Official Notice Board for Couta Boat racing 2020-21
Results –
Latest Notices to Competitors
Lockdown Update 6:
Although the easing of settings are welcomed for various aspects of our lives, there are two restrictions that will prevent us from holding racing this weekend.
- Community Sport: Training is allowed but competition is not
- Travel: People can’t travel further than 25km to train
Recreational Boating is back and Sunday forecasts are much better than what we have now.
Therefore, the following changes are being made.
Couta Boats
- No more races for the Winter Series
- Recreational Boating will be supported at the club with tenders and a safety response available on Saturday and Sunday.
- Couta Boat Training will be held and supported on Sunday
Full details will be sent out on the Couta Boat WhatsApp group
OTB – Midwinters
- Racing is abandoned – Full refunds are being processed.
- Training will be conducted at the club for members that are within 25kms
Full details will be communicated on the OTB WhatsApp group
It’s a bit of a soft close to the season, but at least we’re not fully locked down anymore.
Ben Fels – Sailing Manager – 9/6/2021
Need Crew? – We’ve got a simple system to see what boats need crew and who is available to crew.
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Crews –
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Couta Boat Calendar 2020-21 (updated 30 March 2021)
(Click on image below to enlarge)
Recent Notices
Archived Notices are at the bottom of the page.
FAVOURITES
- Enter here Update Skipper name in series
- Results
- Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions
- Course sheets (Same as last year)
- Join the WhatsApp group here
SAFETY
- CREW SAFETY REGISTER
- Skippers – Decide if you want to do this or delegate it to a crew. Click on the link above and register yourself – You’ll get sent a link that you should save to the home screen of your phone to easily access again.
- After you are registered add boats that you sail.
- Crews – Your skipper will probably send you a link to complete or you can register and send a request to join a crew
- – Video – How does it work?
- Covid Safety
- Cat 7 Safety Declaration
- WHATSAPP – Join here
- 2020-21 Safety Presentation
HANDICAPPING / CREW / EQUIPMENT AND CHANGES
MORE RULES & RACE MANAGEMENT
- Racing Rules of Sailing 2017-20
- Racing Rules of Sailing 2021-24
- 1 Page Race Signals
- Handy rules for Race Management – 8 Pages
- Race Management Policies
PROTESTS
2021-04-04 SSCBC Sorrento Cup Redress P1
Protest Committee Notice 1 – Result of Rule 69 Hearing
Click here to see the result of the hearing
Click here for an explanation of Rule 69 Misconduct
Archived Notices
Lockdown Update 5:
Lots of unknowns for everyone, things should become clearer on Wednesday/Thursday. Our current thinking is that the changes are probably not going to give us much more easing than Regional Victoria has at the moment. This is what we think it means for the Long weekend.
Gill Midwinters – (Saturday and Sunday)
- Junior Sport (under 18) is allowed in Regional Vic.
- Adult Sport Training is allowed.
- Optimistically – we will keep the planned regatta as an option.
- If sport is restricted to under 18s, we will change to this and refund any boats that can’t compete.
- A cut down regatta would only have the minimum courses, staff and volunteers required to run the racing and there would be no associated social events.
- We will wait and see how the restrictions change to finalise what we do.
Couta Boats – (Sunday)
- If allowed, we would run the 2 scheduled Couta Boat races.
- If only Training was allowed, we would support individual teams training with Tender and Safety services.
- We will wait and see how the restrictions change to finalise what we do.
Numbers (and types of numbers) are fluctuating at the moment, we expect a Wednesday afternoon Press Conference will announce the changes to apply from Thursday midnight.
A wild card across this is any travel from Melbourne restrictions, regional travel has been flagged as restricted, but nothing indicated for travel within Melbourne, including to Sorrento.
We realise the uncertainty is frustrating for all of us, we would prefer to be able to be clearer, but hope that sharing what we think, know and don’t know is helpful.
Ben Fels – Sailing Manager – 7/6/2021
Lockdown Implications Update No 4
As Community Sport is not allowed in Metro Melbourne, racing on Sunday 6 June is abandoned.
We are unsure what the future restrictions will allow over the long weekend, so we are working on plans around what may be possible.
Mooring field inspections are on going – check your boat with BoatCam and contact Ben or Kiean with any issues.
Ben Fels – Sailing Manager – 3/6/2021
Lockdown Implications Update No 3
Limited recreational boating is allowed during your 2 hours of exercise.
- Only within 5km of your home
- (you can’t come down from Melbourne to do it)
- Must fit within the two hour limit
- Only with one other person or household members
- You can use the jetty – which remains open.
- You cannot use the change-rooms or toilets in the club
- You must fit within all of these rules
Ben Fels – Sailing Manager – 30/5/2021
Lockdown Implications Update No 2
We have the known restrictions for the next 7 days. We are not certain what happens after that; however, we are adjusting the schedule on the working assumption that sailing will be possible as follows.
- Sun 30/5/2021 – Couta Boat Racing abandoned
Sun 6/6/2021 – 2 Couta Boat races scheduled –Abandoned- Sat 12/6/2021 – No Couta Boat racing
- Sun 13/6/2021 – 2 Couta Boat races scheduled
Moored Boats and Tenders
- We have checked all the Couta Boats today
Only one boat needed a cover fastened
All others appear to be sitting well in the water
We have kind weather forecast over the weekend - We will check the boats again on Monday and Wednesday
- 2 Tenders will be available from the Jetty for essential purposes (we don’t know how this is defined) and will be refuelled regularly.
- Walker Bay on the Jetty is locked up with a Members’ Blue Key padlock – same as change rooms and BBQs.
- The BoatCam is operational
- More updates will be provided as details come to hand and the situation evolves.
- Contact Ben or Kiean if any issues.
Ben Fels – Sailing Manager 27/5/2021
Lockdown Implications
- Couta Boat Racing Abandoned 30/5/2021
- 2 Tenders will be available from the Jetty for essential purposes (we don’t know how this is defined) and will be refuelled regularly.
- Walker Bay on the Jetty is locked up with a Members’ Blue Key padlock – same as change rooms and BBQs
- More updates will be provided when known.
- Contact Ben if any issues.
Ben Fels – Sailing Manager 27/5/2021
Winter Series – Race Sailing Instructions RSI Winter Series 1
The weather looks promising and we will try and have two short simple races tomorrow.
Ben Fels – Sailing Manager 22/5/21
Please let us know your intentions for after race snacks your racing intentions
These are the responses we have had so far
Ben Fels – Sailing Manager 18/5/21
Winter Series and Midwinters.
All Couta Boats that have a Block Entry are automatically entered in the Winter Series, which includes the Gill Midwinters. There is no need to enter separately.
Ben Fels – Sailing Manager 5/5/21
Racing Postponed Sunday 16 May
A bit too much Winter for the Winter Series – There have been three forecast updates this morning and the latest one is predicting clearly unsuitable weather for Couta Boat racing tomorrow – in particular the big fronts coming through at varying times in the morning.
Therefore, the first race of the Winter Series is postponed.
If you’re down at Sorrento the Members Lounge is toasty warm and the coffee is great.
Ben Fels – Sailing Manager 15/5/21
Race Sailing Instructions. V2. RSI Last Passage Aggregate RSI Last Passage Aggregate V2
Ben Fels – Sailing Manager 24/4/21
Sunday 18 April 11:00 hrs Couta Boat Mixed Gen race including the Lady Skippers Trophy. This will be fun!
Qualification for this race means that you must compete as either:
- Mixed Generation limit of 50% +1 of the crew (including skipper) can be the same generation,
- Mixed Gender limit of 50% +1 of the crew (including skipper) can be the same gender, or
- Female helm – Lady Skipper
Ben Fels – Sailing Manager 9/4/21
Aggregate Racing abandoned
It’s a bit red for Couta Boat Racing tomorrow and the forecast predicts squalls up to 45 knots and uses the words “hail” and “thunderstorms”.
We can’t see anyway that at 1pm tomorrow we could say it is safe to go racing so the aggregate tomorrow is abandoned.
Ben Fels – Sailing Manager 9/4/21
Postponement of Couta Boat Mixed Gen. race including the Lady Skippers Trophy.
Watching the models all week and looking at the latest updates and forecasts, it would be unsuitable to conduct this race on Sunday, so it is postponed to Sunday 18th April at 11:00.
We are watching the forecasts and models for the Couta Boat Aggregate tomorrow, which has different criteria for conditions.
Ben Fels – Sailing Manager 9/4/21
Redress Hearing Decision. – Sorrento Cup, Aggregate, Passage Aggregate
2021-04-04 SSCBC Sorrento Cup Redress P1
Sorrento Cup RSI – Course and Change to Sailing Instructions – CHANGE Sorrento Cup V2–
Briefing at the Coloured Wall 12:45
Ben Fels – Sailing Manager – 3/4/2021
Coastal Living Prizes scoring.
This Saturday, two aggregates are scheduled and each will count for the Aggregate series. We are joining the two races together for the purposes of prizes and the following changes the scoring system and RRS A8.
Races scores for each race will be added together, no races will be discarded. In the event of a tie, it will be broken in favour the boat with the lowest corrected time (Handicap and Line Honours)
Ben Fels – Sailing Manager – 25/3/2021
N over A Displayed – Racing Abandoned – No more racing today
Ben Fels – Sailing Manager – 21/3/2021
N over A Displayed – Racing Abandoned – No more racing today
Ben Fels – Sailing Manager – 20/3/2021
Changes to Schedule
Lacco Cup Re-sail
The Lacco Cup Re-sail on Sunday 28 March will be sailed (Weather permitting).
Ben Fels – Sailing Manager 9/3/21
Passage Aggregate
The Passage Aggregate Sat 13/3/21 is an aggregate and passage aggregate
Ben Fels – Sailing Manager 2/3/21
CBA State Championships – Scoring
There is an issue with the software scoring C36 who has switched divisions. Her scores will be entered after the issue with the scoring system is rectified.
Ben Fels – Sailing Manager – 13:03 7/3/21
CBA State Championships Passage Race Course
CBA States Passage Race Course
Ben Fels Sailing Manager 9.35 am 7/3/21
CBA State Championships Change to Sailing Instructions
“NOR/ SI 2.2 is changed to 1 hour before the warning signal”
Ben Fels Sailing Manager 8.57 am 7/3/21
CBA State Championships Change to Sailing Instructions and Rules
UMPIRING, PROTEST, ARBITRATION AND PENALTY SYSTEM
UMPIRING – This changes rules 35,61.1, 63.1, 63.2, A4, A5, T1, T2, T3 and SIs 21 and 22.
- a) An umpire may penalise a boat for a breach of sportsmanship, a rule of Part 2 or Rules 31, 42, 69 by signalling the boat with a whistle and red flag.
- b) Umpires may signal with a green and white flag where they see an incident and decide that no rule was broken.
- c) Any incident not signalled by the umpires or with damage or injury may be protested by the Race Committee, Umpires, Protest Committee or boats and subject to Appendix T Arbitration before a hearing.
- d) Umpires are less likely to initiate a penalty signal for an incident if there is no valid protest by a boat.
PENALTIES
- a) Part-turn penalties S1 21 apply to penalties taken voluntarily.
- b) A penalised boat shall complete a one-turn penalty in accordance with rule 44.
- c) A boat that fails to take a penalty signalled by an umpire will be scored a post race penalty SCP without a hearing, unless a protest finds she did not break a rule or this is recommended in arbitration.
Any Arbitrations, Protest or Redress hearings will be held at the conclusion of racing and boats may be informed of a protest or informed of a hearing by VHF or other means.
Ben Fels – Sailing Manager – 6 March 2021
CBA State Championships. Notice to Competitors – Schedule.
- The weather looks suitable for racing on Saturday and is questionable for Sunday.
- The provision for re-sail on Monday will not be used.
- If Sunday racing is not suitable, then the re-sail provision on Saturday 13 March will be used for the series.
Ben Fels – Sailing Manager 5/3/21
CBA State Championships – Change to NOR and SIs
The CBA State Championships will be conducted in 2 Sessions, the Warning Signal times and races schedule may be changed up to 1 hour before the scheduled Warning Signal. No race scores shall be excluded.
Currently the schedule is
Sat 6/3/21 14:00 WS- 2 Races.
Sun 7/3/21 11:00 WS- Passage Race.
Mon 8/3/21 (11:00 re-sail provision)
Sat 13/3/21 (14:00 re-sail provision)
Steadfast IBG Insurance Great Fort – Race Sailing Instructions
RSI IBG Steadfast Great Fort Run 2021 D1
Ben Fels – Sailing Manager
Mirror WhatsApp Group – The Couta Boat WhatsApp group has reached capacity, so we have created a mirror group – Messages will be sent to both groups – Click here to join https://chat.whatsapp.com/J87O9PBeST7FAYWrgzplcI
CLASS RULE CHANGE
The Couta Boat Association have published new class rule 3.3, to work with the changes to the Racing Rules of Sailing that start tomorrow. This means that our starting, finishing and recalls will will effectively remain the same.
It does mean that for judging a zone for mark-room, 3 times the length of the Couta Boat from Jibboom to Stern is used (which is longer than when we previously used just the bow to stern as the measurement). This effectively determines where mark-room applies further from the mark and therefore all boats have more certainty from earlier on.
https://sscbc.com.au/hull-including-jibboom-and-the-racing-rules-of-sailing/
Ben Fels Sailing Manager 31/12/2020
Lacco Cup Race Sailing Instructions
The Lacco Cup will use fixed marks and a Tower Start and Finish as described in this Notice to Competitors. Lacco Cup Race Sailing Instructions
Great news! Sailing is back this weekend.
Sat: 1400 WS Aggregate race
Sun: 1100 WS Lacco Cup – Div 2
Terrific to see some Div 1 sailors jumping on infrequently sailed boats to build up the fleet.
From a Covid perspective we have updated our Covid Safe Plan – So far the main change is that masks must always be worn indoors and only removed for the permitted exemptions such as actually eating or drinking. https://sscbc.com.au/covid/
Ben Fels – Sailing Manager
All racing cancelled 13 and 14 February.
Due to the Stage 4 lockdown, all community sport is prohibited. We expect that emergency maintenance will be allowed, we will have ducks in the water.
We will update you when we understand more about the restrictions.
Ben Fels – Sailing Manager
Tuesday 26 January – RT Edgar 3 Piers Race – Australia Day
11:00 Australia Day Ceremony
11:45 Couta Boat skippers briefing – RSI RT Edgar 3 Piers race 2021 V01
12:00 Buxton Cup First Warning Signal (OTB Racing)
14:00 Div 2 Warning Signal
14:30 Div 1 Warning Signal
Presentation – Australia Day themed food – on the deck afterwards
Aggregate and Passage Aggregate Results – Topyacht has been sorted out and results updated – Please check your results.
Friday 22 January – Friday Twilight
18:30 – First Warning Signal
Saturday 23 January Aggregate – Laid Course Race
14:00 – First Warning Signal
Sunday 24 Trophy Race – Cancelled
Aggregate Results – That gremlin in the results has not been eliminated, perhaps we have to live with it until we have a vaccine.. Yep lame – here are the race results for the races, and we will get the series results sorted and Update during the week.
Performance Handicap Line Honours
Sam Byrne and Ted Silbereisen Passage Race
Race Sailing Instructions – RSI Passage Race 17-1
Next Gen Rescheduled Race 17 January
Race Sailing Instructions – RSI Gill NEXT GEN 2021 V5 (Typo Corrected)
Warning Signal 10:30
Triangle Courses
Organising Committee
Next Gen Racing 16 Jan
We have seen that the models have eased slightly and are monitoring the predictions against the conditions. The models suggest that there will continue to be easing of conditions. We hope that happens.
We are looking at the options to make the racing the most suitable for the conditions.
We are proceeding with the schedule at the moment and will give further updates as the situation becomes clearer.
Ben & Harry – Organising Committee.
Passage Aggregate Racing 17 Jan
Warning Signals
Div 2 1400
Div 1 1430
Organising Committee
Twilight Racing 15 Jan
N over A over 1 & 2 has been displayed
As the conditions we have now, are lining up with the models and those models predict worse conditions that are unsuitable for a Twilight Race, the Twilight race today is abandoned.
Ben Fels – Sailing Manager – 15-1-2021
Results Posted
Protest Decisions
C2008 and C1998 – Invalid
C70 and C06 – Dismissed
Paul Pascoe – Chairman
_________________
Protest Time Limits for Portsea Cup have been extended to 18:45 for both Divisions
Paul Pascoe – Chairman
Race Sailing Instructions RSI Portsea Cup 2021
Aggregate Results
There is an issue with Top Yacht , It won’t import the New Year Regatta race on 2 Jan into the Aggregate Series. We hope to get that fixed on Wednesday – The race scores will be as posted for Race 2 of the New Year Regatta.
Ben Fels Sailing Manager 3/1/2021
Information Session at the Coloured wall 12:45 RSI New Year Regatta 2021 (Copies at Reception)
Race Sailing Instruction RSI Mercedes-Benz Couta Boat National Championships
At 11.45 there will be an Information Session at the coloured wall.
Ben Fels – Sailing Manager 28-12-2020
Safety Briefing Presentation, in case you missed the zoom OA 10-11-2020
Race Sailing Instruction RSI Mercedes-Benz Couta Boat National Championships
At 11.45 there will be an Information Session at the coloured wall.
Ben Fels – Sailing Manager 28-12-2020
Safety Briefing Presentation, in case you missed the zoom OA 10-11-2020
Dash to the Heads – Abandoned due to weather forecast
Ben Fels – Sailing Manager 26-12-2020
Warning Signal changed to 10:00 am – Dash to the Heads
The Warning Signal of the Melbourne to Devonport race will be at 11:10 this year, so our Dash to the Heads is scheduled for a 10:00 Warning Signal off the club on Monday 27th December.
Ben Fels – Sailing Manager 23-12-2020
Wooden Boat Shop Series – 19-12-2020.
Change number 2 to sailing instructions
A pink vertical hitch mark may be laid 100 metres to leeward of mark 1. Both the vertical hitch mark and mark 1 shall be left to port.
Peter Osbourne Race Officer 19-12-2020
Change to Scheduled Races
The schedule of races on Saturday 19-12-2020 is changed to 2 back to back laid course races.
Ben Fels Sailing Manager 12-12-2020 5984 8200
Sailing Operations Policy & Emergency Contacts 2.7
NOTICE TO COMPETITORS – Wooden Boat Shop Series – 12-12-2020.
Rule Changes
The Course diagrams and Finish Line are changed as follows:
- The Finish line is planned to be between Gillie D and a Blue mark (Displaying a blue flag) It will be in a slightly different position than indicated in Course Diagrams TL and LA.
Signalling course changes will be on VHF 73. This changes Race Signals and RRS 33.
Other Information:
- Briefing at the coloured wall 12:45
- First Warning Signal 1400.
- The Start Vessel is planned to be Jos Law (Displaying an orange flag)
- Two back to back races are planned.
- Presentation on the deck after racing.
Crew Register – Tap on when you get to the club
VHF Sign on with Sail number and POB – No Boat names, No Skipper names.
VHF Sign off Sail Number only – If you lose people, we expect you to call us straight away.
Ben Fels Sailing Manager 12-12-2020
eTidings clarification Wooden Boat Shop Series Warning Signals –
This weekend the Warning Signal for Div 1 will be at 1400 and Div 2 following that – we will be doing 2 races back to back.
Ben Fels Sailing Manager 9/12/2020
5/12/2020
All races abandoned – No more racing today.
The weather models and forecasts would not allow us to decide it is safe to set out to race as planned today, so all racing has been abandoned.
At 1 Pm today we will hold a Couta Conversation at the Club.
- Ben Fels will explain the key changes in the new rule book for 2021-24 – and how we are changing some of these new rules for Couta Boats.
- Tim Phillips will present and and lead a discussion on Couta Boats.
Ben Fels Sailing Manager 5/12/2020
NOTICE TO COMPETITORS – Wooden Boat RSI 2020 RSI WBS Passage Race 28-11 V2 (Start Vessel changed to April)
Most of the Predict wind models look good and the BOM Meteye & Forecast look great but they weren’t that accurate last weekend.
Other Information & FREE BEER or BUBBLES
- Warning Signals DIV 2 – 14:00 – DIV 1 – 14:30
- Skipper Briefing Coloured Wall – 12:45
- Most of the fleet – 32 Boats – is set up on the Crew Register, thanks for getting behind it.
- Ask for Serena Doyle at reception if you need any further help such as adding the crew register link as a short cut to your home screen (after 10:30)
- Please sign on before going to your boat. – You can sign in when you wake up or get to the club.
- Scroll down below to notify any crew or equipment changes.
- Please do a radio check but keep it brief, we don’t want the POB and skipper again – that should already be notified.
- If you have raced already, your Safety Declaration should be completed properly and lodged. If you have not done so please let us know [email protected] why you haven’t. (you can get a copy below)
- Please refresh on the Covid rules below.
Get a FREE BEER or BUBBLES tomorrow if you are signed on via the crew register and race – Western Lawn after racing.
Ben Fels Sailing Manager 27/11/2020
NOTICE TO COMPETITORS – The Course will be finalised and announced at the briefing at the coloured wall at 12:45 Warning Signal at 14:00 – Organising Authority & Race Committee – 21/11/2020
Notice to Competitors RSI Race Sailing Instructions and Covid Changes – Opening Day. Race Committee – 14/11/2020
Summary of what sailing is allowed Covid Updates – (These are being updated)
Safety Briefing Presentation, in case you missed the zoom OA 10-11-2020
Racing dates have been updated following the 18 October Covid announcements. OA 20-10-2020
Details of our Covid Safe plans for racing will be published once the Government directions regarding racing are made. OA 14-10-2020
TEST – Under Development
Skippers –
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