Beer-can Series

Beer-Can Series 2010

Beer-Can Races are informal races open to everyone!! The emphasis is definitely on having fun.  SYC uses a pursuit-race format, which cuts down on all that pre-start screaming on the part of the skippers. Everybody gets a start time based on their boat's PHRF, with the slower boats starting first. The start and finish are between Port Of Redwood City day mark 20 and the dolphin just off the SW end of Wharf 4.

Changes to the NOR:

Signal flags indicating courses will be hoisted on the Yacht Club mast at approximately 1700.

• When double pennants are flown on the same halyard:
  • The top flag shall indicate courses for boats that are sailing in the Yacht Club Fleet and starting in the starting line as described in these instructions. 
  • The bottom flag shall indicate courses for boats that are chartered through Spinnaker Sailing and starting at the starting line as described in their instructions.
• When Course 6 and 7 Flags are flown at the same time on separate halyards:
  • The Skippers shall have the choice between these two courses.  Extra caution should be exercised at mark Y as the vessels shall be rounding the mark in opposite directions.  Port/Starboard rules shall apply.  
  • A third flag, indicating a course for Spinnaker Sailing may also be flown below the Yacht Club Fleet Course on either halyard, indicating the Spinnaker Sailing course.
• Course revision: Course 6, black over white pennant S/F, 12p, Ys, S/F 8.87 nm  - this is essentially the reverse of the very popular Course 7, and should allow for more Spinnaker work.
• New description of the X buoy: X is a white PVC pipe with a red stripe near the San Mateo bridge in a direct line above Y & S, located at 37deg 35.5N, 122deg 13.2W.
• Adding on to the Decision to Race section: .  At the discretion of the Beer Can Fleet Captain the race may be abandoned , and no prizes will be awarded on that evening.
• Spinnaker and Non-Spinnaker Divisions: Spinnaker and NonSpinnaker:  There shall be 2 divisions, Spinnaker and Non-Spinnaker which shall be declared on the registration form.  Switching within the season shall result in forfeiture of any victories won toward the seasonal award for most wins and will not affect any accumulated adjustments to start time as per these racing rules.. Switching divisions shall only be allowed by resubmitting the registration form indicating the change to the Acting Fleet Captain 24 hours prior to the start of the race.  
• Prizes: There will be a prize awarded to the skipper of the first-to-finish vessel after each race in Spinnaker, Non-Spinnaker and Merit Fleets
• Start times, new member bonus: Any time a skipper or crew member of the yacht becomes a member of Sequoia Yacht Club the yacht shall be awarded an increase in her PHRF Rating by 6 for the remainder of the season. Should a crew member regularly participate on more than on yacht during the season, the yacht whose skipper sponsors the new member shall receive the adjustment. The skipper of a rented yacht who joins will carry the adjustment with them to another identical rented yacht.
• Earlier Starting time: From September 1st through October 13th, all races will begin 30 minutes earlier than the listed start time.
• A reminder to all, something that has been the Beer-Can rules and was not changed:  If you are in a collison, you will be disqualified, even if the collision was not your fault!  Let's have fun out there!

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