Singlehanded Sailing Society
P.O. Box 1716, Mill Valley, CA 94942

The 2000 Sailing Instructions

1. SPIRIT OF THE RACES
It is the intent of the Singlehanded Sailing Society to make it possible for sailors to compete in seaworthy sailing vessels of various types and designs on a fair and equitable basis. The purpose of the races is to provide an organized arena in which ideas, equipment, designs, and vessels specifically created, built, modified, or equipped for long distance singlehanded racing may be tested and evaluated through friendly sportsmanlike competition. It is through such events that we discover improved techniques beneficial to the average cruising sailors.

2. RACING RULES
The current Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) as adopted by US Sailing and as amended by these instructions, shall govern all races. Between the hours of sunset and sunrise the Steering and Sailing Rules from COLREGS (International Rules for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea) and the Unified Inland Rules shall replace Part 2 of the RRS rules. Any boat finishing between sunset and sunrise that does not show proper running lights will be disqualified.  In accordance with the purpose of the races, those sections of the RRS which prohibit practices or equipment which are or may prove useful to singlehanded or doublehanded ocean sailors may be waived at the discretion of the Race Committee. Specifically, the following will be allowed:

  1. Windvane and/or autopilots.
  2. Twin headsails set on two poles for downwind sailing.
  3. Asymmetrical spinnakers as included in PHRF rating.
As always, safety and common sense must prevail over rules and rights.

3. ELIGIBILITY
The Singlehanded Sailing Society races are open to all monohulled and multihulled sailboats by the acceptance by the Race Committee of a formal application.  Entrants are advised that any unusual arrangement in rig, hull, ballast, sails, or equipment that in the opinion of the Race Committee constitutes a potential hazard, or in any way would be considered an attempt to violate or circumvent the intent of these Sailing Instructions, will be grounds for protest and disqualification.

Specific eligibility requirements for SSS Races.

For races whose entire course is inside SF Bay:

  1. Monohulls: Any boat with a current Northern California PHRF Certificate, or one from its home region.
  2. Multihulls: Any vessel with a current Northern California MPHRF Certificate and which is a minimum  of 19 feet long and 8 feet wide.
For races whose course includes Coastal waters adjacent to SF Bay: Must meet requirements  for inside the SF Bay races plus each boat must have a fixed, enclosed berth, and the vessel may not be designed to use hiking assists such as trapezes, racks and sliding seats.  Monohulls must be self-righting and have essentially watertight cockpits.
NOTE: Individual races may have additional requirements.

4. ENTRIES
A singlehanded entry shall consist of one person, who shall be at least 18 years of age. A doublehanded entry shall consist of a crew of two people, one of whom shall be at least 18 years of age. Sponsored boats will be permitted.

5. ENTRY FEE
Members of the Singlehanded Sailing Society are entitled to enter the races without additional fees. The entry fees per race for entrants who are not members of the SSS are listed on the race application form. The LongPac and TransPac races may require extra fees. All entries for each race must be made on the application form for that race, accompanied by any applicable entry fee, and either mailed to the Singlehanded Sailing Society, P.O. Box 1716, Mill Valley, CA, 94942, or delivered to the Race Committee no later than the Skippers Meeting for the race. Entry fees shall be paid by check made payable to the Singlehanded Sailing Society.

6. EVENTS
The events associated with each race are specified in the individual Sailing Instructions for each race.

7. CALENDAR
The dates of each race are attached to these Sailing Instructions as a separate document.

8. COURSES
Courses and starting times for each race are specified in the individual Sailing Instructions for each race. A temporary mark may replace any specified mark.

9. MANAGEMENT
Each race shall be under the management of the Singlehanded Sailing Society Race Committee, which shall have the full power to establish and interpret the rules and conditions governing each race, to decide protests on eligibility, and to reject the entry of any boat at any time prior to the Preparatory signal for the start of each race.

10. MINIMUM EQUIPMENT
All boats must comply with the United States Coast Guard's requirements for recreational vessels and have the following minimum equipment.

  1. Life lines or safety lines leading from both sides of the cockpit forward and well secured at each end.**
  2. Fire extinguisher meeting United States Coast Guard requirements.
  3. Manual bilge pump of at least 10 gallons per minute capacity.
  4. Anchor with suitable chain and line.
  5. Sea cocks or soft wooden plugs to close all throughhull openings.**
  6. Navigation lights.
  7. Compass.
  8. Charts and piloting tools.
  9. Lead line or echo sounder.**
  10. Fog horn.
  11. Radar reflector.**
  12. Waterproof flashlight.
  13. First aid kit.
  14. At least two gallons of fresh water.**
  15. Life jacket(s) with whistle and strobe light attached.
  16. Safety harness(es).
  17. VHF radio with channels 16 and 69.
  18. Three red parachute flares and three red hand held flares.**
  19. An alternate means of propulsion.
NOTE: ** indicates items that are not mandatory for races whose entire course is within San Francisco Bay.

This list does not attempt to encompass all the equipment that is necessary for shorthanded sailing, and compliance with this list does not relieve the skipper in any way of his sole responsibility for the safety of himself and his vessel.

11. INSPECTION
The Race Committee has the right to inspect any vessel and to reject its entry or disqualify it, if they find it does not meet the requirements of these Sailing Instructions.

12. RESPONSIBILITY
It shall be the sole responsibility of each boat to decide whether or not to start or continue in a race. Every boat shall render all possible assistance to any vessel or person in peril, when in a position to do so.

13. WAIVER
Every person participating in a race of the Singlehanded Sailing Society must submit a completed Waiver and Release form of the Singlehanded Sailing Society to the Race Committee prior to any race. Skipper and crew are required to submit separate forms, which are valid for the current year.

14. CLASSES
There will be five classes as follows, unless modified by the individual Sailing Instructions for each race:

15. HANDICAP
Corrected times will be computed in accordance with the PHRF time allowance tables for San Francisco. Each monohulled boat must have a current official PHRF certificate (available from the Yacht Racing Association of San Francisco, Building 312, Fort Mason Center, San Francisco, CA, 94123 at 415-771-9500). Each multihulled boat must have a current official MPHRF rating (available from the Bay Area Multihull Association at 415-941-4114). A copy of the current certificate is to be filed with the Singlehanded Sailing Society. Boats from outside the Bay Area may submit a copy of their current certificate from their local PHRF committee.  Their ratings will be adjusted to match SF Bay ratings.

16. CHECK IN
All boats must check in with the Race Committee on VHF radio channel 69, prior to the initial Warning signal for the race, advising the Race Committee of the boat's name and sail number, and receive an acknowledgment from the Race Committee. A boat failing to check in successfully will be scored "Did Not Start".   Note modification of the time limit for check-in for the Three Bridge Fiasco only,  for which check-in must be completed 10 minutes before the individual boat's scheduled start time.

17. START AND FINISHING LINES
The start/finish line shall be specified in the individual Sailing Instructions for each race.

18. STARTING SIGNALS
The hoisting of shapes at 5 minute intervals, as prescribed in RRS 26.1-System 2, shall define the starting sequence.

19. POSTPONEMENT
The signal to postpone will be the hoisting of the Answering Pennant (red and white) and the firing of two guns. The postponement period will end with the lowering of the Answering Pennant and the firing of one gun. One minute after the ending of the postponement period, the warning gun and signal will be made, signifying the resumption of the regular starting sequence. Code flag 'P' will be hoisted to indicate that a Postponement or General Recall took place and the scheduled starting times have been canceled. Boats will then start in order indicated on the individual race Sailing Instructions rather than at the designated time. The time limit for the race will be extended by an amount of time equal to the duration of the postponement.

20. INDIVIDUAL RECALL
Boats prematurely across the starting line at their starting signal may be notified by horn blast, hailer and/or over VHF radio channel 69. The Race Committee may also display Code Flag "X" if any boats are over early. However, nothing contained in these instructions shall relieve a boat of its obligation to make a proper start. A boat which starts before its preparatory signal will be scored DNS.  A boat starting prematurely after the prep signal may opt to have 20 minutes added to its elapsed time, rather than being scored DNS, by notifying the race committee immediately after finishing.

21. GENERAL RECALL
Recall of the entire starting class will be signaled by the hoisting of the First Substitute pennant (blue and yellow) and the firing of two guns. When recalled, all boats of that class shall immediately leave the starting area and their starting time shall be postponed to 5 minutes after the last scheduled class of starters. If there is more than one general recall, the recalled classes will start in the order of their initially scheduled starts, following the completion of the regularly scheduled starts.

22. RESTRICTIONS
Boats shall not impede the passage of a vessel which can safely navigate only within a narrow channel or fairway, or fishing or other vessels with restricted ability to maneuver. Boats that impede the passage of a vessel thereby endangering their own safety or that of the commercial or government vessel will be subject to protest by the Race Committee or contestants in the race and disqualification.

Restricted Areas: NOTE: any vessel entering a restricted area may not “unwind” and must retire or face protest and disqualification  (this modifies RRS 28.1).

  1. The area within 100 yards of the Starting Line for any vessel prior to its Preparatory signal.
  2. The areas between the SF shoreline, Anita Rock and any marking buoy.
  3. The area between the SF shoreline and the H Beam near St. Francis Yacht Club.
  4. The areas between Alcatraz, Little Alcatraz and any marking buoy.
  5. The area between Fort Point and the South Tower of the Golden Gate Bridge.
  6. The area between the Castro Rock buoy and the Contra Costa shoreline.
  7. The Berkeley Pier from the shore to the marking beacon at the western most end.
  8. The area between the Point Belvedere and the marking buoy.
  9. The area between the Point Blunt and the marking buoy.
  10. All areas identified by the U.S. Coast Guard as restricted to small craft.
23. TIME LIMIT
The time for the expiration of each race will be specified in the individual race Sailing Instructions. Any boat that makes a proper start but fails to complete the course before the time limit will be scored "DNF."  In the event of a postponement, the time limit will be extended by an amount of time equal to the duration of the postponement.

24. REPORTING FINISH
Boats approaching the finish are requested to notify the Race Committee when they have reached the location specified in the individual race Sailing Instructions. Any boat not finishing within the time limit or withdrawing from the race for any reason must contact the race committee immediately by VHF radio channel 69, or by telephone as soon as possible after returning to shore. Failure to do so will result in the boat being refused entry in the next race sponsored by the Singlehanded Sailing Society. Participating boats are encouraged to relay VHF transmissions when it becomes obvious that direct communication with the Race Committee is not possible.

25. PROTESTS AND PENALTIES
Protests shall be submitted in writing according to the form prescribed by US Sailing rules and delivered to the Race Committee within 48 hours of the expiration of the time limit of the race. Verbal notification of the intent to protest must be given within 1 hour of the protesting boat's finish. Penalties for infringements of the rules shall be in accordance with Appendix A and Rule 44.3 (Rule 44.2, the 720 degree penalty is not allowed).

26. TROPHIES
Trophies will be awarded for first to finish overall, first to finish on corrected time overall, and for corrected time in each class as follows: First if 3 or more starters. Second if 6 or more starters. Third if 10 or more starters. The Race Committee may award additional place trophies depending on the number of starters. One Design classes, or other special designation(s) will require 6 or more starters. In addition, perpetual trophies are awarded for each race. A season perpetual trophy is awarded for the best overall Singlehanded and Doublehanded results.

27. AMENDMENTS
Written changes to the sailing instructions may be distributed at the skippers meeting and shall prevail over these written instructions.  Verbal changes may be made over the VHF on channel 69 up to the warning signal of the first class.  Code flag L will be flown if any verbal changes are announced.

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