Sailing instructions
45-minute multiple lap racing
This season we intend to run all races using 45-minute multiple lap racing (except for the class racing / and 3 races series)
- The standard courses (A to Z) move to a 'lap' basis
- For most courses, 'Echo' becomes the final mark before the finish line
This is because lap courses require the start and finish line to have the same orientation (if we start to the South, we must also finish a lap to the South). - There is now a minimum race duration of 45 minutes
- Any boat crossing the finish line after 45 minutes will be finished (with a sound signal)
- Any boat that crosses the finish line before 45 minutes will have completed a lap but will not be finished (unless the Race Officer has decided to shorten the race).
- This may result in occasional anomalous situations. For example, consider a situation where two Lasers are approaching the finish line, one crosses at 44:50, the second crosses at 45:10. The first Laser would continue for a further lap. The second Laser would finish, with a sound signal.
The implications of these changes are as follows:
- Typically, races will last between 45 and 90 minutes
- Any boat crossing the finish line before 45 minutes will have completed a lap, but will not have completed the race
unless the Race Officer has shortened the course - Any boat crossing the finish line after 45 minutes will have finished the race