# AIB DBSC Summer Series 2026 sailing instructions H, fixed-mark courses, hut

Dublin Bay Sailing Club incorporating

The Royal Alfred Yacht Club www.dbsc.ie

AIB DBSC Summer Series 2026

Sailing Instructions Supplement H Fixed-Mark Courses, Hut

These Sailing Instructions should be read in conjunction with the Sailing Instructions A – General. The notation [NGR] in a rule in these Sailing Instructions means that failure to send or receive an announcement by VHF or other electronic means shall not constitute grounds for redress. This changes RRS 61.4(b). (Visual signals are the primary means of communication.) The VHF channel to be used by the Race Committee is on the “Keelboat Race Times” document and the course cards.

## H1 Rules

The following rules are changed in these Sailing instructions: RRS 27.1, 35, 61.4 and A5. Each change will be identified in the instruction that changes the rule.

## H2 Racing Area

The racing area will be Dublin Bay, South of the Dublin Port channel.

## H3 Marks

3.1 The DBSC fixed marks, except the limit marks at the West Pier Hut, will bear the corresponding identification letter as shown on the “DBSC Racing Marks” chart. The colour or colours of each mark will be approximately as shown on the chart. The location of each mark will be approximately as shown on the chart and in the “DBSC Marks, Bearings and Distances” table.

3.2 If a fixed mark is missing or in the wrong position, it may be replaced by a temporary mark, laid in the correct position of the mark that it replaces. Such a replacement will be announced on VHF by the Race Committee. [NGR]

## H4 The Start

4.1 Races will start at the DBSC West Pier Hut, located on the Northern corner of the West Pier of Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

4.2 The starting line will be a transit formed by bringing in line the two triangles above the West Pier Hut. To start, a boat shall cross this line in the direction of the first mark of the course, passing between the hut and a limit mark.

4.3 The limit mark will be one of the orange, black or green DBSC fixed marks close to the hut (marked O, 2, 3 respectively on the “DBSC Racing Marks” chart), or the yellow navigation mark known as Turning Mark (X). The limit mark in use will be signalled by the display of a coloured shape on a board on the hut. It may also be announced by VHF. [NGR]

4.4 Races will be started in accordance with RRS 26.

## H5 The Course

5.1 The course will be sailed around marks as described in H3 above.

5.2 The Race Committee will signal the course to be sailed no later than 3 minutes before the starting signal. This changes RRS 27.1.

Course Card

5.3 When a course card is in use, the course will be signalled by the display, on the hut, of a letter and a number, which designates a particular course on the appropriate course card. This may also be announced on VHF. [NGR]

5.4 When the A and B divisions of Cruisers 4 and 5 are required to sail different courses, the courses will be signalled by the display of a letter and two numbers. Cruisers 4A and 5A shall sail the course designated by the letter and the first number. Cruisers 4B and 5B shall sail the course designated by the letter and the second number.

5.5 The course card to be used shall be: for Saturday racing, Course Card 2 – Saturday, Hut; for Tuesday racing, Course Card 5 – Tuesday, Hut.

5.6 The marks listed in the designated course shall be rounded on the specified side and in the order in which they are listed, except Turning Mark. Marks to be rounded to port are shown in red and suffixed “p”. Marks to be rounded to starboard are shown in green and suffixed “s”. Turning Mark (X) need not be rounded but shall be passed to port when listed in the designated course.

“Platonic” Course

5.7 The Race Officer may design a course that is not on a course card. This will be signalled by the display of a sequence of letters on the hut, designating the marks to be rounded and the order of rounding. A number at the end of the sequence designates the number of laps to be sailed. If no number is displayed, one lap is to be sailed.

5.8 When a red flag is displayed, boats shall round the designated marks to port. When a green flag is displayed, boats shall round the designated marks to starboard. Exception: If Turning Mark is the last mark of the course, it need not be rounded but shall be passed to port regardless of the flag displayed.

5.9 The Race Committee may also announce the course by VHF and/or on the Keelboat WhatsApp channel. [NGR]

Restriction

5.10 After starting and rounding the first mark of the course, a boat shall not pass between the West Pier Hut and any of the DBSC start limit marks (designated O, 2 and 3 on the “DBSC Racing Marks” chart), until she is on the final leg of the course, sailing to the finishing line to finish.

## H6 The Finish

6.1 The finishing line will be between an orange stripe on the corner of the West Pier hut at the starboard end and the orange limit mark (O) at the port end.

## H7 Shortening the Course

7.1 The course may be shortened in accordance with RRS 32.2, by a race committee vessel located near a mark of the course, displaying flag S, with two sound signals. If only certain classes are being shortened, the class flags will be displayed with the S flag. If an entire fleet is being shortened, the fleet pennant will be displayed with the S flag.

## H8 Time Limits

Tuesdays

8.1 The time limit for the first boat of a class to sail the course is 2 hours after her starting signal.

8.2 A boat that does not finish within 30 minutes after the second boat of her class sails the course, or before 21:05 local time, whichever is earlier, will be scored DNF (Did Not Finish) without a hearing. This changes RRS 35 and A5.

8.3 Should only two boats start a race, a boat that does not finish within 30 minutes after the first boat of her class sails the course, or before 21:05 local time, whichever is earlier, will be scored DNF without a hearing. This changes RRS 35 and A5.

8.4 For the last two Tuesday races scheduled in August, and any subsequent Tuesday races held in September, the three sailing instructions above will not apply. Instead, the time limit for the first boat of a class to finish is 20:30 local time. If one boat in a class has finished, a boat in that class that does not finish before 20:30 will be scored DNF without a hearing. This changes RRS 35 and A5.

Saturdays

8.5 The time limit for the first boat of a class to sail the course is 17:00 local time.

8.6 A boat that does not finish within 30 minutes after the second boat of her class sails the course, or before 17:30 local time, whichever is earlier, will be scored DNF (Did Not Finish) without a hearing. This changes RRS 35 and A5.

8.7 Should only two boats start a race, a boat that does not finish within 30 minutes after the first boat of her class sails the course, or before 17:30 local time, whichever is earlier, will be scored DNF without a hearing. This changes RRS 35 and A5.
