West Midlands Police Dinghy Open Regatta

 

SHUSTOKE SAILING CLUB
Reservoir Drive, Shustoke, Coleshill, B46 2BE. Tel: 01675 481597

NOTICE OF RACE –

WMP Regional Open Meeting 2025
To be held at Shustoke SC on Sunday 30th April 2025
 

RULES
 
The regatta will be governed by the Racing Rules of Sailing 2025-2028 (RRS), the prescriptions of the RYA, the appropriate class rules, this Notice of Race (NOR) and the event Sailing Instructions (SIs). Class rules which permit pumping, rocking and ooching in certain wind conditions and/or change penalty turns (rules 44.1 and 44.2) are suspended for the purposes of this regatta (rule 87).
 
THE ORGANISING AUTHORITY
 
Will be Shustoke Sailing Club and West Midlands Police
 
Competitors automatically grant the Organising Authority, event sponsors and their agents, without payment, the right in perpetuity to make, use and show any motion pictures, still  pictures and live, taped or filmed television of, or relating to the competitors, unless otherwise advised in writing prior to the Regatta.
 
ADVERTISING
 
There will be no restrictions on advertising on competitors' clothing or equipment.
 
ELIGIBILITY & ENTRY

The Open Meeting is open to all serving and retired police officers and police staff. Entry fee is £10 for singlehander and £15 for doublehander. Online entry is available at https://www.shustokesailingclub.co.uk//event/1061531
 
SCHEDULE
 
A competitor briefing will be held on 30th April 2025 at 10:30 hrs on the front patio of the club. There will be three races with a target time of 45-60 minutes duration, two races back-to-back. The third race will be after Lunch.

The warning signal of the first race will not be before 11:00 hrs. The start time of the third race will be after a lunch break as directed by the Race Officer.
 
SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
 
The sailing instructions will be available on the Shustoke Sailing Club website, there will be no paper copies available.
 
SCORING

Three handicap races are scheduled with two races to count, however only one race is required to be completed to constitute a series. These races may be pursuit or average lap races. The 2025 RYA Portsmouth Yardstick will be used to calculate the results.
 
The low point scoring system will be used and ties will be broken in accordance with RRS Appendix A.8. A discard will be allowed if all three races are sailed.
 
PRIZES
Prizes will be given for overall position as the organisers see fit. Please  note trophy winners are responsible for returning the trophy for the following year and ensuring that the trophy is engraved at their cost.
 
DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY
RRS 3 states:
‘The responsibility for a boat’s decision to participate in a race or to continue to race is hers alone.’ By participating in this event each competitor agrees and acknowledges that sailing is a potentially dangerous activity with inherent risks. These risks include strong winds and rough seas, sudden changes in weather, failure of equipment, boat handling errors, poor seamanship by other boats, loss of balance on an unstable platform and fatigue resulting in increased risk of injury. Inherent in the sport of sailing is the risk of permanent, catastrophic injury or death by drowning, trauma, hypothermia or other causes.

Sailing is by its nature an unpredictable sport and therefore inherently involves an element of risk. By launching / taking part in the event, each competitor (and their parent(s) or guardian(s) in the case of a competitor under 18 years of age) agrees and acknowledges that:

a)   They are aware of the inherent element of risk involved in the sport and accept responsibility for the exposure of themselves, their crew and their boat to such inherent risk whilst taking part in the event;
 
b)  They are responsible for the safety of themselves, their crew, their boat and their other property whether afloat or ashore;
 
c)   They accept responsibility for any injury, damage or loss to the extent caused by their own actions or omissions;
 
d)  Their boat is in good order, equipped to sail in the event and they are fit to participate;

e)   The provision of a race management team, safety boats and other officials and volunteers by the event organiser does  not relieve them of their own responsibilities;

f)    The provision of patrol boat cover is limited to such assistance, particularly in extreme  weather  conditions, as can be practically provided  in  the circumstances.

g)  It is their responsibility to familiarise themselves with any risks specific to Shustoke Reservoir or a particular event drawn to their attention in any rules and information produced for the venue or event and to attend any competitor briefing held for the relevant event.

 
INSURANCE
 
The boat is required to hold adequate insurance and, in particular, to hold insurance against third party claims in the sum of at least £2,000,000.
 
CONFLICT BETWEEN NOR AND SIs
 
If there is a conflict between NOR and SIs (and any amendments), the SIs will prevail.

Organiser/Contact:
Harvey Rose
Email: harvey.rose@westmidlands.police.uk