2026 TAYLOR POND ILCA INVITATIONAL REGATTA
Saturday, August 1, 2026
Organizing Authority: Taylor Pond Yacht Club
- RULES Racing will be governed by the Rules as defined in the Racing Rules of Sailing 2025-2028, including the prescriptions of US Sailing, the ILCA Class Rules, the Notice of Race and these Sailing Instructions. Numerical references too Rules are to the Racing Rules of Sailing.
2. ENTRIES: Register at taylorpondyachtclub,com/events (scroll down). Late registration will be accepted at the competitors meting, but as a courtesy to the Race Committee, competitors are requested to register online.
3. NOTICES TO COMPETITORS: Written Notices, including changes to these sailing instructions will be posted on the bulletin board located on the deck between the Junior and Senior clubhouses and may be posted on the TPYC website..
4. SCHEDULE: Unless otherwise announced by the Race Committee, racing will commence at 1 PM and no race will start after 4 PM.
5. RACING AREA: Taylor Pond. Competitors should observe closely where the committee boat anchors and proceed promptly to that vicinity to be on time for first and subsequent starts.
6. COURSES AND MARKS:
a. Marks will be 14” inflatable orange or yellow buoys.
b. Courses will generally be windward-leeward, leaving all marks to port. The committee may require the course to be sailed twice around or set different courses, of which notice will be given from the committee boat.
c. In the event the Committee decides to move a mark during a race, it will signal with two prolonged whistle blasts before the first competitor rounds the mark before the mark that to be moved.
d. In the event the Committee decides to shorten a course, it will signal with three prolonged whistle blasts repeatedly before the first competitor rounds the mark before the new finish. Thereafter competitors should round the next mark, then proceed directly to the start/finish line.
e. Competitors may pass through the start/finish line at any time while racing.
7. STARTING AND FINISH LINES: The starting and finishing line will be between the committee boat mast and a yellow buoy.
8. STARTING SYSTEM: The Sound Signal Starting System in Appendix U3 of the Racing Rules (3 minutes - whistle signals 3 min., 2 min., 1 1/2 min., 1 min., 30 secs., 20 secs., 10 secs, 5,4,3,2,1,go) will be used. Competitors should anticipate a warning signal (5 short whistle blasts) for the next race promptly after the last boat finishes the prior race. and 15 seconds before the 3 minute signal.
9. TIME LIMIT; ABANDONMENT: There will be no time limit for any race. If there are boats still racing ten minutes after the first boat finishes, the boats still racing time limit expired(TLE) without a hearing. If the Committee determines sailing conditions are no longer fair it may abandon any race by sounding five prolonged whistle signals.
10. PROTESTS AND REQUESTS FOR REDRESS: In addition to compliance with Rules 60 and 61, competitors must inform the Committee of the intent to protest or request redress and the sail number of the boat to be protested before the warning signal for the next race, and deliver a written protest to Principal Race Officer within 15 minutes after the committee boat returns to the dock at the end of the day’s racing.
11. SCORING:
a. The low point scoring will be used.
b. If five or more races have been completed, a competitor’s score will be the total of all her race scores, excluding the worst, subject to Rule 90.3(b).
c. A boat scored TLE shall be awarded two more points than the number of boats that finished within the ten minute time limit, but no worse than DNF. This changes Rules 35, A4 and A5.
d. One race must be completed to constitute the regatta. Conditions permitting, the Committee will attempt to complete 5 races or more.
12. PENALTIES: To be exonerated for a foul or infraction, a competitor need complete a single 350 degree turn including a tack and a jibe. This changes Rules 44.1 and 44.2.
12. BOAT INSPECTION: Taylor Pond is one of the few fresh water bodies in central Maine not infested with milfoil or other invasive plants. To avoid unintentional infestation of Taylor Pond, no boat is to be launched before being permitted by the Committee, after any necessary inspection and cleaning.
