Racing is under the rules of the RYA and the UIM, and additionally the following apply.

On race days, when the club burgee is flying from the Timing Pier flagpole, racing rules apply and all racing activities come under the control of the Officer of the Day (OOD).

The dock and first pier are normally reserved for race boats, the remainder for rescue and patrol. During racing, the outer arm of the dock shall be kept clear of moored craft to facilitate emergency recovery of a capsized or sinking vessel.

The South Slipway shall not be used for the recovery of craft during racing, except in an emergency. The North Slipway shall be exclusively reserved for the use of the rescue craft and ambulance until the close of racing.

Drivers and passengers shall lodge their licences with the OOD and sign the Drivers Indemnity Sheet before launching. All pit crew and helpers shall sign the Officials and Helpers Indemnity Sheet. All indemnity entries shall be legible and helpers shall state their function. PB/2 - G6, G13

(a) All boats shall be capable of a lap time of at least 1min 20 sec on the Long Course.

(b) Maximum length 22’0"

(c) Single engined outfits only

(d) All WMBRC Member’s and Associate Member’s racing boats shall carry the Club Burgee

The Racing Committee will consider outfits on an individual boat and driver basis

Drivers shall keep to the club long and short courses and conform to the practice regulations in the current RYA Rule Book. Equipment rules apply. Racing vests and helmets shall be properly secured before untying and leaving the Pits, until returning and tying up at the end of a Practice Period. It is the driver’s responsibility to ensure that there are adequate arrangements provided for medical and rescue facilities to a standard commensurate with the requirements of the speed and sensitivity of the practicing craft. PB/2 - G51

Every boat shall be silenced to the satisfaction of the Racing Committee. The Racing Committee shall from time to time determine the methods of measurement. After passing the test the current permitted level shall not be exceeded. The OOD may, at any time, withdraw boat(s) from practice and racing for retesting.

To be certain of being permitted entry into the first race, boats shall normally be presented ready for scrutineering on trailers, helmet(s) and racing vest(s) placed on the foredeck, normally by 12.15 hrs on each race day so that the Scrutineer can confirm the boats passed for racing and hand the completed scrutineering sheet to the OOD before Drivers Briefing. PB/2 - F

8. Drivers Briefing

Drivers Briefing will normally take place at 13.00hrs unless otherwise notified by the OOD. Attendance by drivers is mandatory, and confirmation of attendance shall be by roll call from the Signing – In Sheet. Any driver being unavoidably absent from the Drivers Briefing shall be subjected to an individual Briefing (which depending on the time available may preclude the drivers participation in the first race). The Drivers Briefing shall be given by the OOD and the Chief Rescue Officer shall be in attendance. The content of the Briefing shall be at the OOD’s discretion and will normally include safety related directions; additional instructions specifically concerning the day’s racing activities may from time to time be included.

Racing is on an individual handicap basis, in accordance with the separate Handicap Rules

The use of watches during racing is not allowed.

(a) Racing vests and helmets shall be properly secured before untying and leaving the pits, until returning and tying up at the end of a race.

(b) The Five Minute Signal to the Race Start shall normally be given from the Timing Pier

(c) No milling inside the course after the 5 minute signal

(d) For crossing the Start Line from the 5 minute signal before the Race Start – penalty 1 lap

(e) Starting drivers shall take a racing line outside boats already on the course.

(f) After two minutes to zero, any driver not having left the piers shall start in a northerly direction from against the piers, and shall not travel against the racing line, penalty – disqualification.

(b) After taking the chequered flag, drivers shall go directly round the Storrs Buoy, wait in the centre of the course until the chequered flag is replaced with the red flag from the Timing Pier and then return to their original pier positions.

(c) At the completion of racing, the North Slipway shall be kept clear for the priority recovery of rescue boats for which notice has been given to the Pit Marshal and tractor driver.

(a) Where 40% is required it is a minimum of 40% (starts) of club points counting races for boat, driver or boat and driver.

(b) MMA Cup, 40% for single boat and driver combination.

(c) Coombe Hill Golf Club Trophy (accurate starting) and Sheba Trophy (average), 40% for individual driver.

(d) Founder Members Perpetual Trophy and Goblets (for as long as goblets are presented), and Flag Officers Prizes, 40% for boat.

(e) For the Stansfield Trophy, Rothwell Cup (long course points) and Campbell Salver (short course points) prizes are awarded to the boat, provided that at least one driver shall have 40%.

(a) The RYA 10% reducing table is used.

(b) Points counting races shall be divided on the Calendar as near as possible to the ratio 3:1 between long and short course.

(c) For all away Inter Club meetings WMBRC drivers starting a points counting race equally share the total number of points they obtain from the day’s racing based on the 10% table, each drivers points being divided in the ratio 3:1 between long and short course points.

(d) For new drivers, half points and no trophies for the new driver’s first three race days

(e) Maximum of three drivers to a boat in a season to qualify for 40% boat definition.

(f) For changes of boat, when the change is permanent, points are added together, and when there is a temporary substitution the temporary boat’s points shall be added, provided that the original boat is not entered for the next 12 consecutive races. A permanent change of boat shall be registered in writing to the Race Committee via the OOD on the first occasion that the replacement boat is entered in a race.

Points and prizes shared

Awarded to the driver with the day’s highest points. Drivers sharing a boat have their points added together and share the prize. Where a scratch race is included in the race day, points shall accrue from the scratch race at the discretion of the donor of the Day Prize.

(a). In writing to the OOD either before the first race for a protest about the validity of an entry and race day organisation or, for a racing matter no later than ½ hour after the race in which the incident occurred stating the rule broken.

(b). The Hearing. To hear a protest, the OOD to appoint a panel of a chairman and two members from those present on the day with racing experience and, if possible, not on the Racing Committee. All to vote. They will first decide if the protest is valid, if not the protestor shall be told immediately and given the reason why, if it is they will hear from both sides and call any witnesses, then in private, make their decision and hand it in writing to both sides. Minutes shall be taken. The panel can be self-minuting or a minute taker can be present. The Vice Chairman of Racing receives a copy of the Hearing minutes and decision.

(c). Appeal. Either side may appeal to the Racing Committee whose decision is final. This shall be in writing with £10 fee and received by the Vice Chairman of Racing and copied to the ‘other side’ no later than nine days after the time of the decision, the ‘other side’ has a further nine days to respond to the Vice Chairman. The appeal is heard at the first Racing Committee meeting after eighteen days after the original Decision. Racing Committee members taking part in the Hearing shall withdraw while the Appeal is decided. The chairman of the meeting has an additional casting vote. The decision only is recorded in the committee minutes.

The Decision of the Racing Committee on Club Racing Rules is final. 

PJH 2.1.03., 04.01.03. RMS 20.01.03.

PJH 20.1.03 31.1.03 6.2.03