1 | RULES
The Torch Lake Yacht & Country Club is a “one design” racing club and all scored races or series will be of the same class. All races will be governed by The Racing Rules of Sailing 2025-2028 as amended, the rules of the class sailing (NCESA, MCSA, NBA), and the Notice of Race, except as any of these are expressly changed by these Sailing Instructions detailed herein.
2 | NOTICES TO COMPETITORS
Notices to competitors or changes to sailing instructions will be posted on the TLYCC clubhouse bulletin board or the website.
3 | SIGNALS MADE ASHORE
3.1 Signals made ashore will be displayed near the white dock.
3.2 When races are started off the point, all standard starting flags and signals apply. AP displayed from the point will be considered an “on water” postponement and will signal “one minute to start of sequence” when lowered.
4 | SCHEDULE OF RACES
4.1 Races will be sailed as posted on the TLYCC website sailing calendar.
4.2 No race may be started after 4 PM on Saturday or 3 PM on Sunday, with the exception that any general recall(s) will not prevent the race from starting after that time.
4.3 If no afternoon race has been started by 3 PM Saturday, all races will be abandoned for the day.
4.4 No race shall start unless there are three or more yachts rigged with crew prepared to compete and start that race, unless previously agreed upon by fleet vote at the beginning of the sailing season.
4.5 No race shall be started without proper follow boats available.
5 | RACING AREAS
5.1 The racing area shall be the navigable waters of Torch Lake.
5.2 The general area of the starting line will be as close to the TLYCC as the Race Committee, herein after “RC,” determines will provide a race fair to all competitors unless otherwise specified by special Trophy Race requirements.
6 | THE COURSES
6.1 Windward-Leeward courses will be sailed unless otherwise specified by the race committee. Special Trophy courses will be posted by the race committee on the day of the race.
6.2 The RC signal boat will display the course and the required number of circuits no later than the warning signal.
6.3 The finish may occur at the end of a windward or leeward leg depending upon the indicated number of circuits posted on the RC signal boat or posted ashore.
7 | MARKS
7.1 Marks of the course will be orange, yellow, or white balls. Different colors may be used to denote MC vs. Butterfly courses.
7.2 Course change marks may be any of the above marks. The RC may use a different color mark to indicate the changed mark.
8 | THE START
8.1 The starting line will be between a staff displaying an orange flag and an orange mark.
8.2 The RC may start a race from the RC boat or from the shore/tower. Signals will be made from the RC boat or from the shore/tower starting location.
8.3 A yacht starting more than 5 minutes after the starting signal for a race shall be scored a DNS.
8.4 Class flags (RRS 26) shall be:
E Scow – Code Flag E
MC Scow – Class Burgee
Bfly – Butterfly Class Flag
In the absence of a class flag, a solid green flag will be substituted for the class flag.
8.5 Following the display of the individual recall signal, the RC will attempt to announce by hailer or VHF radio the racing number of all yachts identified on course side of the starting line at the starting signal. Such announcement is a courtesy and failure to hear it shall not be grounds for redress.
8.6 No race shall start for a fleet while a boat within that fleet is tipped over. If a boat or her crew is assisting a capsized or otherwise boat in distress the boat and her crew shall be given time to return as soon as practical to the starting line.
9 | THE FINISH
9.1 The finish line will be between a staff displaying an orange flag and the finish mark.
9.2 The finish line staff may be on the RC boat or on the point/tower.
10 | PENALTY SYSTEM
RRS (44.2) is in effect for the MC and Butterfly classes. The E Class RRS (44.2) is modified so the penalty shall be a one-turn penalty in the same direction, each turn including one tack and one jibe.
11 | TIME LIMITS AND TARGET TIMES
11.1 Any race in which no yacht has rounded the first mark within 30 minutes of the starting signal or has not finished within 1 hour and 30 minutes shall be abandoned.
11.2 Any yacht not finishing within 45 minutes of the first yacht shall be scored in the next option after the last boat finished within the time limit. This changes RRS (35) and RRS (A4.1).
11.3 The Turk Race has no time limits.
12 | POSTPONED OR ABANDONED RACES
Any championship special or trophy race postponed or abandoned will be sailed at the next scheduled championship race.
13 | PROTESTS AND REQUESTS FOR REDRESS
13.1 Protests and requests for redress must be in writing and submitted to the RC within one hour of the finish of the last competitor in the last race of the day. All attempts should be made to resolve the protest by discussion and mediation, if necessary.
13.2 If discussion between the parties and/or mediation does not resolve the issue, then a Protest Committee will be formed and will act according to Part 5 of the RRS.
14 | SCORING
14.1 All series for all classes will be scored as provided in RRS Appendix A using the low point system, except as modified by SI 15.2 and SI 15.3.
14.2 In any series of 6 races or more, each yacht shall drop their worst score as follows:
Races Drops
6 Races | 1 Drop
11 Races | 2 Drops
16 Races | 3 Drops
21+ Races | 4 Drops
14.3 Rule 90.3 A4.2 (Appendix A Scoring) is modified to read DNS/DNC will receive the score for the finishing place one more than the number of boats competing in that race. (Example: 4 boats start a race, 3 boats finish that race, DNS/DNC receive 5 points for that race)
14.4 Regatta Rule: Each yacht whose skipper participates in a sanctioned regatta for any active WMYA or TLYCC fleet and, therefore, cannot participate in regularly scheduled TLYCC series races may receive “regatta points” for each race missed. Regatta points for the Championship series are determined at the end of the season and for the July or August series are determined at the end of the series. Regatta points for each skipper/yacht are determined by averaging the results without drops for all races not designated to be regatta points for that boat. Drops may then be applied. Skippers must request regatta scoring from their fleet chair and the scoring chair. A maximum of two weekends can be scored as regatta points per series.
15 | SAFETY REGULATIONS
15.1 If one or more yachts have finished a race before the onset of foul or threatening weather and the RC determines to clear yachts from the water for safety, signaled by three sounds, all remaining yachts racing shall immediately go ashore. Scoring will be based upon rule 11.2.
15.2 If threatening weather exists prior to starting, the RC can postpone or abandon the race(s) at its discretion.
15.3 In addition to U.S. Sailing Rule 40 in The Racing Rules of Sailing for 2025-2028, U.S. Coast Guard, State and Federal guidelines regarding the use of personal flotation devices and safety equipment shall be used by all sailors at TLYCC.
16 | RADIO COMMUNICATION/OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE
16.1 Except in an emergency, a boat shall neither make radio transmissions while racing nor receive radio communications not available to all boats. This restriction also applies to mobile telephones.
16.2 MC/Butterfly class yachts may receive assistance in righting a capsized yacht while racing, at the request of the skipper, without incurring a scoring penalty.
17 | WIND PARAMETERS
17.1 E: No race shall be started when winds are less than 3 mph or exceed 23 mph steady.
17.2 MC: No race shall be started when wind is less than 3 mph, greater than 20 mph steady or gusting to 23 mph.
17.3 BF: No race shall be started when winds exceed 18 mph.
18 | CREW REQUIREMENTS
18.1 E/MC classes may sail with any weight crew.
18.2 Butterfly class must have enough weight to right a capsized yacht.
19 | DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY
Competitors participate in sailing activities entirely at their own risk. See Rule 4 of the Racing Rules of Sailing, Decision to Race. The organizing authority will not accept any liability for material damage or personal injury or death sustained in conjunction with, or prior to, during or after a race.
20 | FLEET MEETINGS AND VOTING RIGHTS
All fleets may hold a skipper’s meeting during each season. Items up for vote will be voted on following this process:
Voter eligibility:
Any boat of a fleet can be considered active if it sailed one race in the prior or current season.
ii. One active boat/one vote
Iii. Any skipper’s meeting must be announced 7 days prior to the scheduled meeting
iv. Skippers may vote in person, by proxy or via email