Scale Steering
Competition Rules
The South West Association of Model Boat Clubs
Scale Steering Competition Rules
(Revised January 2008)
1.The date, venues and number of meetings for the SWAMBC Scale Steering Championships will be agreed by the Club Reps’ at the SWAMBC AGM.
2.At each meeting there should be an Officer of the Day (OOD) who will be appointed by the host club and the SWAMBC Scale Steering Competition Secretary or his deputy.
Entry
3.Open only to members of Club’s affiliated to SWAMBC. All entrants must have third party public liability insurance cover or a membership card if their Club has insurance for its members
4.Each entrant can enter up to two classes per meeting. Entries in the Pilot Class can not be in any other class.
5.There will be a £2.00 entry fee for each entrant at each meeting.
6.For the first meeting of the championship the current reigning champions in each class will go first on the steering course. For each subsequent rounds, the winners of the previous meeting will go first.
Format
7.The Championship will decided over seven meetings (dates and venues agreed at the SWAMBC AGM). Booking in time from 9.30am skippers briefing 10.00am, first steering round 10.30am.
Scale boat classes
8.The scale boat must be radio controlled models and to be looking like a replica of a full size vessel, this will be decided by the meeting OOD together with the SWAMBC Scale Steering Comp’ Sec’ or his deputy.
9.Except for the Pilot Class entries, all boats will be placed into three classes based upon the size of the model ONLY.
The measurement will be taken as the overall length of the hull (including all permanently fixed items) multiplied by its widest beam. The classes are as follows:
Small 72 to 175 square inches
Medium 176 to 299 square inches
Large300 and over “ “
Pilot Class. This class is open to anyone who has not entered a SWAMBC Scale Steering meeting before, or has entered only one meeting during the previous year’s competitive series. Any entrants under the age of 14 years can enter regardless of the number of previous meetings they have attended, however, they can nominate to enter a senior class (based upon their boat size) if they wish. All boats will be placed into one class (no separation based upon the hull size). The competitor may receive any verbal assistance from the Course Judge (this will be encouraged) or anyone else if they require while navigating the course. All the on-the–water rules and the overall scoring system will be the same as for the other classes.
The Course
10.The course design, number and type of obstacles are at the host club’s discretion. If the depth of the water or clearance through an obstacle is less than 12” entrants must be notified during the skippers briefing. Each entrant will be provided with a course drawing/map.
11.All the course obstacles must be clearly visible from the skipper operating area.
12.All boats must complete the course given. But if necessary should there be queue of boats waiting to enter one obstacle, the Course Judge can ask the entrant he or she is judging to continue onto the next obstacle. The Course Judge must notify the entrant to return to the “missed” obstacle before the course is completed.
Course marking/scoring
13.On the water course judging and marking will be done by designated “SWAMBC Scale Steering Course Judges”. To qualify to become a Course Judge contact the SWAMBC Scale Steering Competition Secretary).
14.Penalties will be awarded as 1 point for each touch of any obstacle or part of a group of obstacles. (Except for the push-apart or other contact buoys etc).
15.The maximum penalty score for each obstacle (or group) is 5 points. This will be scored automatically if the boat takes a wrong course, misses out obstacles or fails to complete a task such as hitting horn pads etc.
16.Obstacles with solid sides, such as parallel bars or canals will be marked in zones with a 1” wide band approx. 24” apart along their length. Any contact by any part of a boat in each zone will score 1 point. Should a boat slide along one side of a canal type obstacle it will score penalty points for the total number of zones it crosses while in contact. The maximum score of 5 pts still applies.
17.Should any boat fail to complete the course the maximum penalty of 5 points will be scored for each of the remaining obstacles.
18.Once a skipper takes their boat into the first obstacle on the course it is deemed to have started.
19.No outside help or direction is allowed once a competitor’s boat has started the course. (Except for the Pilot Class, were the Course Judge will be encouraged to assist the entrant)
20. Providing at least four steering rounds have been completed, the worst score (ie-highest penalty score) will be discarded from the day’s results. If there is a tie for any of the top 3 placed classes, then lower discarded score will be placed. If this score also ties, then the places will be separated by the lowest first round score, then if necessary the second round score etc. If they still tie, (and time allows) the entrants involved will be required to do a run-off competition navigating the meetings first steering course. If three or few steering rounds are completed all the rounds will count.
On the water breakdowns
21.If a boat breaks down on the course a 5 point penalty is incurred and the boat can be repaired and then continue the course from the next obstacle. If the boat does not require repair it can be deemed outside interference by the judge and may continue without penalty. This rule can only be used once per boat per meeting. If a boat fails to complete the course the maximum penalty of 5 points is awarded for each remaining obstacle. The only exception would be if the breakdown was caused by outside interference, ie getting caught on an obstacle mooring line, obstruction or hit by another boat.
22. If there is any dispute regarding whether a breakdown was under the control or not of the skipper the decision will be made by the Course Judge and the Meeting OOD and/or the SWAMBC Scale Comp’ Sec’ or his deputy.
Overall scoring
23. At each meeting points will be awarded for the finishing places. These will be scored as followed:
1st place 21 points, 2nd – 18, 3rd – 16, 4th – 15 and so on to 1 point for 18th or over places.
24. Providing at least seven meetings have been completed the lowest score from any two of the meetings will be discarded, except in the event of a tie, then the highest discarded score will be placed. If only four or fewer meetings are completed, then all the meeting scores count towards the overall championship.
General
25. All the rules are set to be fair and give everyone taking part a “level playing field”. Should anyone gain an advantage through action not covered by these rules the Meeting OOD together with the SWAMBC Scale Steering Competition Secretary or his deputy can, and will, apply penalties if necessary – their decision is final.
26. A competitor may appeal against the penalty score he or she has received. They must notify the meeting OOD within 20 minutes of completing their steering course. The meeting OOD together with the SWAMBC Scale Steering Sec or his deputy and the Course Judge involved will review the score sheet, and can adjust the score if they feel it necessary. Their decision is final.
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