Guidelines for running the Starling Nationals

The current rules do not specify how the Starling Nationals should be run. The only guidance is that Yachting New Zealand is responsible for them. Generally this amounts to Yachting New Zealand choosing a host and leaving the rest to them. Consequently the event is reinvented each year. This document sets out the preferred format. Any organising authority which wishes to deviate substantially from this format is requested to discuss the changes with the Starling Class Association (SCA) beforehand.

Allocation of venue

Whilst the P class and Starling Nationals continue to be held at the same venue it is appropriate that Yachting New Zealand allocate the event to a host club(s). SCA would appreciate being consulted before any final choice is made.

Rotation

We support the existing rotation of 2 years in the NI and 1 in the SI, then a rotation round the NI of (a) Northern North Island (except Auckland), (b) Auckland, (c) Southern North island. The line defining North and South island is a line starting just North of New Plymouth to just South of Taupo and on to just North of Napier.

The line between North and South South Island passes just North of Christchurch and heads due west.

North Island championships

When the Championship is due to be held at a North Island venue the North Island championships shall be held at the same venue. When the Nationals is due to be held in the South Island, the North Island championships shall be held at a venue agreed between Yachting New Zealand and the NZSA. In general it is convenient for the NI championships to be held over Labour weekend but tide and other issues may determine another date.

South Island championships

The SI championship’s venue shall be decided at the South Island clubs calendar meeting.

Format

The format of the Nationals shall be a 5(4)day event with 15 (12) races in total. The fleet shall be split into 2 divisions on a random basis, unless numbers are less than 60 or more than 150, at which point there shall be 1 or 3 divisions respectively.

There shall be a qualifying series followed by a final’s series. The fleet shall be split into Gold and Silver fleets at the end of the day on which the 4^th qualifying races for all divisions are sailed. Divisions will be re-drawn on an ABBAABBAA basis at the end of each day. This means that on any day the fleets remain the same all day. All competitors should have a reasonable expectation of being in the first fleet to start at some time.

Scoring and Discards

There must be 5 races completed to constitute a National Championship. In the qualifying series no score shall be discarded until 5 races have been completed. The score for the qualifying series shall be carried forward into the finals series but no boat in the silver fleet shall rank higher than a boat in the gold fleet. Once one race of the finals series has been completed a boat may discard her worst score from either series. Once a total of 9 (8) races have been completed a boat may discard her two worst results except that she may only discard one score from the finals series.

Appointment of Officials

Current Yachting New Zealand regulations require the Race Officer and Protest committee to be appointed by them. This is to ensure a high standard of officiating at this and other important events. In practice there is usually discussion between the organising authority and the Chairman of the Race Management Committee in order to a) maintain a high standard and b) minimise travel costs. A host club is recommended to train as many officials as possible so that it is in a position to fill as many places from its own ranks as possible.

Other Volunteers and Resources

Whilst a club wishing to host this event are expected to have most of the help that it requires from within, it is not unreasonable to ask other clubs which have a large number of sailors attending to also assist. A club that makes one of its fleet of support boats and its crew available in an official capacity under the direction of the Race Officer should be reimbursed at least for the fuel used. It is also normal for volunteers to be supplied with a lunch, given that normally there is no break ashore for lunch.

Courses

There is no restriction on what type of course is used but trapezoid courses have become the norm. If the P class nationals are combined with this event then it is possible to sail one group on outer loops and another on inner loops. This is finally at the discretion of the Race Officer. Groups should start no less that 10 mins apart. If more than one group is sailing inner loops then starts should be timed so that a group approaching the bottom mark should not clash with a start of a second group. Where possible a gate should be provided at downwind marks.

Time Limits

Target time for races shall be approx 55 minutes.

The time limit for boats to finish after the first boat is optional, however, generally 30 minutes ensures just about every boat finishes but keeps the winner waiting a long time for the next start. At the 2009 nationals is was observed that most boats finished within 12 minutes and so a 20 min time limit seems reasonable. Organising Authorities may like to consider using mark roundings to provide an ‘on the water’ finishing position for tail enders. However caution in the use of this must be used in case of a large number of non-finishers in a dying breeze. Note it is not possible to take mark roundings at a gate.

Preparatory signals

It is always preferable that competitors are given the opportunity to start under Flag “P” However sometimes the fleet seems to display a reluctance to start cleanly working on the basis that “we know its going to be a general recall but we have to be up there in case it isn’t”.

Sometimes therefore it becomes more practical to use a ‘penalty’ preparatory signal. Flag Z works well because it provides a penalty deterrent but is negated if the race is postponed or abandoned before the start. Flag I is alleged to have the effect of causing bunching at the ends, which in turn causes premature starting.

It is quite acceptable to step up the penalty if the start line was laid appropriately and a general recall results from over keen sailors. The current thinking is that the sailors would rather have penalties, than a softer approach resulting in several general recalls.

On Water Judging

It is normal to have on the water judging. It is not always understood that this is for Rule 42 only. The judges cannot rule on the water for other rule transgressions although they can bring a protest against a boat they have observed breaking the rules. Given that there is a high level of failure to obey the rules or to carry out 720° turns, especially amongst the less experienced sailors, it is useful if the protest committee hold a briefing with the competitors, outlining some of the areas they will be watching. This serves two purposes. Firstly it educates the sailors and secondly it takes some of the sting out of protests if the judges can say “we told you we would be watching for this”

Coaches

Unfortunately there have been allegations of coaches cheating during racing in recent times. It is therefore important that coaches should be required to display the numbers of the boat(s) they are supporting. It may be that some control on the movement of the coaches is needed in future.