COMPETITOR BRIEFING SHEETWARNING: Water ski racing is an inherently dangerous sport and you may

suffer injury or death. If at any time you feel the race or the course has become dangerous, for any reason whatsoever, it is YOUR responsibility to

withdraw from the race in the quickest and safest possible manner and report to the Tower as soon as reasonably practicable.

Important information:

Overtaking boats have the responsibility to use caution when overtaking slower boats. Slower boats will start on outside poles. Boats leaving the start area late e.g. due to missed starts – MUST enter the course wide

and take note of boats already on course coming around the turn buoy. Finishing boats must pass the finish buoy on the outside of the course.

General House Keeping and Safety Issues: Welcome to our new crews – please report to the Briefing Officer after the official briefing for

additional information. There is to be NO parking of cars and or boat trailers in front of the sheds or in the wash down bay.

Please park in the marked area only at the rear of the property. If you are washing your boat, you must remove your boat from the wash bay as soon as you have finished.

No pets are permitted in the Park. Please also ensure you pay for your entry to the park at the front gate upon arrival.

The refueling area is clearly marked and is located in the rear paddock. This will be identified during briefing. Any boat that requires refueling and is not being refueled via the bowser on the wharf must be removed from the water and refueled in the refueling area ONLY. There is strictly NO SMOKING in the refueling area. Under no circumstances should a boat be refueled on the boat ramp.

Three fire extinguishers are located on the property, one within the refueling area, one at the wharf and one at the boat ramp.

At all times the Cliftonville Ski Race Club trailer gets priority on the ramp. Helpers are always welcome, should you have someone available to assist during the day please

ask them to report to the Tower. Any person wishing to have any ski gear checked can approach our Safety Officer at any time

during race day.

Sign on and Breath Testing: All crew members over the age of 16 must be breath tested prior to briefing and sign on. All competitors must read and understand the disclaimer before signing on. All drivers and observers must attend briefing.

Cliftonville Ski Race Club – Competitor Briefing Sheet – as at Oct 2016 v2 1

P O Box 96Windsor NSW 2756

Phone:- 0418428001skirace@cliftonvilleskiclub.com.au

www.cliftonvilleskiclub.com.au

Reporting to the Tower: A change of class will not be accepted once briefing has commenced unless exceptional

circumstances apply. Late substitution of crew members, in the original class entered may be accepted at the discretion

of the Tower, however substitutions must be submitted no later than 30 minutes prior to any given race.

Any substitutions for any crew member MUST be reported to the Tower prior to racing. Any crew found to be “swapping” or substituting drivers, observers or skiers without prior notification and approval from the Tower will be disqualified.

If you are withdrawing from a race you MUST notify the Tower prior to the start of the race. Any serious incident on course (where the injured competitor has sought medical assistance or an

ambulance has been called) must be reported to the Tower and an incident notification form must be completed.

ANY fall of a skier on course during a race must be reported to the Tower at the conclusion of the race.

During the race or at any time during the day should you encounter a problem with another boat or competitor, you must report this incident to the Tower as soon as possible. The matter will be reviewed in a calm and orderly manner. DO NOT approach the other team or competitor directly.

If you wish to raise any issue please report to the Tower.

Prior to the start of the race: Prior to the start of each race the Tower will advise all social boats on the beach that we are about

to commence racing. A 10 minute hooter will be then be sounded. The 10 minute hooter indicates the race commences in 10 minutes and all competing crews must

proceed to the start assembly area. Once crews leave the bank to head to the start assembly area, all Drivers and Observers must have

the appropriate safety equipment fitted – race helmets and life jackets. All boats should idle to the start assembly area up river from the start boat. If skiers are bow riding (sitting on the deck of the boat) whilst heading to the start assembly area

they MUST be securely held at all times by the Observer and the boat should not exceed 4 knots. Skiers bow riding should ensure they are not obstructing the view of the driver. A penalty will be applied to crews for non-compliance of this safety rule.

Start of racing: When both flags are raised the boats in the first grid are one minute from starting. Crews in that grid, should move into position, leaving enough room to run out their ropes. Boats in subsequent grid should stay at a reasonable distance, so as to not impede competitors in

the starting grid. When the Boxing Kangaroo OR Green flag is lowered the grid that is under starter’s orders has 30

seconds until the start. Skiers should enter the water and run out their ropes. The lowering of the Australian flag signifies the start of the race for the first grid.

Subsequent Grids: The lowering of the Australian flag for the preceding grid signifies to the following grid they are 30

seconds from start. The Australian flag will be raised again. Crews should, with due care for fallen skiers or other impediments, move into position, skiers should

enter the water and run out their ropes. The lowering of the Australian flag signifies the start for the grid. The start procedure for subsequent grids repeats itself until all grids are under way.

Hold at the start:

Cliftonville Ski Race Club – Competitor Briefing Sheet – as at Oct 2016 v2 2

If there is a hold during the start, both flags will be raised and crossed. Depending on the length of the delay both flags may be dropped but will be raised when the race is about is resume.

In the event of a hold there will be a 2 flag start. Both flags will be raised at 3 minutes to restart, for the first grid after the hold.

The start procedure will then revert to a one flag start for subsequent grids.

If you need to retrieve a skier in the start area: Stop the boat in a straight line, taking care to look for other boats that may be trying to start behind

and around you. Keeping safety as your highest priority, turn and idle in a straight line back down your ropes to the

fallen skier/s.

During the race: All M.S.B markers and distances off must be observed. DO NOT cut corners, as other river users

may be idling upriver. After the start, proceed down the course. Carefully join the race, being aware that there may be

boats already circulating on the course. Keep all orange center course buoys and the checkered finish buoy on your left. Pole positions are to held after the start and MUST not change until after boats have past the

Judges Tower and rounded the first corner and are travelling down “Dads” straight. Orange center course buoys will help guide you around the corner and into the straight. Orange center course buoys must be on the left hand side of the boat at all times. Penalties may

apply. When approaching the orange course turn buoys, boats must hold pole position from 100 meters

out from the turn. This will be marked by a 100m lead in buoy. Boats must hold their pole position until their skier has rounded the turn and attains a straight line

on a natural course. Drivers and Observers must take into consideration the length of the skier/s rope/s.

Observers MUST tell Drivers of any boats approaching from behind. Drivers MUST hold their line if an approaching boat is overtaking and is within 100 metres of their skiers.

The Observer in the boat doing the overtaking must inform the Driver of the overtaking boat to hold their line until their skiers have cleared 100 metres from the boat they have overtaken.

Crews must complete each lap by passing on the right hand side of the checkered finish buoy, keeping the finish buoy on the left, and the judges tower on their left.

All Drivers and Observers must ensure that new crews are provided with plenty of room as they are learning the course and the sport.

If a skier falls the Observer must raise the orange flag until the boat has reached the skier and the crew is preparing for a re start. ALL falls on course must be reported to the tower after the race.

Crews must raise their medical assistance flag when required. In the case of a suspected serious injury on course, the injured competitor should not be brought into the boat but should be supported in the water until help arrives.

Please note - two Officials boats are positioned outside the course past the two turn buoys. You should not go past these boats.

Finishing boats: When you are preparing to finish, keeping safety in mind, and taking care not to impede other

competitors, boats must move to the outside of the course, so they are separate from other boats that may still be circulating.

Boats now finish on the western side of the river, with the finish bouy and the judges tower on the drivers left.

Boats must remain at speed until they reach the run out area (behind the start boat) which will be marked by buoys.

Once boats reach the run out area (behind the start boat) they may slow to a stop dropping skiers into the water, turning back on their ropes and idling back to skiers in a safe manner.

Returning to the bank after a race:

Cliftonville Ski Race Club – Competitor Briefing Sheet – as at Oct 2016 v2 3

• Boats must wait in the finish (start) area – not on course – until the white flag has been raised on the start boat and the tower.

• Once the white flag has been raised boats may return to the bank.• Helmets may be removed in the run out area.• Life jackets must remain on until you are off course.

2UP Races:

• The 2UP Races are four (4) laps of a long course.• A three buoy turn is located down river between Dads corner and Leetsvale. A 100m lead in orange

buoy will precede the turn.• See attached map of the course.

Mini Races:• The course is reset after the completion of the 2Up races.• Mini races are three (3) laps of the shorter course.• The three turn buoy for Mini races is located slightly upriver from Cliftonville, and is identified by a

three orange buoys.• See attached map of the course.

Cliftonville Ski Race Club – Competitor Briefing Sheet – as at Oct 2016 v2 4

2UP Course Map

4 laps (long course)

Mini Course MapCliftonville Ski Race Club – Competitor Briefing Sheet – as at Oct 2016 v2 5

3 laps (short course)

Cliftonville Ski Race Club – Competitor Briefing Sheet – as at Oct 2016 v2 6