RNLI Pursuit Race 2026 SSI's and Start Times
Published 10:54am on 22 May 2026
TBYC RNLI Pursuit Race Sunday 24th May 2026 SSIs
Race Duration and Entry
Entry fee for the race is a £3 per boat voluntary contribution All proceeds will be donated to the RNLI. Please place the entry fee in the container located on the main bar on the race day.
The Race Duration has been calculated based on the slowest class, RS Tera Sport, sailing for 1.5 hours. Start times for all other classes have been calculated based on the handicap numbers in use at Thorpe Bay Yacht Club as at May 2026.
Classes not allocated a start time / number should contact dutyadmin@tbyc.org BEFORE Race Day to be allocated a start time / number. Competitors sailing boats without a start time allocated will not be eligible to race.
The Course
Committee Boat or Shore Box start The start numbers / times will be posted on the Bosuns hut blackboard along with the course.
The Start
The start time for the first boat (RS Tera Sport) is 17:30 hours
Start times for all classes have been rounded to the nearest minute and are published on the Start Times sheet attached to these supplementary sailing instructions. When possible, the Race Officer will answer questions regarding position in the sequence from competitors prior to the start. This information is entirely at the discretion of the race committee and will not be grounds for redress.
Thorpe Bay Yacht Club Flags will only be used in the initial 3-minute warning and preparatory period before the first start.
International Code Flag R shall be used as the warning signal for the first start.
Sound signals shall govern the starting sequence thereafter.
The first start number will be displayed at 3 mins before the start and will not be removed until the start. Subsequent start numbers will replace the preceding number as soon as possible after the preceding class start and will be displayed for the duration of the time until the subsequent class start, e.g. If the gap between 2 starts is one minute the class start number will be displayed for approximately one minute. If the gap between 2 starts is seven minutes the class start number will be displayed for approximately seven minutes.
Start numbers will be displayed on the Port Side of the Committee Boat or held aloft by the RO
A single sound signal will be made for each of the designated starts even if no boat starts in that class.
There will be no recalls and at the discretion of the Race Officer premature starters will be penalised by 5 places in the finishing order, with no recourse to appeal or redress. Competitors are required to keep clear of the line until after the start immediately prior to their class.
Finishing
The race will finish exactly 1.5 hours after the first start time. A support boat flying a blue flag will motor to the point where the lead boat has reached at the pre-determined finish time and sound a signal indicating that the lead boat has finished.
The support boat will drop an inflatable mark and all competitors shall sail towards this mark.
A support boat will then motor back through the fleet recording the finishing position of each boat as far as possible through the fleet. This is likely to be restricted to the front of the fleet depending upon conditions and positions on the course and is likely to be the first 5 boats only. (Where possible competitors should note the sail numbers of the boat in front of them at the time of the finish signal and record this on the declaration sheet the Bosuns Hut.).
After the finishing sound signal, boats shall not overtake a boat in front but shall continue sailing until the support boat has passed them, recording their position, or the race officer on the support boat has indicated that he/she has finished recording places, at which time they will be deemed to have finished.
Start Times for Classes are below.
Please ensure you know your start NUMBER & TIME.
Last updated 10:55am on 22 May 2026
