Cruiser racing - part 3 

RYA Instructor Simon Jinks explains SI’s, NoRs and highlights the importance of checking your insurance policy.

Racing – on paper

Race administrators publish guidance to help you find out about the actual race in which you’d like to compete. The usual trio of publications are the Race Entry form, Notice of Race, and Sailing Instructions. Here we explain the purpose of them and what they’re likely to contain. We also take a look at boat insurance, something overlooked but important as racing risks can be excluded on policies.

Notice of Race (NoR)

The NoR provides a prospective race crew with general information neededin order to decide whether to participate or not. It usually covers:

• Who is organising and managing the racing
• When and where the race will be held and the cost
• Which safety regulations apply
• The class/type of boats that can enter and eligibility of crew and skipper
• The handicap system to be used
• The number of races, how results are calculated and details of any prizes

There may also be supplementary information on nearby mooring and repair facilities. The NoR will give you a good overview of the race and the basic information required to judge whether you want to participate.  

Courtesy of Royal Western YC and Barratt Homes Plymouth Race week  

Sailing Instructions (SI’s)

Once you have decided to participate the SI’s provide specific information on how the racing takes place. Topics covered by the SI’s are:

• Details and positions on the marks, the course type and planned course area
• The flags to be used for local amendments to specific rules and regulations
• Specific safety information, such as when personal floatation devices will be worn
• The communication method used between race committee and competitors
• The race schedule detailing starts, finish and penalty and protest procedure
• Where the results will be displayed and prizes awarded.

Entry form

Details of how to enter should be included on the NoR. The entry form will require details of your boat such as the type, length, rating and sail number. It will ask you to agree to operate under the NOR and SI’s and any other rules or regulations.

Prior to entering a race check you have adequate boat insurance. Historically, insurance companies only provided cover for mast, spars, sails and rigging if the boat was involved in a collision whilst racing. However, some insurance companies now specifically exclude racing and this may not be apparent until you read the small print.

Some insurers provide cover for hull and third party indemnity whilst racing and have an option to upgrade to racing risks cover to include the mast, spars, sails and rigging. The additional premium is usually calculated on the total replacement cost of the above.

All too often this replacement cost is underestimated, so it’s important to be realistic about how much a new mast, nav lights, wind indicator, radar, VHF antenna, reflector etc. plus sails, rigging and other spars actually cost to replace. If you’ve estimated £5000 replacement and the actual cost is £10000 you may find yourself considerably out of pocket.

Your broker or insurance company can explain your policy inform you of whether you need to upgrade it.  

 

Words and pictures by Simon & Vicky Jinks, RYA Instructors at SeaRegs Training
Web: www.searegs.co.uk