Notice of Race - Sprint Series
Sprints (old WLSC Spring) Trophy
January - December 2026. One 5 race Sunday per month
1. Rules
1.1. The Organizing Authority is Silver Wing Sailing Club (SWSC). All enquiries to
secretary@silverwingsc.co.uk
1.2. The series shall be governed by the Racing Rules of Sailing 2025-2028, and the Rules of
SWSC.
2. Eligibility
2.1. The series is open to all dinghy classes sailed at SWSC.
2.2. All boats must be helmed by club members. Current club fees must be paid by the helm or
person in charge before competing in any race.
2.3. Sailors need not be a member of the relevant class association
3. Schedule of races
3.1. There will be one Sprint Series Sunday per month
3.2. This will be on the second Sunday of the month, except:
3.2.1. It will be the first Sunday in April (5th) – Alistair Rouse Bowl and Easter Egg Cup.
3.2.2. It will be the third Sunday in December (20th) – Christmas Pudding Races.
See the sailing calendar available on the SWSC website
3.3. There will be 5 short average lap time races on each Sprint Series Sunday. Each will be
approximately 10-15 minutes in duration.
3.4. The first Warning Signal will not be before 10:55, except:
3.4.1. Sunday 8th November (Remembrance Sunday), first warning signal not before 11:10.
3.5. Subsequent races on each day will be held back-to-back as soon as possible after each
other.
3.6. For starting sequences see Club Racing Sailing Instructions.
4. Handicaps
4.1. Club racing will be carried out using the RYA Portsmouth Yardstick system. Local
adjustments will be made where the sailing committee see fit.
4.2. A list of PY numbers used for boats commonly sailed at SWSC is displayed on the results
noticeboard and the SWSC website. A boat not on the list will use the published RYA
handicap.
4.3. Laser/ILCA, Topper and RS boats equipped with replica sails and parts shall have the same
PYs as fully class legal boats, unless it is judged by the sailing committee that they have a
performance advantage over class legal boats.
5. Sailing Instructions
5.1. Club Sailing Instructions are available on the SWSC website and are pinned to the club
notice board.
6. Scoring System
6.1. The series is defined as a ‘Club Series’ as detailed below.
6.2. Scoring shall be IAW Appendix A, and shall use the Low Points System, with the following
exceptions for a ‘Club Series’:
6.2.1. Scores for races in a ‘Club Series’ are allocated to competitors as opposed to boats.
Competitors may race as either helms, or crews, or both; and will be scored separately
as helms or crews. Competitors may sail different boats during the series. This changes
Appendix A.
6.2.2. Rule A5.3 will apply.
6.2.3. In a Club Series a competitor’s score shall be the total of their best scores from a
number of races equal to one quarter of the number of races sailed. If one quarter of the
total races sailed is not a whole number it shall be rounded to the nearest whole
number. A competitor shall sail a minimum of this number of races to qualify for a series.
6.2.4. The number of races counting towards the above qualifying score shall however not be
less than five. This differs from all other series.
11th December 2025 Silverwing Sailing Club
Staines Road
Wraysbury
TW19 5AG
6.2.5. If a competitor does not sail the required number of races in a Club Series they shall still
be given an overall position. They will however be deemed a ‘non-qualifier’ and will not
be finished higher overall than any competitor who has qualified. They will not be eligible
for any trophies.
6.2.6. Club Series ties shall be broken IAW rule A8, except that excluded scores will be used.
This changes rule A8.1
6.3. Competitors undertaking RO or safety boat duties shall score for those races their average
score from the races they competed in during the series. These are defined as ‘RO average
points’.
6.3.1. A competitor must have sailed the required number of races to qualify for a trophy
however.
6.3.2. A competitor shall however only count ‘RO average points’ from no more than one day’s
duty.
6.3.3. If a competitor does two or more day’s duties, and the number of races on the days
differs, then a competitor will count ‘RO average points’ for the day with the highest
number of races sailed.
6.4. Ten races (equivalent to two Sundays) are required to constitute a series. This differs from all
other series
7. Post-Race Penalties
7.1. RRS Appendix T applies.
7.2. Advisory Meeting
When there is an incident that will not result in the lodging of a protest or a request for
redress, a boat may request an advisory meeting and notify any boat involved in the incident.
An adviser will then call a meeting to learn what may have happened and will state whether
any rule appears to have been broken, and by which boat.
A boat may as a result notify the race office that it accepts a Post-Race Penalty when it
applies to the incident, or choose to retire, but is not required to do so.
8. Divisions
8.1. Helms will be seeded in to Divisions A, B and C by the committee.
9. Trophies
9.1. The trophy for the overall winning helm is the Sprints (old WLSC Spring) Trophy.
9.2. Trophies will be awarded for first crew, first Division B and first Division C.
9.3. Other trophies may be awarded by the committee.
10. Rights to use Names and Likenesses
10.1. Competitors automatically grant to the organising authority without payment the right
in perpetuity to make, use and show any motion pictures, still pictures and live, taped or
filmed television of or relating to the series.
11. Risk Statement
11.1. Rule 3 of the Racing Rules of Sailing states: “The responsibility for a boat’s decision
to participate in a race or to continue racing is hers alone.” Sailing is by its nature an
unpredictable sport and therefore involves an element of risk. By taking part in the event,
each competitor agrees and acknowledges that:
a)They are aware of the inherent element of risk involved in the sport and accept
responsibility for the exposure of themselves, their crew and their boat to such inherent risk
whilst taking part in the event;
b)They are responsible for the safety of themselves, their crew, their boat and their other
property whether afloat or ashore;
c)They accept responsibility for any injury, damage or loss to the extent caused by their own
actions or omissions;
d)Their boat is in good order, equipped to sail in the event and they are fit to participate;
e)The provision of a race management team, patrol boats, umpires and other officials and
volunteers by the organiser does not relieve them of their own responsibilities;
f)The provision of patrol boat cover is limited to such assistance, particularly in extreme
weather conditions, as can be practically provided in the circumstances
g)It is their responsibility to familiarise themselves with any risks specific to this venue or this
event drawn to their attention in any rules and information produced for the venue or event
and to attend any safety briefing held at the venue;
12. Insurance 12.1. Boats are required to be adequately insured including insurance against third
party claims of at least £3,000,000
