COA 2024 New Year Crew Helm Rally Event Instructions
CRUISER OWNERS ASSOCIATION
COA 2024 New Year Crew Helm Rally
Sunday 7 January 2024
Event Instructions
1. During the sailing course from start to finish, All boats must be helmed by crew member(s)
a. It is recommended to arrange every crew members on board to take turns on the helm for some time. b. The boats’ owners / regular Skippers are not allowed to touch the helm or wheel of the boat unless in emergency situations
2. Participating boats will sail the common course as a single division under the PHS system and are open to all boats holding a PHS Rating.
3. Maximum entries would be 20 boat teams
4. The Sailing will be run at fixed Start Format at GPS Time 10:30:00. Please plan your cruising time from base to start line to meet the start time window. a. All boats shall start the phone App “RallyQs” sailing track recording function at least 15 minutes before they pass the start line. (Please arrange at least 2+ phones to record your sailing track record.)
b. Boats’ GPS time record in their “RallyQs” track record at they crossed the start line will be used as their starting proof. This changes 29 and is not subject to protest.
5. Start line of the Rally
a. A Virtual Start Line at Latitude 22°14.040’N between Shek O Rock Light to Port and Hong Kong Island to starboard
6. Gate Line of the Rally
a. A Virtual Gate Line at Longitude 114°12.870’E with Bluff Head Light to Starboard and GPS Waypoint 22°11.000’N, 114°12.870’E to Port. b. This is the provision Cut Short Finish Line
7. Finish Line of the Rally
a. A Virtual Finish Line at Longitude 114°11.100’E with Round Island South Light to Starboard and GPS Waypoint 22°12.500’N, 114°11.100’E to Port
b. Boats’ GPS time record in their “RallyQs” track record at they crossed the finish line will be used as their finish proof.
8. Sailing Declarations
a. Declarations for the Rally in the CXC will be in the format of uploading the boats’ Rally Track Records recorded by the free phone app “RaceQs” after they have finished the Rally and get phone data service.
b. Boat owners / skippers need to download & install the free phone app “RaceQs” to a phone and register their boat name to the “RaceQs” system; and get familiar with the operations of the “RaceQs” App before the Rally.
c. 15 minutes before your cross the start line, activate “RaceQs” System to recording your boat’s track records
d. Ensure to use more than 1 phone to record your track record
e. Wait until 15 minutes after you crossed the finish line, save & upload your “RaceQs” track records to the system
f. Boats finished or retired from the Rally must send a message to the CXC WhatsApp Group within 30 minutes for safety notice.
9. Safety Measures - ORC Cat: 4.
a. Boats are reminded to note and observe the requirements of the Fundamental Rules in Part 1 of the RRS, particularly in respect of safety and decision to Rally – this includes having all Cat 4 equipment in working order.
b. Because the starts are scattered and the risk of collision at the start almost entirely eliminated, the rule about not having an anchor outside the sheerline is waived. Please be careful not to be too close to another boat at start.
c. A boat may use motor if necessary in order to keep clear of hazards when required. This, or any other necessary motoring for safety reasons, must be declared but will not result in disqualification or constitute retiring. A time penalty may be applied if an advantage is gained but this will be at the discretion of The CXC Committee.
10. Tropical Cyclone Warning Signals
11. Radio Communications
a. There will be no official communications via VHF but boats are recommended to monitor VHF Channel 12 & 72.
b. Major communication during the Rally will be via the CXC WhatsApp Group.
12. Sailing Results and Prizes
a. Boats’ PHS Corrected time will be used as their results in the Rally
b. Prizes will be awarded to winners according to number of boat entries.
c. Additional prizes may be awarded by the discretion of Rally Committee.
d. Prizes will be presented in the COA 2024 AGM & Prize Giving Party in Feb 2024
13. Disclaimer of Liability
14. Insurance
15. Right to use Name and Likeness a. By participating in this event, participants automatically grant to the organizing authority and the event sponsors the right, in perpetuity, to make, use, and show, at their discretion, any photography, audio and video recordings, and other reproductions of them made, without compensation.
16. Sailing Course
COA Course 03 - Shek O - 3 (9 nm)
Start – Shek O Rock (P Passing) - Latitude 22°14.040’N
Mark 1 – Fury Rock (SB)
Mark 2 – Beaufort Island (P Passing)
Gate – Bluff Head Light (SB Passing) Longitude 114°12.840’E by North of 22°11.000’N
Finish – Round Island Light (SB) Longitude 114°11.110’E by North of 22°12.500’N
17. Time Limits, Target Times and Cut Short Provisions for the Rally
a. The time limit for a boat to score a “finish” in the Rally is GPS time 15:00 Hrs
b. Any boats that cannot cross the finish line by 15:00 hrs will be scored Did Not Finish (DNF) in the Rally.
c. These (DNF) boats may still continue to complete Rally to Round Island before 16:00
d. Boats started the Rally after 13:00:00 will score DNS. Stop the engine and start sailing 5 minutes before passing Shek O Rock for joining the Rally. e. Cut Short Provision in the Rally. If the leading boats could finish the gate by 14:00:00, Gate 1 at Bluff Head will become the shortened course finish line of the Rally. The GPS time record in RaceQs Track records of all boat crossing this shortened course finish line will be the finish time of the boats in the Rally.
f. There will be NO Motoring Division in The CXC. Any boats electing to motor at any time (except motoring in emergency for safety reasons) are deemed to have retired from The CXC and scored Did Not Finish (DNF)
18. Retirals
Each boat shall as far as practicable call to advise that it has retired. This shall be done by posting a message to the Event WhatsApp Group.
CRUISER OWNERS ASSOCIATION
COA 2024 New Year Crew Helm Rally
Sunday 7 January 2024
Cut-Off Provisions & Time Limits
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