# AIB DBSC Summer Series 2026 sailing instructions A, general

Dublin Bay Sailing Club incorporating

The Royal Alfred Yacht Club www.dbsc.ie

AIB DBSC Summer Series 2026

These Sailing instructions should be read in conjunction with the Sailing instructions Supplements for individual fleets and courses: B – Fixed-mark courses, committee vessel starts; C – Coastal races; D – Dinghies (except Water Wags); G – Green fleet; H – Fixed-mark courses, hut starts. The notation [NP] in a rule in these Sailing Instructions means that breaches of these rules will not be grounds for protest or request for redress by a boat. This changes RRS 60.1, 61.1 and 61.4(b). The notation [DP] in a rule in these Sailing Instructions means that the penalty for a breach of that rule may, at the discretion of the protest committee, be less than disqualification. 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.) All Sailing Instructions, schedules, charts and course cards are published and updated on the DBSC web site, under Racing Documents. Competitors are responsible for using the current version of each document.

## A1 Rules

1.1 All racing will be governed by the Racing Rules of sailing (RRS), the relevant Notice of Race, these Sailing Instructions and the rules of each class concerned (unless changed by these sailing instructions).

1.2 The following rules are changed in these Sailing instructions: RRS 29.1, 29.2, 60.1, 61.1, 61.2, 61.4, 90.3, A2, A3, A4, A5, A8 and Race Signals. Each change will be identified in the instruction that changes the rule.

## A2 Notices to Competitors

2.1 Notices to competitors will be posted on the DBSC web site. They may also be posted on a notice board in each of the waterfront clubs and Dun Laoghaire Marina, and/or emailed to competitors.

2.2 Notices related to racing may also be broadcast using a WhatsApp channel (see Appendix A1 – Notes for Competitors). [NGR]

## A3 Changes to Sailing Instructions

3.1 Any change in the sailing instructions will be posted on the DBSC web site before noon on the day from which it will take effect. The waterfront clubs and Dun Laoghaire Marina will be asked to display Flag L under the DBSC burgee. An announcement may also be made on the DBSC WhatsApp channels. [NGR]

3.2 For keelboats, changes may also be announced before racing on the relevant VHF channel. [NGR]

3.3 Changes shown on the DBSC web site shall be the official text until a further change is signalled.

## A4 Signals Made Ashore

4.1 When signals are to be made ashore, the four waterfront clubs and Dun Laoghaire Marina will be asked to display the signals. Failure by any of the clubs or the marina to display the signals will not be grounds for redress. This changes RRS 61.4(b).

4.2 When flag AP is displayed ashore, “1 minute” is replaced with “not less than 30 minutes”. This changes RRS Race Signals AP.

4.3 On a Saturday, flag X displayed ashore, below the DBSC burgee, signals that all keelboat classes except the Green fleet, will start from the West Pier Hut on that day. This signal will be made no later than 60 minutes before racing commences. Start times may change – see the Saturday Combined Hut Starts table in the “Keelboat Race Times” document. Sailing Instructions Supplement H – Fixed marks, hut starts, will apply, and Course Card 2, Saturday, Hut will be used. Announcements may be made on VHF Channel 68 and/or the DBSC Keelboat WhatsApp channel. [NGR]

4.4 When a visual signal is displayed over one or more class flags, fleet flags or fleet pennants, the signal shall apply only to those classes or fleets. Blue, red and green pennants will represent the Blue, Red and Green fleets, respectively. Code flag J will represent all classes scheduled to race from the hut on that day. A white flag bearing the letter D will represent all dinghy classes.

4.5 For the purposes of SI A4, the West Pier Hut shall be treated like a Committee Vessel and is not considered to be “ashore”.

## A5 Schedule of Races

5.1 The DBSC Racing Programme is published on the DBSC web site, under Racing Documents.

5.2 For the schedule of start times for keelboats, see the “Keelboat Race Times” document.

5.3 For the schedule of start times for dinghies, see Sailing Instructions Supplement D – Dinghies.

## A6 Classes and Class Flags

6.1 For dinghies, see Sailing Instructions Supplement D – Dinghies.

6.2 For keelboat class flags and assignment to Blue, Red and Green fleets, see the “Keelboat Race Times” document.

6.3 Cruisers 0, 1, 2 and 3 will be divided as below according to their Irish Sailing ECHO Base handicap or IRC rating, subject to the Committee’s right to allocate a boat to any class.

```text
Class        Handicap range          Class         Handicap range
Cruisers 0   1.035 or above          Cruisers 2    0.920 to 0.979, but 0.908 to 0.979 if LOA exceeds 9 m
Cruisers 1   0.980 to 1.034          Cruisers 3    0.919 or below, but 0.907 or below if LOA exceeds 9 m
```

6.4 Cruisers 4 and 5 will be assigned to A and B divisions.

6.5 A boat in one of the Cruiser classes shall display the numeral pennant corresponding to her class conspicuously on her backstay, or, if no backstay is fitted, on both port and starboard shrouds.

## A7 Racing Areas, Marks, Courses

See the appropriate supplement to the Sailing Instructions.

## A8 Starts, Late Arrivals

8.1 A boat arriving in the starting area after her preparatory signal, under power or tow, shall, having turned off her engine or cast off her tow, take a Two-Turns Penalty (as defined in RRS 44.2) on the pre-start side of the starting line before starting.

8.2 For keelboats, the Race Committee may, after the starting signal, announce the sail numbers of boats that were OCS by VHF. This changes RRS 29.1. [NGR]

8.3 Should there be a general recall, and the recalled class is not the last class in the starting schedule, the Race Committee may decide to continue the starting schedule and restart the race for the class recalled at the end of the starting schedule. This will be signalled by continuing to display the warning signal (class flag) of the class scheduled to start after the recalled class. The recall signal (First Substitute) will be removed at the preparatory signal of the next class, with no additional sound signal. VHF communications may also be made. Should this procedure be applied to a general recall for more than one class, the restarts for the recalled classes will be in the order of the normal start schedule. This changes RRS 29.2. [NGR]

8.4 [NP] A boat that does not start within 10 minutes of her starting signal will be scored Did Not Start (DNS) without a hearing. This changes RRS A3 and A5.

## A9 Disclaimer of Liability

9.1 It shall be the sole responsibility of each boat’s skipper to decide whether to start or continue to race. Each owner/helm shall sail or race his/her boat entirely at his/her own risk. Dublin Bay Sailing Club Ltd. and its committee, sponsors, race officers and organisers shall not be liable in the event of any accident or mishap.

9.2 All boats shall be adequately covered for racing in DBSC races, with third party and civil liability insurance with a minimum coverage of €3.0 million.

9.3 Dublin Port Company will not be responsible for damage to any boat or other property, nor for injury to any competitor, including death, sustained as a result of participation in any DBSC race. By participating in a DBSC race, each competitor agrees to release Dublin Port from any and all liability associated with such participation to the fullest extent permitted by law. See A11 below.

9.4 The Committee reserves the right to accept or reject a boat/skipper entry on grounds of safety or other grounds as it deems appropriate.

## A10 Prohibited Areas

10.1 [NP] Boats whose warning signal has not been made shall avoid the starting area during the starting sequence for other races. The Race Committee may penalize a boat without a hearing for failing to comply with this Sailing Instruction by a 20% Scoring Penalty calculated under RRS 44.3(c) in the race nearest in time to the incident. This changes RRS A5.1.

10.2 [DP] Boats that have finished shall avoid boats still racing. The Race Committee may penalize a boat without a hearing for failing to comply with this Sailing Instruction by a 20% Scoring Penalty calculated under RRS 44.3(c) in the race nearest in time to the incident. This changes RRS A5.1.

10.3 [DP] A boat racing in a DBSC race shall not cross the start or finish line of any race in which she is not racing. The Race Committee may penalize a boat without a hearing for failing to comply with this Sailing Instruction by a 20% Scoring Penalty calculated under RRS 44.3(c) in the race nearest in time to the incident. This changes RRS A5.1.

10.4 [NP] [DP] On Saturdays, a keelboat, having finished her race, shall not pass between the DBSC West Pier Hut and the Orange, Black or Green starting mark in the vicinity of the hut (shown as O, 2, 3 on the “DBSC Racing Marks” chart). Should a boat, in the opinion of the Race Officer, obstruct the view of the Race Committee or interfere with another boat, the Race Committee may penalize her without a hearing by a 20% Scoring Penalty calculated under RRS 44.3(c) in the race nearest in time to the incident. This changes RRS A5.1.

10.5 [DP] A boat shall not enter the area of the Dublin Port channel bounded by the Poolbeg Lighthouse, Navigation Marks 6 and 4, Dublin Bay Buoy, Navigation Marks 1, 3 and 5 and the North Bull lighthouse. This area is marked as “No Go” on the “DBSC Racing Marks” chart.

10.6 [DP] A boat shall not pass between Dalkey Island and the mainland nor between the shore and the special yellow buoys marking the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown coastal swimming areas.

10.7 [DP] On Tuesdays, a keelboat shall not enter the area of Scotsman’s Bay bounded by the racing marks of the dinghy course.

10.8 [DP] Dun Laoghaire Harbour Notices to Mariners No.3 of 2026 states that clear fairway priorities are to be given to Cruise Ships and their Tenders. This notice must be observed by all competitors. See also Dublin Port Notice to Mariners No.19 of 2026.

## A11 Commercial Shipping

11.1 All boats shall give way to and keep clear of commercial shipping. A boat reported by a Harbour Master for interference with commercial shipping in Dublin Bay will be disqualified from all races sailed on that day without a hearing. This changes RRS A5.1. Note that breaches may incur a fine from the port authorities.

11.2 For Information: Dublin Port jurisdiction of the bay area commences from, but excludes the Matt Talbot Memorial Bridge in the City of Dublin, and extends to a line from the Baily Lighthouse in the North, to the North Burford Bank Buoy, to the South Burford Bank Buoy and to Sorrento Point in the South, including the harbours of Bulloch and Sandycove, but excluding the limits of the harbours of Dun Laoghaire and Coliemore.

## A12 Hearing Requests

A hearing request is a request to the protest committee to hear a protest, a request for redress or a request to reopen a hearing. The person writing the request is the initiator, the other parties are the respondents.

12.1 Hearing requests shall be delivered electronically using the Hearing Request Form (available on the DBSC web site under Racing Forms).

12.2 The time limit for delivering hearing requests is 48 hours after the start of the race for the requesting boat’s class. The time recorded by the hearing request system will be deemed evidence of the time submitted. If a diagram is needed, this may be included as an attachment to the hearing request form, or added later (by editing the form), or brought to the hearing.

12.3 A request for redress by a boat disqualified without a hearing or for any other scoring action shall be made within seven days of the race results being published. This changes RRS 61.2.

12.4 Notices will be emailed to inform competitors of the time and place of hearings in which they are parties or named as witnesses. If any party is absent from the hearing 15 minutes after the scheduled time, the protest committee may proceed with the hearing in their absence under RRS 63.1 (b).

12.5 If the Honorary Protest Secretary receives a hearing request that is outside the time limit, or if for any other reason he is of the opinion that the Protest Committee is likely to decide that the request is invalid, he shall inform the initiator. The initiator may ask to withdraw the request. The Honorary Protest Secretary may then act on behalf of the Protest Committee in accordance with RRS 63.2 and allow the request to be withdrawn.

12.6 All correspondence concerning a hearing will be addressed to the email address supplied to DBSC on the entry form. Failure to receive correspondence due to an incorrect email address supplied will not constitute grounds for redress. This changes RRS 61.4(b).

## A13 Scoring – DBSC Series

13.1 A race shall be scored if it is not abandoned and if two or more boats come to the starting area and at least one of them sails the course and finishes within the time limit, even if she retires after finishing or is disqualified. This changes RRS 90.3(a).

13.2 RRS A5.3 shall apply but is changed so that a boat that did not come to the starting area shall be scored points for the finishing place one more than the number of boats that came to the starting area. This changes RRS A5.3.

13.3 At least three races must be scored to constitute a series.

13.4 In each series, if less than 4 races are scored, a boat’s series score shall be the total of her race scores. When 4 or more races have been scored in a series, a boat’s series score shall be the total of her race scores excluding her worst scores, as follows:

```text
Races Scored           Scores Excluded           Races Scored           Scores Excluded
4 to 6                 1                         18 to 24               4
7 to 11                2                         25 to 31               5
12 to 17               3                         32 or more             6
```

13.5 Each class may request prior approval for racing on one or two Saturdays to be “starred”, meaning that scores for races sailed on that day shall not be included in the relevant series score(s) or count towards prizes.

13.6 A keelboat boat that is scored DNC (did not start, did not come to the starting area) in a race as a consequence of the helm or key crew being required by DBSC to act as a Race Officer or to help in the West Pier Hut, may request a score in that race of her average points for the relevant series. This request may be made as a Scoring Inquiry – see below.

13.7 Any query of race results must be made through the Scoring Inquiry Form (available on the DBSC web site under Racing Forms), within seven days of the publication of the results being queried. Queries sent to the Honorary Secretary or to a Race Officer will not be addressed.

## A14 Scoring – RAYC Super League

14.1 Boats entered for DBSC racing in Cruisers 0, 1, 2, 4, 5 and Beneteau 31.7 will also compete in the RAYC Super League.

14.2 The RAYC Super League has three series. Series 1: DBSC races on 2 May and 9 May, and the HYC Lambay Race on 30 May. Series 2: the regattas of the four Dun Laoghaire waterfront clubs. Series 3: DBSC coastal races on 29 August and 12 September and DBSC race on 19 September.

14.3 Cruisers 0, 1 and 2 will be scored using IRC. Cruisers 4 and 5 will be scored using ECHO. Beneteau 31.7 will be scored as a one-design class.

14.4 In events other than DBSC races, boats will be scored as follows: Lambay Race: finishing place after excluding all boats not entered in the RAYC Super League. Regattas: overall ranking after excluding all boats not entered in the RAYC Super League. This changes RRS A2.1, A3 and A4.

14.5 In Series 1 and Series 3, one race must be scored to constitute a series. If less than 3 races are scored, a boat’s series score will be the total of her race scores. Results calculated for the RAYC Super League will not change DBSC series results.

14.6 In Series 2 one regatta must be completed to constitute the series. If less than 3 regattas are completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her regatta scores calculated as in A14.4 above. If 3 or more regattas are completed, a boat’s series score will be the total of her regatta scores calculated as in A14.4 above, excluding her worst score.

14.7 A boat’s series score in the RAYC Super League will be the total of her ranking places in Series 1, 2 and 3. RRS A8.1 will apply, except that “race score” is replaced by “ranking place”. RRS A8.2 will apply, except that boats will be ranked in order of their score in the last race in which both boats competed. This changes RRS A2.1 and A8.

## A15 Handicapping

15.1 As described in the Notices of Race and as agreed with each relevant class, boats scored using a handicap or rating system will be scored using one or more of ECHO (Progressive), IRC, VPRS, ORC Club, YTC and Portsmouth Yardstick (PY).

15.2 Boats scored using a handicap or rating system shall comply with the rules of that system and shall have a valid current certificate for that system. Such a certificate must be produced for inspection if requested by the Honorary Secretary or other person nominated by the DBSC Committee.

15.3 The Honorary Secretary (or another person nominated by the DBSC Committee) must be notified immediately of any change in handicap or rating, other than a routine ECHO or PY update.

15.4 For the purposes of RRS 49.2 lifelines complying with OSR 3.14(i) shall be deemed to be taut.

## IRC

15.5 For Cruisers 0, 1 and 2, an IRC Certificate must be an endorsed certificate.

15.6 IRC rule 22.4.2 shall not apply. There will be no limits on crew number or weight.

ORC Club

15.7 Classes scored using ORC will be scored using one of the custom scoring options available on page 2 of current valid IRL ORC certificates. The Race Committee may announce the wind band intended to be used by VHF before the first warning signal. The Race Committee may later change the wind band to be used, if there has been a material change in conditions during the race.

15.8 The selection of the ORC scoring option and parameters used for the race, and any announcement thereof or subsequent change thereto, will be at the sole discretion of the Race Committee. These will not constitute grounds for redress. This changes RRS 61.4(b).

15.9 ORC Rating Systems Rule 102 (crew weight) shall not apply.

ECHO (Progressive)

15.10 For classes scored using ECHO, DBSC will maintain separate handicaps for Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday series, for each boat.

15.11 For boats that raced using ECHO in DBSC in the 2025 summer season, the initial ECHO handicap for the 2026 season will be based on the adjusted handicap at the end of the 2025 season. For other boats, the initial handicap will be based on the value provided by Irish Sailing. ECHO handicaps may be revised or adjusted by DBSC at any time. The allocation or adjustment of an ECHO handicap shall not constitute grounds for redress. This changes RRS 61.4(b).

## A16 Sail Numbers

16.1 All boats shall comply with RRS 77 except as provided below.

16.2 A keelboat wishing to change her sail number or use a sail with a number other than the number given in her entry form (or any amendment thereto) shall notify the Honorary Secretary at least 24 hours before the changed sail number is to be used. This notification may be given using the online Sail Change Request form. The new sail number will continue to be used until the end date specified in the form, or until a further notification is given.

16.3 For dinghies, see Sailing Instruction D12.

16.4 [DP] The race committee may score boats with indistinct, illegible or missing sail numbers as DNC (did not start, did not come to the starting area) without a hearing. This changes A5.1.

## A17 Penalties Given Without a Hearing

Penalties given by the race committee without a hearing will be recorded in the results published by DBSC. No other notification will be given.

## A18 Retractable Bowsprits

A boat may extend her bowsprit only when continuously hoisting, flying or a continuously retrieving her spinnaker or gennaker. At all other times, the bowsprit shall be retracted. When approaching a windward mark without the spinnaker or gennaker set, the bowsprit shall not be extended until the bow of the boat passes to windward of the mark. For the purposes of this rule, a mark is a windward mark when the direct course from the previous mark (or the start line if there is no previous mark) is less than 90° from the direction of the wind.

Appendix A1 – Notes for Competitors

Cancelled Races Flags AP over A, with two sound signals, will be used to signal that racing is being cancelled for the rest of the day, for example, due to strong wind or lack of wind. The meaning is defined in RRS Race Signals: “Races not started are postponed. No more racing today.” However, where the schedule does not allow for extra races on subsequent days, the number of races in the relevant series will be reduced. When this signal is displayed on a committee vessel or at the West Pier Hut, it applies only to the classes scheduled to race from that committee vessel or from the hut. When this signal is displayed ashore (other than at the hut), Sailing Instruction A4 applies. Example: The flags on the right, displayed ashore on a Thursday evening, signal that racing for the DBSC Red fleet is cancelled. Flags N over A may be used on the water (or at the hut) when races have already started. The meaning is “All races in progress are abandoned. No more racing today.”

WhatsApp Channel Competitors may choose to sign up to a WhatsApp channel, where they may receive information related to DBSC racing. Examples could include cancellation of racing and courses for coastal races. This is optional – any information sent through the channel will also be provided as previously, on the relevant VHF channel and/or signalled using flags or course boards. More information is available on the DBSC web site, along with links to sign up.

Class Helpers Classes that race from the West Pier Hut on Saturdays will be required to provide 2 people and 2 cars to assist the hut team during the season. The relevant Class Captains will be informed of the dates when their class is to provide volunteers. The volunteers should be adults familiar with DBSC racing. They should be capable of raising and lowering flags and recording sail numbers. They should meet the hut team on the Royal Irish Yacht Club balcony between 12:15 and 12:30 on the day.
