RULES
General Rules
There is no limit to the number of entries from each school in each division.
Sailors may only be registered in one Yachting division.
Wear clothing that is associated with your school.
Please obey with all marshals and briefings.
Team managers are responsible for their parents and supporters.
Please ensure that the safety and enjoyment of all competitors is of utmost importance.
Optimist event rules
- All competitors are responsible for the sea worthiness of their boats and compete at their own risk.
- Boat safety checks to be completed.
- All competitors must be members of a club or other entity affiliated to their respective National Sailing Authority (e.g., a club affiliated to Yachting New Zealand).
- All racing will be conducted under the World Sailing Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS). Note the YNZ Optimist Green Fleet racing rules do not apply.
- All Optimists must meet International Optimist Dinghy Association Class Rules. Pre-event boat safety checks will be held the day before racing commences. Compliance is the competitor’s individual responsibility.
- Competitors must sign on and sign off when going afloat or coming ashore.
- On a Race Day, no competitor may leave the beach until authorised to do so by the Race Committee (Code Flag D system).
- Other specific rules, race management details and courses for the event are detailed in “Notice of Race” and “Sailing Instructions” for the event and should be read in conjunction with these rules.
- Whilst team results will be calculated, all sailors compete as individuals in a Fleet Race format at all times. Failure to comply with this requirement will be considered a breach of RRS Rule 2 – Fair Sailing and may lead to disqualification.
INFORMATION
NOR and SI
Notice of race and sailing instructions will be published on the TYPBC club website and on the Zespri AIMS Games website and app under Yachting closer to the event.
Ideally each school team is to bring a support vessel (ideally a 4.0 – 6.0m RIB). This vessel must be registered with the event and speed restrictions in the course area will apply. Interfering with other yachts whilst racing may lead to disqualification of respective team members associated with that vessel. Skippers of support vessels shall follow requests for assistance from the Race Committee at all times. Support vessels, if they wish to enter the Tauranga Marina, must have valid third-party insurance with a minimum cover of $5,000,000 per incident or the equivalent. Certificate of insurance to be presented at registration. There may be ability for the support vessel to be left in the Tauranga Marina overnight.
Health and Safety
- All participants, team managers and schools are reminded that they compete at their own risk and absolve the event director, all marshals, helpers and volunteers from any blame or claim.
- The event is run in spring with the potential for cold wet weather and strong winds. For safety reasons, a minimum level of competency of the following is required:
- Have completed learn to race program and
- Have sailed with a club for a season as a green fleet competitor and
- Have sailed at a regional regatta.
Other entries may be accepted at the discretion of the Organising Authority.
It is recommended that contestants contact their YNZ Regional Development Manager prior to entry to ensure a sufficient level of experience.
- Buoyancy vests with a whistle must be worn at all times by all competitors and personnel on support boats.
- All support boats must be registered with the event organiser at registration, boat identification shall be displayed at all times, speed restrictions in vicinity of the course and Marina area will apply.
- All participants are reminded that they compete at their own risk and absolve all marshals, helpers and volunteers from any blame or claim. Note World Sailing Racing Rules of Sailing Rule 4 – Decision to Race.
- It is the individuals and school’s responsibility to have their boats in a safe and working condition and compliant with class measurement requirements.
- Clear instruction to coaches/team managers will be given about the extent of the organiser’s responsibilities at the Saturday afternoon Managers Meeting. All skippers of support vessels are expected to be present.
Ideally each school team is required to bring a support vessel (ideally a 4.0 – 6.0m RIB). This vessel must be registered with the event and speed restrictions in the course area will apply. Interfering with other yachts whilst racing may lead to disqualification of respective team members associated with that vessel. Skippers of support vessels shall follow requests for assistance from the Race Committee at all times.
Team Honours
- Schools with less than two competitors in a year group/gender division will be ineligible to claim team honours. Where more than two competitors per school are in each category the best placed sailors’ scores shall count in each race for the team honours.
- For schools that enter a team in a year group/gender division, each individual competitor in that team is also eligible to claim individual line honours.
- For year group/gender division team honours – the placing of the top two competitors will be added together. Lowest team total is the winner i.e., Year 7 Girls 6th and 13th = 19 points (1st place), 5th and 22nd = 27 points (2nd place).
Judging
The organisers will appoint YNZ accredited Judges who will observe racing under the “Whistle System,” adjudicate RRS Rule 42 – Propulsion infringements under RRS Appendix P and hear protests and arbitrations.
MEDAL PRESENTATIONS
Individual awards for each division, and for overall school team honours will be presented with their medals at the venue at the completion of Day 3 (Tuesday 2nd September 2025).
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