Icebreaker Race

Notice of Race

Icebreaker Race/George Coyles
May 17, 2025
Organizing Authority: Toronto Hydroplane and Sailing Club
  1. Rules
    1. This event is governed by the rules as defined in the Racing Rules of Sailing.
    2. The rules of PHRF-LO will be used
    3. The Sail Canada prescriptions shall apply.
  2. Sailing Instructions
    1. The sailing instructions will be available no later than May 1, 2025 on the Race Notice Board at THSC (located in the breezeway in the THSC Clubhouse) and on the THSC web site at THSC.CA.
    2. The sailing instructions will consist of the instructions in RRS Appendix S, Standard Sailing Instructions, and any supplementary sailing instructions that will be on the Race Notice Board as above
  3. Communication
    1. All boats entering THSC races must have VHF capable of receiving channels 16, 68 and 73.
    2. On the water, the Race Committee may make courtesy broadcasts to competitors on VHF. The channel will stated in the Sailing Instructions.
  4. Eligibility
    1. The event is open to all boats that are members of Sail Canada in compliance with the prescription to rule 46..
    2. All boats intending to race must hold a valid PHRF certificate.
    3. A boat which does not hold a valid PHRF certificate will be allowed to race and will be assigned a rating by the THSC club handicapper. This rating will be based upon PHRF-LO Standard Boat Data with an automatic 15 point rating reduction.
    4. All boats must register in order to race. Registration will be open until August 8, 2025 at 2100 online at <<<TBD>>>
    5. Boats intending to race, should fly their division pennant (see below) and no other flags.
    6. All boats entering must accept a liability waiver and proof of insurance statement (including club racing events) prior to racing. Please see the THSC Race Fleet Captain for a copy, or during registration.
  5. Fees: There is no entry fee for this event
  6. Equipment
    1. Boats must have their anchors stowed so as not to be a safety hazard to other boats racing.
    2. All boats must fully satisfy Transport Canada regulations for boats of their size, as published by the Canadian Coast Guard in the current Boating Safety Guide, and satisfy Provincial and City of Toronto regulations.
  7. The  CourseThe course for both white sails and spinnaker divisions will consist of:
    • Start between the committee boat and Mark 0 on the ABYC fixed mark course
    • Leg to mark on ABYC  fixed mark course as denoted on the stern of the committee boat
    • Take mark to port
    • Take T2 Buoy to starboard (43° 33.660’N – 79° 20.778’W)
    • Take T1 Buoy to starboard (43° 36.635’N – 79° 20.998’W)
    • Take Gibraltar Point mark to port (43° 36.312’N – 79° 23.494’W)
    • Take T1 Buoy to port
    • Take T2 Buoy to port
    • Finish between the committee boat and mark 7
  8. Scoring: All divisions will be scored using the PHRF-LO Time on Time methodology.
  9. Fleet Divisions
    1. There will be a two divisions of PHRF Jib and Main and a PHRF flying sails division.
    2. Division and division flags are as follows:
      Numeral pennant 1: PHRF Flying sails
      Numeral pennant 2: PHRF Jib and Main (PHRF Rating <220)
      Numeral pennant 3: PHRF Jib and Main (PHRF Rating >=220)
  10. Schedule of Events
    1. The Icebreaker Race will take place on May 17, 2025
    2. The skippers meeting will be at 11:00 on the THSC patio on the day of the race to finalize registration and to go over any last minute changes.
    3. The Warning signal for the first start in the race is scheduled for 12:00
  11. Risk Statement
    1. See rule 3: The responsibility for a boat’s decision to participate in a race or to continue to race is hers alone.’
    2. By participating in this event each competitor agrees and acknowledges that sailing is a potentially dangerous activity with inherent risks. These risks include strong winds and rough seas, sudden changes in weather, failure of equipment, boat handling errors, poor seamanship by other boats, loss of balance on an unstable platform and fatigue resulting in increased risk of injury. Inherent in the sport of sailing is the risk of permanent, catastrophic injury or death by drowning, trauma, hypothermia or other causes.
  12. Prizes
    1. Flags will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd for each division.
    2. This race will count towards the year end trophies for THSC boats only.

Sailing Instructions

  1. Rules
    The race will be governed by the rules as defined in the Racing Rules of Sailing, PHRF-LO and the Sail Canada prescriptions to the Racing Rules of Sailing.
  2. Notice to Competitors
    Notices to competitors will be posted on the THSC Race notice board (located in the THSC Clubhouse in the breeze way)
  3. Changes to Sailing Instructions
    1. The Sailing Instructions will be available after 16:00 on May 10, 2025 on the THSC Race notice board (located in the THSC Clubhouse in the breeze way) and on the web site at THSC.CA
    2. Any changes to these sailing instructions will be posted on the THSC Race notice board before 0900 on the day of race, except that any change to the schedule of race will be posted by 2000 on the day before it will take effect.
  4. Signals made ashore
    Signals made ashore will be displayed on the THSC flagpole
  5. Communication with Competitors
    On the water, the Race Committee intends to monitor and make courtesy broadcasts only on VHF channel 73.
  6. Schedule of Races
    1. The Icebreaker Race will consist of one race on May 17, 2025.
    2. The scheduled time for the warning signal for the first division is 12:00.
    3. To alert boats that the race will begin soon, the orange starting line flag will be displayed with one sound at least 5 minutes before the warning signal for the first division is made.
    4. The race shall be started in accordance with RRS 26 with at least 1 minute between starts.
  7. Starting Sequence 
    Start NumberIdentified byDivisions in start
    1Numeral Pennant 1 and 2Division 1 and 2
    2Numeral Pennant 3Division 3
  8. Course
    The course for all divisions will consist of:

    1. The Start
      This will be  between the race committee boat and mark 0 on the ABYC fixed mark race course
    2. Marks in sequence
      Round mark of the ABYC race course as designated on the stern of the committee boat  to port
      Take T2 Buoy to starboard (43° 33.660’N – 79° 20.778’W)
      Take T1 Buoy to starboard (43° 36.635’N – 79° 20.998’W)
      Round Gibraltar Point Buoy to port (43° 36.312’N – 79° 23.494’W)
      Take T1 Buoy to port
      Take T2 Buoy to port
    3. The Finish 
      This will be between the committee boat and mark 7 on the ABYC fixed mark race course
  9. ABYC Fixed Mark Race Co-ordinates – even numbered marks are yellow with black top, odd numbered marks are yellow
    MarkLatitudeLongitude
    0N 43°39.219′W 79°16.665′
    1N 43°39.630W 79°16.272′
    2N 43°39.309′W 79°15.986′
    3N 43°38.935′W 79°16.098′
    4N 43°38.728′W 79°16.542′
    5N 43°38.809′W 79°17.058′
    6N 43°39.130′W 79°17.344′
    7N 43°39.503′W 79°17.232′
    8N 43°39.710′W 79°16.788′
  10. Starting and Finishing Procedures
    1. 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 acknowledgment from the Race Committee.
    2. Boats not racing shall keep clear of the starting area.
    3. The raising of the orange flag on the Race Committee vessel shows that the start line has been established and the Race Committee vessel is on station.
    4. The start line will be between the halyard carrying the orange flag and the starting mark.
    5. The starting area is a box that extends one half the length of the starting line ahead of and behind the starting line. It also extends one half of the length of the starting line past either end of the line.
    6. Boats in their start sequence have priority in the starting area over boats, intending to race or not, that are not in their start sequence, and such boats will make all attempts to be outside the starting area.
    7. The raising of the blue flag on the committee boat shows that the finish line has been established and the committee boat is on station.
    8. Curfew will be 16:00. In the event that any boat within a Division finishes within the time, there will be an extension of 10 minutes for the remaining boats in that Division. The Race Committee boat will make 4 sound signals in rapid succession to signify end of time for all Divisions.
    9. Any boat that fails to start within 10 minutes of their start signal will automatically recorded as DNS (Did Not Start) with no right of appeal.
    10. If the Answering Pennant flag has been raised, to indicate postponement, then its drop will be accompanied by one sound signal, and this will signify 1 minute to the warning.
  11. Other Signals
    1. Shorten Course
      Race Committee will fly code flag “S” accompanied by two sound signals when on station.
      Boats will finish between the mark and the Race Committee vessel.
    2. Postponement
      Race Committee will fly Answering Pennant, accompanied by two sound signals.
    3. Cancellation/abandonment
      Race Committee will fly code flag “N”, accompanied by three sound signals.
  12. Protests
    If you wish to protest a potential infringement of the rules, then the following must take place:

    1. 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 and within the protest time limit.
    2. Protest forms (available from the THSC Racing Fleet Captain) must be completed and presented to the THSC Racing Fleet Captain within 30 minutes of the docking of the Race Committee vessel.
  13. Scoring
    The scoring system will be PHRF Time on Time.
  14. Prizes
    Flags will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd for each division.
    This race will count towards the year end trophies for THSC boats only.
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