News - 2014

09:00 Wednesday 16 Jul 2014 Rupert HolmesChanges to the 2014 Sailing Instructions at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week

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The Sailing Instructions for Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week change slightly from year to year, reflecting new initiatives introduced as a result of competitor feedback, new navigation restrictions and in recent years a simplification of the rules and wording. Below is a summary of the key changes, although competitors should still read the full SIs carefully, which can be found here.

1. The outer breakwater construction exclusion zone is for all vessels and is primarily intended to safeguard them from damage. It will vary in size and shape with different phases of the project – the Sailing Instructions include a diagram which shows its expected extent during the regatta. It’s marked by No 2 red channel buoys, cardinal marks and a series of yellow buoys. The exclusion zone ranks as an obstruction for the purposes of RRS 19 and 20.
   
   
2. There is now an option for White Group dayboat classes to start from a line on the Shrape off East Cowes. This will primarily be used on days when the weather necessitates running racing for these boats in the relative shelter of the Eastern Solent, but when the tide at the start time will be flowing strongly towards the west. On such days, Black Group yachts will start on the inner part of the RYS line, instead of their normal Bramble line. The start line that will be used by each Group will be announced on VHF radio each day.
   
   In addition, the Shrape line has moved around 300 metres further east, which will help keep competitors clear of the shoal water on the Shrape near low tide.
   
   
3. For the first time this year Cowes Radio will be an official channel for broadcasting the courses of White Group dayboat classes on the RYS line. These will be announced at the 5-minute preparatory signal for each class. The course will also be displayed on course boards in the same manner as in previous years, as well as being promulgated to registered mobile phones.
   
   
4. This year Etchells, J/80s, Swallows and Darings will have a committee boat start on one day, while Solent Sunbeams will have two such days. Unlike last year, these will be scheduled in advance, enabling a shortening of the main White Group start sequence.
   
   
5. SB20s and J/70s are again having a mini-series with two races a day over the first four days of the regatta. This year, both starts for these classes during their mini-series will be from the committee boat line, with a finish of the first race at a specially laid line close to their start line.
   
   This year, if the XODs are starting from the same line, their scheduled start time should never be delayed because of the second start for SB20s and J/70s. For SB20s and J/70s staying for the full 8 days, racing from the RYS line will continue with one race a day for the rest of the regatta.
   
   
6. There has also been a change to the calculation for the inter-class overall points series for trophies such as the Overall Black Group and Overall White Group winners. The formula has been adjusted to better deal with the added difficulty of winning in a larger class, without giving too great a benefit to these boats. It now also takes into account the fact that some classes race for seven days while others race for eight. For the purpose of these inter-class trophies, only the results from Saturday to Friday will now be taken into account. Additionally, the way that abandoned races are dealt with has been made fairer than in the past.

Skippers’ briefing

At least one or two competitors from each boat are encouraged to attend the Skippers’ Briefing at the Events Centre in Cowes Yacht Haven. This will take place on Friday August 1, at 1830 for White Group dayboats, at 1930 for Black Group yachts and at 1730 for Sunsail competitors.