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Club Race Officer(Trainers Seminar)

Module 1 Before the RaceModule 2 On the Water,

before the start

Module 3 During the Race and the Finish

Module 4 Post-Race and Safety

Regional Race Management Training Coordinator:Mike Harrison (National Race Officer & National Judge)0131.554.7773 e-mail: sailing@scotsport.co.uk

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Club Race Officer

Module 1 Before the RaceModule 2 On the Water,

before the start

Module 3 During the Race and the Finish

Module 4 Post-Race and Safety

Regional Race Management Training Coordinator:

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Group Discussion

How does your club organise its Race Management?

How effective is Race Management in your club?

What are the main difficulties?

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Race Management at Club level is designed to

make the most of the club organisationgive customer satisfaction - good sailing

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Who are the customers?

Beginners / LearnersExperienced recreational racersThe Open Meeting experts

(customers becoming competitors)

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Learners (of all ages) require

Space no-one carving them up

Tolerance while they learn

Chance to finish the race without being cursed by the Race Officer

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Experienced recreational racers require

Enjoyable racingCompetitive sailing at their levelA regular pattern to the racing

don't want to have to think too much!

Time to talk about the race in the bar

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Open Meeting experts require

Competition in which they stand a fair chance of winning

Perfect organisation accurate start lines true beats correctly angled reaches

Emphasis on racing and winningRemember - for many of these, club racing is

only a training session, but it must be good

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To give competitor satisfaction, the club organisation needs to

Communicate efficientlyFollow a regular pattern in its organisational

structureHave an efficient method of encouraging

members into taking and accepting responsibility

GET AWAY FROM THE 'ONE-MAN BAND'

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One method of club organisation (race management aspects only)

F lee tC ap ta in s

B osu n C h ie fR ace

O ffice r

R esu ltsS ec re ta ry

O th ers

S A IL IN G C O M M ITTE E

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Job Descriptions

Sailing Captain acts either as chairperson

or secretary to sailing committee

is responsible to club management for efficient running of the sailing programme

Bosun ensures all equipment is

in good working order

Chief Race Officer co-ordinates all club race

management trains Club Race Officers issues Club Race Officer

Certificates in conjunction with Regional Race Management Training Co-ordinator

vets all Sailing Instructions

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Job Descriptions

Fleet Captains communicate fleets' views

to the Sailing Committee communicate committee

decisions to fleets

Results Secretary processes and publishes

all results

Monthly Race Managers responsible to Sailing

Committee for completion of race programme in their duty period

responsible for all race management matters during their duty period

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Monthly Race Managers (from Committee Members)

A p ril M ay

W eek 1R O + team

W eek 2R O + team

etc .

Ju n e Ju ly A u g u s t e tc .

M on th lyR ace M an ag er

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Monthly Race Managers

these are the people the club needs to train they will probably come to your training sessions they will hopefully become your Chief Race Officers

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Race Officer Duty - Preparation

Long before the day go on duty with a good race officer observe make notes

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D-day minus 7 Contact Monthly Race Manager (or be contacted) Get a copy of the Club’s Race Management Guide Check

programme is to run as scheduledrace team members are all availableexperience (balance) of team is OKall equipment is operational

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Race Equipment

If you start races away from a fixed Race Box - what equipment is in the club’s race bag?

What personal equipment does a CRO need to provide?

What has to be done in the time before the start (especially the first 30 minutes after you arrive at the clubhouse)?

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The Race Officer’s bag• suncream• seasickness tablets• aspirin• insect repellent• shackle key• duct tape• memo recorder• batteries• pencils (chinagraph),

pens• burgee• cotton wind indicator• neck towel• fingerless gloves• woolly hat, baseball cap• recording sheets & plain

notepad• clipboards (2)

• Rule Book• SIs for the event• VHF radio• monocular • gas air horn• mouth-blown horn• whistles (2)• anemometer• hand-bearing compass• orienteering compasses

(2)(for handing to mark-layers)

• GPS• complete flag set

(including orange, black, red, green & blue)

• set of letters & numbers (for course notification)

Additional Personal Equipment

• waterproofs• buoyancy aid• snacks (food & drink)

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D-day minus 5 Check personal equipment Re-read Racing Rules -

Part 3 Racing Signals

Re-read Club Sailing Instructions

D-day minus 1 Watch TV weather

forecasts - get a picture of what is happening, fronts etc

If bad weather is predicted then arrange additional safety boat coverage

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Start minus 1-2 hours Arrive at Club with latest

forecast Note wind direction at

Club Unlock/prepare equipment Check all boat crews have

arrived and that they have checked their craft and its equipment

Check that all starting equipment is in order

Complete radio checks Check wind again From forecast and current

observation predict wind strength and direction at start-time

If too strong/light prepare to postpone

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Pre-Start Preparation

Rescue craft afloat and readyWatches ready

wound / batteries OK set to correct (real) time

Recording Sheet readyPencils sharpGuns readyFlags bent on to halyards

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The Start

Do you know your flags? What are the main problems in getting a clean

start?How can you try to ensure a good start?Write out a simple ‘Idiot’s Guide’ for dealing

with one or more OCS yachts.When ‘short-handed’ in the Race Box, which

are the most difficult times? And how can these situations be resolved?

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Linlithgow Loch Courses

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Port Edgar DinghyCourses

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Courses

What factors influence course setting in your club?

Using the Port Edgar course card, select a course for an evening race for Fast Yachts. The wind is 8-12 knots South-Westerly. High water was at 15:58 (5.9m); low water is at 21:18 (0.7m). The race starts at 19:00.

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Setting a Course

Refer to recommended courses in Club’s Race Manual

Select a course that is suitable for the PREDICTED wind

strength and direction the tide

Seek advice if necessary Note start and finish line

positions

Check that marks shown on recommended course actually are in situ

Prepare course display, double-check that rounding sides of marks are correctly displayed NO LOOPING OF MARKS!

Confirm choice with duty Race Manager or get someone else to check

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Decision Time!

A Race Officer must use his/her judgement to decide length of start line

how many last minute starters?

how much bias is necessary?how shifty is the wind?any current to be considered?

postpone the startorganisation not ready (race team, rescue)wind - too little, too much

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The Race Officer must also use his judgement to

start the racerecognise on-course-side at start time and

signal an individual recall

or

a general recall

shorten course

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Before the Warning Signal

The Race Officer must signal or otherwise designate the course

The Race Officer may remove and substitute a new course signal

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Warning SignalWhen

in ‘System 3’ - 1 minute prior to Preparatory Signal

at advertised time

at 00 seconds on real-time clock

Method class flag

displayed one sound signal

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Before the Preparatory Signal

The Race Officer may shift a starting mark

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Preparatory Signal

Fleet now under racing rules

Yachts sailing in the vicinity of the Starting Line rank as competing yachts

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Before the Start

The Race Officer may shorten course to one prescribed in the Sailing

Instructions postpone, to designate a new course before or with

the new warning signal, or for any other reason postpone to a later day

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Start

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Identifiable Boat(s) On Course Side of the line

hoist X one gun record OCS on race

sheet watch boat(s)

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Identifiable Boat(s) On Course Side of the line - Re-Starting

When all have returned behind the start line lower X delete OCS

If some do not return, keep X up until 1 minute before next start or until starting line is closed

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‘I didn’t see anything...’

A Sunday race has three starts. A strong tide pushes several boats of the first fleet over the line. Your view is blocked by the nearest boat. What is the sequence of actions you follow?

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General Recall

To be used when there are

several unidentified OCSs or

if there is an error in procedure

Method hoist 1st Substitute two guns

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Re-Start after General RecallTry to keep to

multiples of the time sequence - start on next 5 minute (or 3 minute) interval always at 00 seconds

on real-time clock!

One minute before this time lower 1st Substitute one gun

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Re-Start after General Recall : Stage TwoRemember you

go straight into the Preparatory signal

One minute after lowering 1st Sub. hoist class flag and preparatory flag (P or other)

fire one gun

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Club Rules

What is the rule in your club about late starters?

The first fleet of an evening race is due to start at 19:00. At 18:56 you see a yacht cast off from its mooring, sail to the pre-course side of the line and start at 19:02. What do you do (or should you have done)?

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Postponement Signals

These can be used for ANY REASON WHATSOEVER!

Use them as the panic button - a cry for helpReasons can include

buoy drifting major wind shift leading to heavily biased line mistiming between signals misfiring of sound signals broken halyards etc. etc.

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The Postponement Signals : 1

AP All races not started

are postponed Keep to multiples of

original time sequence if possible when lowering

Warning Signal made one minute after this signal is lowered

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The Postponement Signals : 2

All races are abandoned This includes ones already

under way as well as those preparing to start

N

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The Postponement Signals :3

AP over numeral pennant postponed x hours from

scheduled start time

AP over H and N over H as for AP and N but -

"further signals will be made ashore"

i.e. go back to the beach/harbour

AP over A and N over A postponed/abandoned to

another day

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After the Start : Race Control

To remain in control of the race, the Race Officer must, at regular intervals, check: Safety

the weather conditions (that the crews can handle stronger winds)

that rescue craft are still operational

that rescue craft know of vessels which appear to be in trouble

that priority is being given to people and not boats

Time by timing boats on various legs of

the course calculating the approximate

finishing time for the first yacht comparing this time with the time

limit, and preparing to shorten course if necessary

Recording of Yachts ensure that recorders have

positions of each yacht at end of each round

keep track of leaders of each fleet keep track of 'tail-end charlies' of

each fleet relative to leaders

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Shorten Course or Abandon valid reasons in Rule 32

error in starting procedurefoul weatherinsufficient wind, making it unlikely that any

boat will finish within the time limita mark missing or out of placeany other reason affecting the safety or

fairness of the competition

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Shorten Course Signal means

displayed at the starting line sail the shortened course

prescribed in the Sailing Instructions

displayed at the finishing line finish the race either:

at the finishing line at the end of the round still to be completed by the leading yacht or

as prescribed in the Sailing Instructions

displayed at a rounding mark finish between the

rounding mark and the committee boat (see definition of finishing - later)

in multi-class, fly over class flag(s) if not shortening all classes

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Shorten Course : the method

At Club Race Officer level, the most important thing is knowing when to shorten course The position of the leading boat must be known If the race is a close one, with the leader covering

the second boat, it is essential that the boats all see and hear the shorten course signal, as this may affect their tactical sailing to the finishing line

In club racing the signal is normally flown when the leader rounds the penultimate mark before the shortened course finishing line

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Shorten Course : the signal

When the leader rounds the last mark before the finishing line (i.e. is just on the last leg) hoist flag S two guns

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Finishing the Race

The Race Officer has to set a finishing line

(in most clubs this is frequently the same as the starting line)

has the race team set up for the finishGunner with sound signalsTimekeeper ready to record finishing timesRecorder ready to record sail numbers and times

note any protest flags

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The Finishing Line

Yachts must cross the finishing line in the direction of the course from the last mark

Hook finishes are not permitted or valid

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FINALLY -

Tidy up Give out and receive protest forms, noting relevant

times Present the results in the agreed manner required by

the results secretary Prepare, if required, a brief report on the race for the

Press Officer Report any defects in the equipment to the Bosun Ensure that all equipment is securely locked away GO TO THE BAR AND RECEIVE PRAISE FOR A GOOD JOB

WELL DONE!!!

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It couldn’t happen to us...

What safety precautions does your club insist on before a club race starts?

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Twice a year....

What standards can you (reasonably) expect from the person who does a duty (Race Officer or Safety Officer) twice a year?

As trainers, how can you effectively organise training for these people?