Why is this rule modified?
The Pacific Ocean around Port Macquarie has no natural features that can be used as turning marks such as islands or permanent marks. The PMYC adopted GPS marks soon after the general availability of affordable GPS systems and has been racing using GPS waypoints for more than 20 years. Additionally the absence of dedicated start and finishing marks and race committee requires changes to the start line and finish line.
How is this rule modified?
Rule 28 has additional elements that describe how GPS marks are treated, start and finish lines. Rules 28.1 and 28.1 are unmodified.
28.3 describes that the yachts track shall also be considered to be the recording made by the GPS system and that these marks shall obey the same rules as the taught string line and definitions in 28.1 and 28.2. This rule also specifies the minimum spacing ( 2 seconds ) of electronic track marks as well as the GPS datum to be used ( WGS 84 ) GPS mark latitude and longitude measurements can be found in the Sailing Instructions as well as in GPX format on the PMYC web site.
28.4 This rule is currently deleted however this rule was intended that race track files were to be submitted to the RaceQ's site. This enabled competitors to verify other competitors race tracks as it is not possible to observer that yachts correctly complete the course as per 28.1
28.5 This rule modifies the starting and finish lines as transit lines that may be used by yachts to record their times. These are usually where two landmarks, such as the Telstra Tower and Bird Rock are in line.
28.6 This rule modifies the finishing process where yachts shall record their time as part of sailing the course. Normally this time is provided to the OOD for relay to the handicapper and used to produce the race results. Occasionally other yachts may challenge times submitted to correct errors however the use of GPS tracks to validate race times has been used previously with great success.