Sailing instructions

The Southern Ionian Regatta is an sailing event organized by a team of volunteers. The event will take place on the 17th & 18th September 2025 in the Ionian Islands, Greece.

1. Rules

  • The regatta will be governed by the Racing Rules of Sailing

  • The Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions apply.

  • Local port regulations and Greek maritime laws will be observed.

  • Any change to the sailing instructions will be posted before 0900 on the day it will take effect, except that any change to the schedule of races will be posted by 2000 on the day before it will take effect. ​

2. Changes to Sailing Instructions

  • On the water, the race committee intends to monitor and communicate with competitors on VHF radio channel 08.

  • The following communications will be made by the race committee on VHF channel 08.

    • Location of start

    • Schedule changes

    • Postponment

    • Course changes

    • Starting signals

    • Shortening course

  • From the first warning signal until the end of the last race of the day, except in an emergency, a boat shall not make voice or data transmissions and shall not receive voice or data communication that is not available to all boats.

3. COMMUNICATIONS WITH COMPETITORS

4. Code of conduct

  • Competitors and support persons shall comply with reasonable requests from race officials.

  • Competitors and support persons shall handle any equipment by the organising authority with care, seamanship, in accordance with any instructions for its use and without interfering with its functionality.

  • Please respect your other competitors, as this is an enjoyable event and no collisions will be tolerated.

5. schedule of races

  • Wednesday 17th September - Feeder Race

  • Thursday 18th September - Main Race

  • The scheduled time of the warning signal for the first race each day is 13.55

  • To alert boats that a race or sequence of races will begin soon, the postponement flag will come down on the committee boat 1 minute before the start sequence.

6. Racing area & course

Wednesday 17th September

  • Leg 1 Palairos to Agia Nikolaus - Heading 244°

  • Leave the island of Agia Nikolaus to port

  • Leg 2 Agia Nikolaus to Sparti - Heading 224°

  • Leave the island of Sparti to starboard

  • Leg 3 Sparti to Nikiana - Follow coast north

Total Course Length 11nm

thursday 18th September

  • Leg 1 Meganisi Straight to Arkoudi - Heading 186°

  • Leave the island of Arkoudi to starboard

  • Leg 2 Arkoudi to Syvota - Heading 350°

Total Course Length 12nm

potential course changes

In the event of very light winds, the following course changes may be made by the race committee:

  • Feeder Race - The island of Sparti may be skipped by all competitors who will proceed directly to the finish line in Nikiana. Competitors will be informed of this change before the first boat rounds the island of Agia Nikolaus

  • Main Race - The island of Arkoudi may be skipped by all competitors who will proceed directly to the finish line in Syvota. Competitors will be informed of this change before the first boat leaves the Meganisi Straight.

In the event of one of these course changes the competitors will be informed by an official VHF broadcast, they will be informed by a support boat and the committee boat will display the C flag with repetitive sound signals.

7. Racing marks

  • All racing marks will be islands as described in section 6

  • The pin end of the start and finish line will be a large yellow cylindrical inflatable mark

8. The start

  • To start the starting sequence, the postponement flag (red and white vertical strips) will come down at 13.54, one minute before the start of the main sequence. This will be accompanied by a long horn blast. If you are timing your start, do not use this signal.

The starting sequence will be as follows:

  • 5 Minutes Class Flag goes up

  • 4 Minutes P Flag goes up

  • 1 Minute P Flag comes down

  • Start Class Flag comes down

These will be accompanied by a loud sound signal

  • The start line will be between the cockpit of the committee boat and the yellow pin end mark

  • If any part of a boat’s hull is on the course side of the starting line during the two minutes before her starting signal and she is identified, the race committee will attempt to broadcast her sail number on VHF channel 08​. Failure to make a broadcast or to time it accurately will not be grounds for a request for redress. This changes RRS 62.1(a).

  • If any boats are over the line at the start, the X flag (white with blue cross) will be raised with a sound signal, and the boat in question needs to fully recross the line before continuing the race. The race committee will attempt to hail her sail number. Failure to hail her number, failure of her to hear such a hail, or the order in which boats are hailed will not be grounds for a redress for request. This changes RRS 62.1(a).

  • A boat that does not start within 15​ minutes after her starting signal will be scored Did Not Start without a hearing. This changes RRS A5.1 and A5.2.

9. The finish

  • The finishing line is between the mast on the committee boat and a yellow buoy.

  • As soon as crossing the finishing line, boats should stay clear of all competitors still racing

10. penalty system

  • If committing a penalty, all yachts should do a 720-degree turn, including 2 tacks and 2 gybes within 3 minutes of the incident.

  • Yachts should keep clear of all other competitors while doing these turns.

  • Failure to complete these turns will result in disqualification.

  • Protests are discouraged, but if you would like to protest someone, this must be accompanied by a €25 donation to a local charity

11. time limits

  • The finish line will close at 18.00 for both races unless there are a lot of boats just about to finish. All yachts still sailing will be given a place, depending on location.

12. scoring

  • Each race will count separately and there will be the following prizes awarded:

    Feeder Race

    • 1st, 2nd and 3rd non spinnaker class

    • 1st, 2nd & 3rd spinnaker class

    Main Race

    • 1st, 2nd and 3rd non spinnaker class

    • 1st, 2nd & 3rd spinnaker class

    • Line Honours

    • Best Fancy Dress

    • Most Photogenic Yacht

    • Most Spirited Crew

    • Captains Choice Award

  • A boat that retires from a race shall notify the race committee at the first reasonable opportunity, which can include using VHF Channel 08.

  • The responsibility for a boat’s decision to participate in a race or to continue to race is hers alone.’  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. Safety regulations & Risk assessment

13. offical vessels

  • The committee boat will be a ketch called “Paguro” with the words committee boat and with a regatta flag.

  • The second official vessel will be a large rib also carrying a regatta flag.

14. Insurance

  • Each participating boat shall be insured with valid third-party liability insurance; this will not be checked.

  • This cover should include racing in a regatta.