Weekend Racing

Quick Link: Notice of Race

The Sailing Instructions are available on the club web site THSC.CA and can be obtained from the Racing Fleet Captain or the Rear Commodore.

On the water, the Race Committee intends to monitor and communicate with competitors on VHF channel 73.

• Division 1 – Spinnaker (All PHRF). Identified by numeral pennant 1).
• Division 2 – White Sail (All PHRF). Identified by numeral pennant 2.

Schedule of events

• May 18, 2024 – Ice Breaker Race
• July 6, 2024 – Circle of Life Race
• July 27, 2024 – Race de Voyageurs
• August 10, 2024 – Dufferin Bell Buoy Race
• August 31, 2024 – Bluffers Challenge Race
• September 21, 2024 – Frostbite Race

All races will have a skippers meeting at 11:00 am on the THSC patio on the day of the race to finalize registration and to go over any last minute changes.

• This is a FRIENDLY series and your Race Committee would like this to continue. Avoid putting yourself in violation of the rules and if a situation arises, do your penalty and get on with racing. You can learn from your mistakes back on shore.
• Know your current CYA/ISAF racing Rules of Sailing, and have a copy on board.

• If you wish to protest a potential infringement of the rules, then the following must take place:
  • A red protest flag must be flown, and verbal notice of protest given to the other boats involved as soon as possible after the incident occurs.
  • The Race Committee should be notified of the protest at the earliest opportunity. Please note, that waiting until the end of the race is too late and your protest will be disallowed.

• Protest forms (available from the Racing Fleet Captain must be completed and presented to the Racing Fleet Captain within 30 minutes of the docking of the Race Committee vessel. Please note that at a minimum, this should contain the protesting vessel name, the name of the vessel being protested and a description of the alleged incident.
• Any protest will be considered immediately after the involved race with an arbitration hearing between the protesting skippers and one or both of the THSC Club Judges. If an acceptable decision can be reached by the parties involved, no further action will be taken. This could include withdrawal of the protest.
• If an acceptable decision cannot be reached, the protest will be heard by a pro tem committee of 3, drawn up by the Racing Fleet Captain or the Rear Commodore.

• All race series will be scored with each race counting for equal points under the low point scoring system (e.g. First = 1 point, Second = 2 points, Third = 3 points etc).
• DNF will score the number of boats in the same division that started in a given race plus 1.
• DSQ will score the number of boats that started in a given race plus 2.
• DNS will score the number of boats registered in the Division for the series or race plus 2.
• For the trophies that will be awarded in Series I, II or III in the Wednesday Night Races, the best 4 places will be counted. If there are 4 or less races in a series completed then all will count.
• For Overall Season Trophies in each Division, the best 10 placings in all 3 series will be counted. If fewer than 10 races are completed, then all will count.

Updated April 2024

• All racing at THSC will be governed by the rules as defined in the ISAF Racing Rules of Sailing, the prescriptions of the CYA and these instructions.
• The THSC Race Committee reserves the right to amend these sailing instructions. Amendments will be posted on the THSC Race notice board at least one hour prior to the first start of the race for which they will be in force.
• All participants should be fully aware of the OSA concussion protocols and recommendations.
• In the event that there are insufficient race committee crew for any club race, the Race Fleet Captain may call on crew from as many boats as necessary to make up a race committee.
• It is the sole responsibility of each boat to determine whether they will start or continue in any race.
• If the Race Committee determines that it is unsafe for them to participate in any race, that race will be cancelled.
• Each boat intending to race shall hold a valid PHRF certificate as qualifying results will be submitted to PHRF-LO at the end of the season.
• Those boats possessing a valid PHRF certificate are eligible and cordially invited to participate in ABYC racing.
• Any boat that does not hold a valid PHRF certificate will be allowed to race in THSC races and will be assigned a rating by the Club handicapper. This rating will be based upon PHRF-LO Standard Boat Data with an automatic 15 point rating reduction.
• All boats must register in order to race.
• A boat can change Division for each race.
• All boats intending to race should come within hailing distance of the Race Committee vessel, either before the warning signal of the first class, or immediately after their class warning signal and report their sail number and receive acknowledgement from the Race Committee. Boats not racing shall keep clear of the starting area.
• Boats intending to race, should fly their division pennant and no other flags.
• Boats intending to race should have their anchors stowed so as not to be a safety hazard to other boats racing.
• All boats intending to race should fully satisfy Transport Canada safety regulations for boats of their size, as published by the Canadian Coast Guard in the current Boating Safety Guide.
• Each skipper of a powered boat must have a Powered Vessel Operators Certificate for operation of that vessel within the boundaries of Toronto Harbour.
• Each skipper must have a valid Pleasure Craft operator certificate.
• All boats entering THSC races must provide proof of valid insurance, including coverage for club racing events.
• All boats entering THSC races must sign a liability waiver prior to racing. Please see the Race Fleet Captain for a copy.
• All boats must have an individual aboard with a valid MROC (Marine Radio Operators Certificate).
• All boats entering THSC races must have VHF capable of receiving channel 16, 68 and 73.
• THSC radio communications will occur on channel 73.
• Race results will be calculated using the PHRF-LO handicap Time on Time system.
• ABYC or boats from other clubs are eligible for flags but not THSC club trophies.