area to the north of the Cruise Ship Terminal in approx. position 53°24.720N, 003°00.350W

Each team shall prepare for the Parade of Sail and keep a listening watch on VHF CH 77 following instructions from ‘Clipper Race Control’.

No Clipper yacht shall venture further south than “Pluckington Bank” West Cardinal Mark in approx. position 53°23.000N, 002°59.561W

COMMUNICATIONS WITH OTHER CLIPPER RACE YACHTS AND RACE CONTROL

In addition to monitoring VHF CH 16 and relevant harbour channels the Clipper Race yachts shall use the following VHF Channels :-

Primary VHF CH 77

Secondary VHF CH 72

Mark Light

Clipper Race Director - 14 July 2018