# AIB DBSC Summer Series 2026 sailing instructions B, fixed-mark courses, committee vessel

Dublin Bay Sailing Club incorporating

The Royal Alfred Yacht Club www.dbsc.ie

AIB DBSC Summer Series 2026

Sailing Instructions Supplement B

Fixed-Mark Courses, Committee Vessel

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.

## B1 Rules

The following rules are changed in these Sailing instructions: RRS 27.1, 27.2, 32.2, 35, 61.4 and A5. Each change will be identified in the instruction that changes the rule.

## B2 Racing Area

The racing area will be Dublin Bay, South of the Dublin Port channel. On Saturdays, the entire area may be used. On Thursdays, the Blue fleet will usually race North of Dun Laoghaire Harbour, and the Red fleet will usually race South-East of Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

## B3 Marks

3.1 The DBSC fixed marks, except the starting line 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. The temporary mark will usually be an inflatable mark, but a robotic mark may be used. Such a replacement will be announced on VHF by the Race Committee. [NGR]

3.3 The starting and finishing mark will usually be a dan buoy, but a robotic mark may be used.

## B4 The Start

4.1 The committee vessel will be identified by the display of the DBSC burgee and either a blue or red pennant, depending on whether the Blue fleet or the Red fleet is scheduled to race from that committee vessel. (On Thursdays, racing is scheduled from two committee vessels, one for each fleet. On Saturdays, Cruisers 0 and 1 are scheduled to race from a committee vessel, along with either the Blue fleet or the Red fleet, depending on the week – see the DBSC Racing Programme.)

4.2 The starting line will be between a red and white staff on the committee vessel (or the main mast if a yacht is being used) at the starboard end, and a starting mark or a staff on a RIB displaying an orange flag at the port end. An orange flag may be displayed on the red and white staff on the committee vessel. Whether the flag is displayed or not, the red and white staff is the starboard end of the starting line.

4.3 Races will be started in accordance with RRS 26. On Saturdays, and for the Blue fleet on Thursdays, the warning signal will be made 5 minutes before the starting signal. For the Red fleet on Thursdays, the warning signal will be made 3 minutes before the starting signal.

4.4 The Race Committee may, no later than three minutes before the starting signal of any class, move either end of the starting line. This changes RRS 27.2.

4.5 If there is an individual recall, the starting line may be adjusted while a recalled boat returns to start correctly. This changes RRS 27.2.

## B5 The Course

5.1 The course will be sailed around marks as described in B3 above.

5.2 When a 5-minute starting sequence is in use, the Race Committee will signal the course to be sailed no later than 3 minutes before the starting signal. When a 3-minute starting sequence is in use, the Race Committee will signal the course to be sailed approximately 2 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 committee vessel, of a letter and a number, which designates a particular course on the appropriate course card. This may also be announced on VHF, using the channel shown on the course card. [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 1 – Saturday, Committee Vessel; for Thursday racing for the Blue fleet, Course Card 3 – Thursday, Blue Fleet; for Thursday racing for the Red fleet, Course Card 4 – Thursday, Red Fleet.

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. 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”.

“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 committee vessel, designating the marks to be rounded and the order of rounding. An orange symbol in this sequence designates a temporary mark. 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.

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

5.10 As an alternative to A5.7 to A5.9, for a more complicated Platonic Course, the Race Committee will announce the sequence of marks to be rounded and the direction of rounding of each mark by VHF. This may also be announced on the Keelboat WhatsApp channel. [NGR]

5.11 If a temporary mark is being used, the Race Committee will announce the position of that mark or the bearing to that mark by VHF.

## B6 The Finish

6.1 The finish committee vessel will be identified in the same way as the start committee vessel. (It will usually be the same vessel.) It will be located approximately upwind of the last mark of the course.

6.2 The finish line will be between a red and white staff displaying a blue flag on the committee vessel (or the main mast if a yacht is being used), at the starboard end and a finishing mark at the port end.

## B7 Shortening the Course

7.1 The course may be shortened in accordance with RRS 32.2, by a race committee vessel (not necessarily the main 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 may be displayed with the S flag.

7.2 If a race committee vessel is positioned at a mark of the course and displaying flag F, with sound signals, boats should round that mark as normal, then sail directly to the finish line (as defined in B6) and cross the finish line from the direction of the mark where flag F was displayed. If only certain classes are being shortened in this way, the class flags will be displayed with the F flag. If an entire fleet is being shortened, the fleet pennant may be displayed with the F flag. This is in addition to RRS 32.2.

## B8 Time Limits

Thursdays

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 Thursday races scheduled in August, and any subsequent Thursday 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.

8.8 Should two races be scheduled, the time limit for the first race is 90 minutes after the starting signal for each class, and the three sailing instructions above apply only to the second race.
