Notice of Race

22nd & 23rd July 2023

Issue 0

  1. Organisation.
    1.1 The Organising Authority is the Conway Yacht Club (CYC), the Regatta is in the waters of
    the Conwy Estuary and Conwy Bay
    1.2 Information is available from the Conwy River Festival (CRF) website:
    https://www.conwyriverfestival.org/
    1.3 Enquiries should be addressed to: CRF Committee, c/o Conwy Harbour Office, Conwy
    Quay, Conwy LL32 8BB, email: sailing@conwyriverfestival.org
  2. Rules.
    2.1 The Event will be sailed under the Racing Rules of Sailing 2021-24 (RRS)
    2.2 RRS 52 will be amended to the extent that powered winches or other sail or rig handling equipment may be used by all boats.
    2.3 RRS 27.1 and 40 are changed. Dayboat competitors shall wear personal flotation devices at all times whilst afloat.
  3. Sailing Instructions (SIs).
    3.1 These will be available to each competitor on receipt of a completed entry form and entry fee. They will also be available on registration and on the official CRF website, www.conwyrivrfestival.org. The Sailing Instructions may be published on-line only.
  4. Communication
    4.1 The online official notice board is located at www.conwyriverfestival.org
    4.2 All boats shall have a working VHF radio with access to all necessary channels; Class 1 & 2 Cruisers, and NGC boats, VHF Channel 69 and Class 3 and Dayboats VHF Channel M2 (P4). On the water, the race committee will make courtesy and information broadcasts to competitors on VHF radio.
    4.3 From the first warning signal until the end of the last race of the day, except in an emergency, a boat shall not make voice or data transmissions and shall not receive voice or data communication that is not available to all boats.
  5. Entries, Eligibility and fees
    5.1 Handicap Racing will be provided for Cruising boats, Day Racing boats, Nobbies, Gaffers and Classics, these categories are defined in section 6 of this NoR.
    5.2 No boat may be sailed single handed.
    5.3 Entries must be made on the appropriate entry form, accompanied by the correct entry fee (£25), or completed online at conwyriverfestival.org (the online Notice Board) with online payment taken immediately. Entry forms can be downloaded from www.conwyriverfestival.org or obtained from the Harbour Office, Conwy Quay, and the local yacht clubs. Please note that there are separate entry forms for the Cruiser & Dayboat classes on the one hand, and the Nobby ,Gaffer & Classics classes on the other.
    5.4 The closing date for entries for the races is noon on Friday July 21 st 2023. Late entries will be accepted at the Race Committee’s discretion. Boats may enter for the whole series or single days.
  6. Racing Classes
    Racing will be offered for the following classes:
    6.1 Cruiser and Dayboat classes:
    (1) Cruiser Class 1: Cruising boats over 7m/23ft in length having an NHC over 0.835 and/or an IRC TCC number. Spinnakers may be used.
    (2) Cruiser Class 2: Cruising boats over 7m/23ft in length having an NHC over 0.835. In this class, foresails must be attached to the forestay meaning that spinnakers, cruising chutes, bloopers and gennakers will not be allowed. The Class 2 races will be pursuit races lasting approximately 2 hours. Starts will be based on the boat’s handicap, lowest handicaps starting first. This will reduce congestion on the start line and have all boats finishing at the same time in their positions on the course.
    (3) Cruiser Class 3: Cruising boats having and NHC of 0.835 and below. These boats will sail in the river and use the same start line as the Dayboats. Spinnakers may be used.
    (4) Dayboat : open day racing boats such as Conway One Design and boats of similar design.
    6.2 Nobby Gaffer & Classics classes: Traditional boats of the Nobby, Gaffer and Classic designs.
    6.3 Any class may be sub-divided into separate starts depending on the number of entries received and/or the handicap spread.
  7. Registration and Briefings
    7.1 Competitors shall register at the briefing on the Friday evening or before leaving the marina on the Saturday or Sunday morning.
    7.2 The Race Office will be in Harbourmaster’s office, Conwy Quay.
    7.3 Race Briefings for each Class and Series will be as shown in the Sailing Programme (available from www.conwyriverfestival.org) and in the Sailing Instructions for the relevant classes.
    For all classes a race briefing will be held on Friday 21 st July at 1900hrs in Conway Yacht Club. Short briefings on each day will be given at 11:00 hrs by VHF radio on channel 69 for the Cruiser classes 1, 2 and NGC and at 12:00 on Channel M2 (P4) for the Dayboats and Cruiser class 3.
  8. Schedule of Races.
    8.1 The racing schedule will be as follows :
    Sat. 22 nd Gate Open at 11.48, HW 7.08m at 14.24, Gate closes 17.31
    Sunday 23 rd Gate open at 12.26, HW 6.95m at 15.00, gate closes 18.07
    Cruiser classes 1&2:
    Saturday – Class 1 warning signal 12.55, Class 2 warning signal 13.10
    Sunday – Class 1 warning signal 13.25, Class 2 warning signal 13.40
    Day Boats & Class 3 Cruisers
    Saturday First warning signal : Dayboats 13.00 Cruiser Class 3 13.05
    Sunday First warning signal : Dayboats 13.45, Cruiser Class 3 13.50
    Nobbies, Gaffers & Classics:
    Saturday – Warning signal 13.20
    Sunday – Warning signal 13.35
    The start times above may be delayed by 30 minutes to allow for a parade of sailboats past Conwy Quay. This will be advised at the briefings.
    Racing will finish at approximately 16.00 on Saturday and 16.30 on Sunday to allow competitors time to return to the marinas.
  9. Race area and courses
    9.1 The Cruiser classes 1 &2 will normally start in the vicinity of Channel buoy 2A and race in Conwy Bay. The exact location of the start will be broadcast on VHF, once the start boat is at anchor. The type of courses may be chosen from Windward/ Leeward, Triangle and ‘Round the cans’.
    9.2 The Dayboat and Cruiser class 3 will normally start from the vicinity of the wall of Deganwy Marina and will sail inshore courses.
    9.3 The Nobby Gaffer and Classic classes will start in the vicinity of Channel buoy 2A.
  10. Boat Handicapping and Race Scoring Systems.
    10.1 There will be 2 races in the Cruiser Series for classes 1 &2
    There will be 2 races for Nobbies, Gaffers & Classics
    There will be up to 3 races for the Dayboats and Class 3 cruisers
    10.2 One race will constitute a series in all classes.
    10..3 A boat’s score shall be the total of her race scores.
    10.4 The low point scoring system described in Appendix A of the RRS will apply as amended by the Sailing Instructions.
    10.5 Cruising boats and day racing boats will race under a handicap system based on performance in previous Conwy River Festivals and local handicaps, with a base handicap derived from the HALS race results system.
    10.6 IRC rating
    The cruiser class 1 will operate a dual scoring system for those boats having a Spinlock IRC TCC rating, i.e. the event will be scored using both the CRF handicap system and Spinlock IRC TCC.
    10.7 IRC SER TCCs
    Conwy River Festival has been approved as an event to use IRC Single Event Ratings (SER) with the permission of the IRC Rating Authority, IRC Rule 8.2 is therefore modified to include GBR boats holding IRC SER TCCs
    10.8 The Nobby, Gaffer and Classics classes will race under the OGA-TCF handicap system.
  11. Risk, Responsibility and Insurance.
    11.1 A boat is entirely responsible for her own safety, whether afloat or ashore, and nothing, whether in the Notice of Race or Sailing Instructions or anywhere else, reduces this responsibility. See RRS 3, Decision to Race and the RYA Risk Statement, as follows:

    Sailing is by its nature an unpredictable sport and therefore involves an element of risk. By taking part in the event, each competitor 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, patrol boats, umpires and other officials and volunteers by the 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 familiarize themselves with any risks specific to this venue or this event drawn to their attention in any rules and information produced for the venue or event and to attend any safety briefing held for the event;
    (h)They are responsible for ensuring that their boat is equipped and seaworthy so as to be able to face extremes of weather; that there is a crew sufficient number, experience and fitness to withstand such weather; and that the safety equipment is properly maintained, stowed and in date and is familiar to the crew;


    11.2 It is for the skipper of the boat to decide whether she is fit to sail in the conditions in which she will find herself. By launching or going to sea, the skipper confirms that she is fit for those conditions and her crew is competent to sail and compete in them.
    11.3 Each participating boat shall be insured with valid third-party insurance with a minimum cover of £3,000,000 per incident.
    11.4 Nothing done by the organisers will reduce the responsibility of the boat nor will it make the organisers responsible for any loss, damage, death or personal injury, however it may have occurred, as a result of the boat taking part in racing. The organisers encompass everyone helping to run the race and the event, and include the organising authority, the Race Committee, the race officer, patrol boats and beachmasters.
    11.5 The provision of patrol boats does not relieve the boat of her responsibilities.
    11.6 The boat is responsible to ensure that she is equipped and seaworthy so as to be able to face extremes of weather; that there is a crew sufficient in number, experience and fitness to withstand such weather; and that the safety equipment is properly maintained, stowed and in date and that the crew know how to use it.
  12. Safety.
    12.1 Cruisers in Classes 1 and 2 and Nobbies, Gaffers and Classics (NGCs) must comply with the 2022-2023 World Sailing Offshore Special regulations, Appendix B, Special Regulations for Inshore Racing.
    12.2 Class 3 Cruisers and Dayboats must comply with the 2022-2023 World Sailing Offshore Special regulations, Appendix C, Special Regulations for Dinghy Racing. All CODs and Dayboats must in addition carry safety equipment as stipulated in the COD Class Rules.
    12.3 On Cruisers and NGCs lifejackets shall be carried for all persons on board. On Dayboats all crew shall wear Personal Flotation Devices.
    12.4 All safety equipment shall be checked by the person in charge of the vessel at least once a year.
    12.5 A boat that retires from a race shall notify Race Control as soon as possible.
  13. Berthing
    13.1 Entrants to the Conway River Festival and/or the LaLa Rally are eligible for discounted berthing at Conwy and Deganwy Marinas between 12 th and 26 th July inclusive. Berthing is subject to availability, must be arranged with the marina direct and is subject to confirmation of entry. For Nobby, Gaffer and Classic berthing in the harbour contact the Harbour Office. The Race Committee and Conwy and Deganwy Marinas reserve the right to refuse or restrict berthing to any competitor at their complete discretion. Boats may be required by the marinas to raft up.
    13.2 Swinging moorings are available for all sizes of visiting boats. Requests for a mooring, stating requirements, should be submitted to the Harbour Office as soon as possible. Moorings are limited in number, and will be allocated strictly on a ‘first come, first served’ basis
    13.3 A water taxi service is available in Conwy Harbour between Conwy Quay, Conwy Marina, Deganwy Marina and to swinging moorings within the harbour.
  14. Prizes.
    14.1 Prizes will be awarded in each class dependent on the fleet size
    14.2 Classes will compete for their own division trophy as well as for the overall trophies
    14.3 Boats entered for single days are not eligible to win overall class prizes. They are eligible to win day prizes.
  15. Further Information
    For further information please see the event web site.

    End of Notice of Race