Great chance to catch up and sign up for courses at DSC. Junior Improvers Course 12&13th May, Adult Sailing Course for 6 weeks every Wednesday from May 16th, Summer Courses, Champion Club Monday Nights (members only), Powerboat courses & refreshers on request. It’s all happening. Visit web-site for further details.

 “Sail for Gold” Dinghy Team Relay Race and Club Open Day -   Saturday 23^rd June

 Sailing will be a big part of the London Olympics in 2012. DSC will host a day of fun with a  4 hour “Sail for Gold” Dinghy Team Relay Race, Club Open Day and “Come and Try” sessions

Dinghy Relay Race -The emphasis is on racing combined with having lots of fun. The event is open to all age groups and will be sailed in Toppers, Lasers, Picos, Mirrors, GP14 and any other two sail dinghies.

The racing will take place close to shore to give spectators the opportunity to follow the activities. The approximate start time will be 12 noon and Notice of Race will be available on the club website.

Open Day – The club will be open at 10am to welcomes all visitors. Information will be available on the club and all the activities including the RYA summer training courses for juniors and adults

“Come and try” sailing sessions will be available throughout the day and no experience is required.

Refreshments, a BBQ and fun for the kids, will be available throughout the afternoon and evening followed by live music in the Club at night, where everyone is welcome.

Click here to download event information \"Sail for Gold \" Race and Open Day (16)

Jacob Kennedy, Shirley McCrum

Ryan Charteris , Shirley McCrum

Daniel Nelson, Shirley McCrum

Sara Parkinson, Lucy Burrows, Shirley McCrum & Claire Ogg

Charlie Edgar, Shirley McCrum

Fraser Menzies, Shirley McCrum

Shirley McCrum, Jimmie McKee

Fraser Menzies, Shirley McCrum, Paul Kennedy

Robson Ogg, Shirley McCrum & James Ogg

A trip to the Copeland Islands the following day helped clear the heads after a very enjoyable Opening Night (greatly assisted by the Happy Hour, good food and music).

Daniel's first visit to the Island

'Ahoy there'

Paradise on our doorstep…thank you to Alvin, Derek, Laura & Ryan for ferrying us all across. Watch out for more social sailing dates to come…..

Rotas

Safety Boat

Battery

A short refresher on race officer duties will be held in the Club on Sunday 13 May 7.30-8.30, courtesy of Jimmie McKee.  All sailors are cordially invited to come along and get updated so that race nights can be run smoothly and professionally.  Indeed, non-sailors who want to volunter to help out out are most welcome as well.  However, there is no truth in the rumour that Jimmie will buy everyone attending the training a drink afterwards (I think but check with Jimmie anyway!).

Donaghade  Sailing Club welcomes back the Toppers! We are delighted to be hosting the 3rd event in the 2012 series and hope that as many come along at least as last year when some 65 Topper sailors from clubs throughout Ireland took part. There is a wide range of accommodations available in the area including a new motorhome servicing facility at The Commons, Donaghadee. Make it a weekend with maybe even a visit to the new Titanic Visitor Centre in Belfast (within 20-30 minute drive). Breakfast, lunch and after racing food will be available in our modern Clubhouse complete with its friendly bar with the best view over Donaghadee and the Copeland Islands.

NOTICE OF RACE

1. Rules

1.1 The series will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing 2009 to 2012.

1.2 The prescriptions of the ISA or RYA, the Topper Class Association of Ireland (ITCA Irl) and the host club will apply

2. Advertising

2.1 Unrestricted Category C advertising is allowed under Appendix 1 of the ISAF Advertising Code.

3. Eligibility and Entry

3.1 The event is open to all boats of the International Topper Class Association, both Full rig and 4.2sq.m rig.

3.2 All sailors resident on the island of Ireland must be members of the Irish Topper Class Association, ITCA (Irl). Overseas entrants should be members of their national Topper class association. Membership can be completed at registration.

3.3 All competitors will be deemed to be temporary members of the host club for the duration of the event.

3.4 Eligible boats may enter by completing the entry form and paying the required fee at each event.

4. Fees

4.1 The entry fee for each event is £16 or €16.

4.2 Membership fee for the Topper Class Association is £20/€20 for 2012. Alternatively, entrants may pay a One-Event membership fee of £6/€6.

5. Schedule

5.1 The following five Traveller Events are scheduled for 2012:

5.2 Fifteen races are scheduled for the series, three races at each event.

5.3 Registration: Competitors should register between 09:00 and 10:00 on the morning of the event.

5.4 Competitors Briefing is scheduled for 10:15.

5.5 The first warning signal will be made at 11:25. Subsequent races will follow as soon as is practicable. No Warning Signal will be made after 16:00.

6. Measurement.

6.1 A boat or equipment may be measured at any time for compliance with the class rules and sailing instructions.

7. Sailing Instructions.

7.1 The sailing instructions will be available at Registration.

8. The Venue.

8.1 The racing area will be described at the briefing.

9. The Courses.

9.1 The courses to be sailed will be as described in the Sailing Instructions.

10. Scoring.

10.1 For individual Traveller events, the Low Point System of Appendix A will apply, except that boats that do not attend an event will be scored the number of boats that attended +5.

10.2 One race is required to be completed to constitute a series at each individual Traveller Event.

10.3 There will be no discard at an individual Traveller Event.

10.4 For the purposes of scoring the Traveller Series, a competitors final placing at each traveller event will be used.

10.5 For the Traveller Series, two events are required to be completed to constitute a series.

10.6 For the Traveller Series, a boats series score will be the total of her final placing at each Traveller Event, excluding her worst placing if five events have been completed.

11. Prizes

11.1 Overall 1st to 3rd and 1st lady prize.

11.2 Age-category prizes: 1st to 3rd, U12; 1st to 3rd, U14; and 1st to 3rd, U17years. If a sailor is awarded 1st, 2nd, or 3rd overall, he/she is excluded from winning an age-category prize. Age-category is calculated by the age on 1st Jan 2012.

11.3 Overall 1st to 3rd prizes for the 4.2 Class.

12. Disclaimer of Liability

12.1 Competitors participate in the regatta entirely at their own risk (see

Rule 4, Decision to Race). The organising authority will not accept any

liability for material damage or personal injury or death sustained in

conjunction with or prior to, during, or after the regatta.

13. Insurance

13.1 Each participating boat shall be insured with valid third-party liability insurance with a

minimum cover of £2,000,000 or equivalent, for the duration of the event.

Topper Event Sailing Instructions 2012

1.  Rules

1.1   The regatta will be governed by the rules as defined in the Racing Rules of Sailing 2009 – 2012.

1.2   The prescriptions of the RYA/ISA, these Sailing Instructions and any amendments thereto will apply.

1.3   The Rules of the International Topper Class Association will apply.

1.4   The organizing authority shall be the club hosting the event.

2. Notices to Competitors

2.1 Notices to competitors will be posted on the official notice board located in the host club.

3. Changes to the Sailing Instructions;

3.1 Any change to the Sailing Instructions will be posted no later than one hour before the start of the first race on the morning it will take effect, except that any change to the schedule of races will be posted by 20:00hrs on the day before it will take effect.

4. Sail Numbers

4.1 Except as permitted by this sailing instruction, boats shall use their correct sail numbers, which shall be clearly readable on both sides of the sail. Only one sail shall be used for the event. Permission to change a sail shall be sought in writing from the Race Committee before going afloat.

5. Signals Made Ashore

5.1 Signals made ashore will be displayed on the host club flagpole.

5.2 Flag ‘D’ with a sound signal means “The warning signal will be made not less than 45 minutes after flag ‘D’ is displayed.” Boats shall not go afloat until this signal is made.

5.3 For the Traveller Events, 5.2 above shall not apply.

5.4 When flag AP is flown ashore, ‘1 minute’ is replaced with ‘not less than 30 minutes’.

6. Schedule of Races

6.1 Number of races scheduled for each event is as follows:

(i)              Traveller Event – 3 races scheduled

(ii)             Provincial Championship – 6 races scheduled

(iii)            National Championship – 9 races scheduled

6.2 Up to four races may be sailed on any day at a Provincial or National championship.
6.3 The scheduled time of the warning signal for the first race at a Traveller Event, and on the first day of a Provincial or National championships is 11:25. The scheduled time of the Warning Signal for the first race on subsequent days is 10:25.

6.4 When races are run back to back, the Warning Signal for the next race will be given as soon as possible after all boats have been finished.

6.5 On the last day of the regatta no warning signal will be made after 16:00.

7. Class Flags

7.1 The class flag for the Full rig fleet will be Flag T.
7.2 The class flag for ‘4.2’ fleet will be numeral pennant 6.

8. Racing Area and Areas that are Obstructions

8.1 The racing area and areas that are obstructions will be described at the competitors’ briefing.

9. The Courses

9.1 The diagrams in Appendix A show the course for each fleet, including approximate angles between legs, the order in which marks are to be passed, and the side on which each mark is to be left.

10. Marks

10.1 Course Marks and Start/Finish Marks will be described at the competitors’ briefing.

11. The Start

11.1 The starting line will be between the main mast of the committee vessel at the starboard end and a port end mark.

11.2 A boat starting later than 5 minutes after her starting signal will be scored Did Not Start. This changes rule A4.

11.3 In the event of a general recall, the fleet that has been recalled will be the next start.

11.4 The Warning signal for the ‘4.2’ fleet will ordinarily be made with the Starting Signal for the Full rig fleet, unless a general recall is signaled.

 11.5 Boats whose warning signal has not been made shall avoid the starting area during the starting sequence for other races.

12. Change of Course after the start

12.1 To change the positions of the next mark, the race committee will move the original mark (or the finishing line) to a new position. The change will be signalled before the leading boat has begun the leg, although the mark may not yet be in the new position. Any mark to be rounded after rounding the moved mark may be relocated without further signalling to maintain the course configuration.
12.2 Rule 33 is changed so that, instead of displaying a compass bearing, the race committee will display a green flag if the direction is changed to starboard or a red flag if the direction is changed to port.
12.3 Except at a gate, boats shall pass between the race committee boat signalling the change of the course and the nearby mark, leaving the mark to port and the race committee boat to starboard. This changes rule 28.1.

13. The Finish

13.1 The primary finishing line shall be between the mainmast of a committee boat, which shall be identified by flying a blue flag, and the finishing mark.
13.2 No earlier than 10 minutes after the first boat has finished the Race Officer may, at his discretion, finish the remainder of the fleet that are still racing at a secondary finishing line.
13.3 The secondary finishing line will be between a committee boat, flying code flag ‘W’ preceded by two sound signals, and a mark of the course or a finishing mark.
13.4 Boats that have passed the area where the secondary finishing line is placed and have not retired, but that subsequently fail to finish, shall be awarded the average of the points for the places available to them had they finished. This changes RRS A4.2.
13.5 The first boat that finishes at the secondary finishing line will be awarded a score equal to one greater than the last finishing boat at the primary finishing line, or one greater than the highest points that would have been available to boats referred to in SI 13.4, whichever is greater. This changes RRS A4.2.
13.6 After finishing, boats shall keep well clear of the finishing area and avoid impeding any boat not yet finished.
13.7 In awarding finishing positions the decision of the Race Officer is final and shall not provide grounds for any boat to seek redress. This changes RRS 62.1(a).

14. Time Limits and Target Times

14.1 For both fleets: the Time limit is 70 minutes; the Mark 1 time limit is 25 minutes; and the Target Time is 45 minutes

14.2 If no boat has passed Mark 1 within the Mark 1 time limit the race will be abandoned. Failure to meet the target time will not be grounds for redress. This changes rule 62.1(a).

14.3 If no boat finishes within 70 minutes, the race shall be abandoned. It may be re-sailed where possible.

14.4 Boats failing to finish within 20 minutes after the first boat sails the course and finishes will be scored Did Not Finish without a hearing. This changes rules 35, A4 and A5.

15. Protests and Requests for Redress

15.1 Protest forms are available at the race office. Protests and requests for redress shall be delivered there within the appropriate time limit.
15.2 For each class, the protest time limit is 60 minutes after the last boat has finished the last race of the day. The same time limit applies to protests by the race committee and protest committee about incidents they observe in the racing area and to requests for redress. This changes rules 61.3 and 62.2.
15.3 Notices will be posted within 15 minutes of the protest time limit to inform competitors of hearings in which they are parties or named as witnesses.
15.4 Notices of protests by the race committee or protest committee will be posted to inform boats under rule 61.1(b).
15.5 On the last scheduled day of racing a request for reopening a hearing shall be delivered: (a) Within the protest time limit if the party requesting reopening was informed of the decision on the previous day; (b) No later than 30 minutes after the party requesting reopening was informed of the decision on that day. This changes rule 66.

 15.6 On the last scheduled day of racing a request for redress based on a protest committee decision shall be delivered no later than 30 minutes after the decision was posted. This changes rule 62.2.

15.7 Breaches of instructions 11.5, 18, 19, 22 will not be grounds for a protest by a boat. This changes rule 60.1(a). Penalties awarded for these breaches maybe less than disqualification if the protest committee so decides. The scoring abbreviation for a discretionary penalty imposed under this instruction will be DPI.

16. Scoring

16.1             Traveller Event – 1 race required to constitute a series.

Provincial Championship – 2 races required to constitute a series.

National Championship – 3 races required to constitute a series.

16.2 The low point scoring system of Appendix A will apply, except that:

(i)              Traveller event – all races shall count, no discard.

(ii)             Provincial Championship – When 3 or less races are completed all races shall count. When 4 to 6 races are completed there will be one discard.

(iii)            National Championship – When 3 or less races are completed all races shall count. When 4 to 7 races are completed there will be one discard. When 8 to 9 races are completed there will be two discards.

17. Equipment and Measurement Checks

17.1 A boat or equipment may be inspected at any time for compliance with the class rules and sailing instructions.

18. Safety Regulations

18.1 If a safety tally system is in operation it will be explained at the competitor briefing. Boats failing to return their tallies within the protest time limit may be disqualified from that day’s racing. This amends rule 63.1 and A5.
18.2 A boat that retires from a race shall notify the race committee as soon as possible.
18.3 All crew shall wear adequate personal buoyancy at all times while on the water. This amends Rule 40.

19. Support Boats

19.1 Except for rescue purposes, team leaders, coaches and other support personnel shall stay outside areas where boats are racing from the time of the preparatory signal for the first class to start until all boats have finished or retired or the race committee signals a postponement, general recall or abandonment.

20. Prizes – will be awarded as follows:

20.1 Overall 1st to 3rd, and 1st lady.

20.2 Age-category prizes: 1st to 3rd, U12; 1st to 3rd, U14; and 1st to 3rd, U17 years. If a sailor is awarded 1st, 2nd, or 3rd overall, he/she is excluded from winning an age-category prize. Age-category is calculated by the competitor’s age on 1st Jan of the current calendar year.

20.3 No sailor will be awarded more than one prize, except that the 1st lady prize is exempt from this rule, and goes to the 1st lady regardless of whether or not she receives any other prize.

20.4 4.2 Fleet: Overall 1st to 3rd prizes.

21. Disclaimer of Liability

21.1 Competitors participate in the regatta entirely at their own risk. See rule 4 (Decision to Race). By signing the entry form, competitors and their parents or guardians confirm they are entirely responsible throughout the event for themselves and their boats on land and on the water.

21.2 The organizing authority will not accept any liability for material damage or personal injury or death sustained in conjunction with or prior to, during, or after the regatta.

22. Insurance

22.1 Each participating boat shall be insured with valid third-party liability insurance with a minimum cover of £2,000,000 or equivalent, for the duration of the event.

23. Rubbish Disposal

23.1 Boats shall not put rubbish in the water. Rubbish may be placed aboard support and race committee boats.

24. Coaching

24.1 In order to encourage competitors during any race, the approximate trailing 10% of the fleet may be coached by personnel in ribs that are under the control of the race committee.

Application forms/ parking details etc. available to download below.

Appendix ATopper Standard sailing Instructions (11)

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A big thank you to Stuart and Kyle for organising this event – it is hoped to run another event later in the year with hopefully a few more members attending.

"Blooming Onions"

"The Winning Owners"