Burghfield Sailing Club RACE OFFICER DUTY What you need to know as a prospective race officer at Burghfield Sailing Club and help for those existing race officers needing a 'top-up' refresher. Version May 2008 by Nick Crook with thanks to Chris Jordan, John Ridehalgh & Alan Powell

Burghfield Sailing Club You will learn about: How to prepare for the day's racing Where to find what you need What you need to do What your AROs need from you How to lay a good course for all to enjoy You will NOT learn about: Detailed RYA- style Race Officer duties Advanced calculus, statistics and detailed racing rules.

A Few Days Before Race-Day It's good planning to check that you will have all of your ARO and rescue support on the day. Give Pat and the OOD a call to see if there is anything else you should be aware of, e.g. an Optimist training event. Check on the weather forecast for race-day. Wind direction and wind strength affect your plans. Obtain a stop-watch and spare pen (just in case).

Race-Day Morning Arrive at the club at least 2 hours before the race is due to start. Less than this affects race preparations as they become compressed into too little time remaining. Find the OOD and let him know you have arrived. Does the committee boat have fuel? Meet the AROs and rescue staff who may have already arrived. Ensure one rescue boat is carrying the ODM. Sign the racing staff roster sheet in the hut and put the race sheets out for each fleet. If you are a doing RO duty instead of racing, you should sign in as a racer so that you will get an average race position.

ARO Duties to Assign Allocate a specific duty to each of your ARO's. Make sure they understand their task and are clear what they must do. Don't assume they know. Perhaps one ARO can write down the boat numbers and lap times (another way is to give each ARO a fleet). Either way, there is a specific printed sheet for these recordings. Another ARO could control the lap timings, calling them to the ARO recording lap times. He/She should also control the horn. Each boat is timed as it passes through the start-line on each lap. Another ARO should control the flags. The flag sequences are shown in the race manual.

More Preparations.... Upstairs in the clubhouse, select a walkie-talkie. Switch on and test it works. Do not turn it off until racing is finished. In the hut, collect the race flags and racing manual red file. You'll also need pens and racing time sheets for the AROs to use aboard. In garage #2, take the committee boat keys and race timer kit (inboard timer and cabin-roof gantry unit). Proceed to the committee boat and unlock the chain around the outboard engine and cabin door. You may need to get petrol from the lock-up or if already provided, connect the petrol lead from the engine to the can.

Setting the Race Timer Slide the roof-mounted unit onto its brackets and plug the electrical connector into the socket under the roof. Attach the race-timer and plug it into the junction box. Switch on with the black button and toggle the white button to display setting #2 for club handicap racing. This gives the 6:3:0 timings. For Wednesday evening Pursuit races, use setting #3. The 6 minute count-down to the race-start begins when the red button is pressed TWICE (get set and go). The toggle switch on the junction box should be in the down position to allow the automated sounding of the horn to work.

Committee Boat Readiness Having connected the fuel line to the fuel can, prepare the engine to start by squeezing the hand pump on the fuel line a few times until resistance is felt. On cold mornings, you may need to pull the choke out partially. Ignition keys in, C- shaped safety cut-out in-place behind the cut-out button, try the engine. It may start immediately, it may take a few attempts. After several attempts, close the choke and retry. Do not cast off until the engine is running normally and without choke. Avoid shallow marked areas (white buoys) and always give way to sailors. Power always gives way to sail.

Deciding on a Course Considerations before choosing a handicap course: The race marks run in numerical order from the clubhouse anticlockwise around the lake. The course should start with a beat directly to windward and long enough to open up the fleet. There's a movable mark “X” if you wish to place your own windward mark rather than use an existing mark (sometimes necessary). The course should include a dead run (not too lengthy in light wind as it can get boring). The rest can be various reach angles adding excitement. Use the island obstacles to add interest.

Decide on a Course Take the committee boat out to see if the wind direction is as you thought and the marks you select are providing the wind angles you want. The wind often bends around the islands and may veer round significantly as you approach the ends of the lake. Back at the clubhouse, draw the course on the board indicating the way round each mark, port or starboard with a “P” or “S”. Also note the number of laps you expect them to complete. This can easily be shortened but is usually 4 or 5 laps.

Decide on a Course The course you select will often suit certain types of boat. Asymmetrics, (RS 200,400 Vario, 29er) will perform best on courses with long reaches, other boats may favour long hard beats and long runs. Pick a course that does not overly favour any particular type of boat. Make it interesting but not unduly complicated with too many marks. Do not become influenced by vociferous competitors, they usually have a vested interest. Wind direction plays havoc with some marks e.g. 11 in a northerly and 4 in a southerly. The wind can be all over the place because these marks are close to obstacles (trees), which is a good reason for placing 'X' as a windward mark in clear air.

Getting Committee Boat into Position Give yourself minutes before the due race start. Proceed to your chosen start line with the committee boat directly downwind of the first mark. Move well to windward of the line, 40m in light wind, 80m in strong wind, lay out the anchor with plenty of cable. Remember, anchors won't hold on short cables and make sure the anchor is deployed so the points can bite into the mud. In strong wind you will often need TWO anchors. Do not attempt to start the race until the committee boat is in a stable position. Check this by looking at two points such as a buoy and an object on the shore behind it.

Setting the Start Line Racers all expect a windward-facing start line, perpendicular from the committee boat mast to the Outer Distance Mark positioned to the left. Before laying the ODM, check the wind direction with the burgee (kept in the cabin). A recommended technique is to stand high, facing clean wind, hold the burgee in your right arm straight out in front and find the dead-to-wind direction i.e. directly down wind from your first course mark – the 'windward mark'. Hold your left arm out to your side at a right angle and this shows you the theoretical position of a start line with no bias.

Setting a Start line Instruct the rescue boat to place the ODM “pin” to the port side of the committee boat, slightly forward of the perpendicular enough to allow you to see all the bows of the boats as they start. The ODM Pin distance upwind of the theoretical perpendicular line is about 2 boat lengths. This angle of the start line forward of the perpendicular is called the start line “bias”. It is also very important to set a start line with enough length to allow boats to start without bumping into each other. 25 boats in a fleet will need a long start line. Remember, short start lines = collisions = unhappy racers

Setting the Start Line – think of the finish Wind direction ODM Boats finishing Leeward mark Moor the committee boat so there is adequate space for boats to cross the finish line without having to tack again after the last mark

Before the Start - Race Flags In windy conditions, it can be hard to hear the horn (as you may know first-hand), so flags become the most important signal for the racers, both at the start and the finish. Timely and accurate flag signals are essential. Tell the 'flag officer' to attach all the relevant flags to their lanyards, ready for rapid hoisting. Individual boat recall and general recall flags should be ready at the start in case of false starts. If you decide to change the course, use the black & yellow flag. Race start delays also have a flag. Put the course marks in sequence and colour on the stern. Marks rounded to port have a red background

Starting the Race Timings must be exact so stay focussed. Fleet flags are hoisted 6 minutes before their start and are lowered exactly at their start. First start is 11:00 so the race sequence begins at 10:54. Ensure the race timer is set to programme 2 for handicap racing, programme 3 for Pursuits. At 6 minutes before the first start, start the timer by pressing the red button twice, sound the horn and hoist the race flag for the Asymmetric Fleet. 3 minutes later, the race timer will automatically sound the horn and your flag ARO hoists the Fast Fleet flag and the Blue Peter. The Racing Rules now apply. 3 minutes later, the Asymmetric Fleet starts.

False Starts If a boat is clearly over the line, sound a horn blast and hoist the individual recall flag. Call the offending boat number out and point, ensure the helm is aware of his infringement. He must restart or be disqualified. If there are too many boats over the line for the racing staff to identify the offenders correctly, hoist the general recall. If this happens at the first fleet start of an Open event, it is considered polite to visitors to restart the whole sequence, but when it happens in a normal club handicap race, continue the timed sequence for subsequent fleets and as punishment, the offending fleet must now start last.( Re- hoist their flag 6 minutes beforehand.)‏

Starting Flags Sequence: At 10:54, sound the horn and hoist the race flags in this sequence: Asymmetric fleet start 6 minute warning “Blue Peter” - Racing rules in force Hoist now: At 10:57 sound horn & hoist Fast Fleet 6 minute warning and 3 minutes to asymmetric fleet start 11:00 Hoist Laser fleet flag - AND... Asymmetric Fleet start, drop the Flag on-time 11:03 Hoist Slow Fleet flag - AND.... Fast Fleet start, drop the flag on- time

Starting Flag Sequence: 11:06 Hoist Optimist fleet flag Laser start, drop the Laser flag 11:09 Slow Fleet start Drop the Slow Fleet flag By this time, the Asymmetric fleet may be approaching the start line, be ready to take their lap times. And drop “Blue Peter” 11:12 Optimist Start Drop Optimist flag

Informative Flag Signals Change to original planned racing course (Leave flying for whole starting sequence)‏ Delayed Start (e.g. insufficient wind)‏ (fly only for the delay period)‏ General Fleet Recall – Restart (this action either delays whole race sequence or places this fleet at end of race start sequence)‏ Individual Boat Recall Signal – over the line

Race Started The Committee boat stays in position at anchor. The Start-Line ARO calls out each boat type and number as it approaches the line and sighting between the flag mast and the ODM, calls when its bow crosses the start line. The timer ARO notes the time and records it against the relevant boat in the Lap 1 column. Continue lap by lap. In the unlikely event of a protest, the helm may use a tiny red flag or call out to the RO at the first opportunity. Take note and be ready at the end of the race. End-of-race protests are not allowed. When timely and correctly made, a protest may be valid and the OOD will convene a protest committee after the racing has finished to resolve the grievance.

Finishing the Race Fast fleet boats may get round in as little as 20 minutes. Slow boats may take twice the time, so it often makes sense to finish their race a lap ahead of the faster boats, or else you will be waiting a long time for them to complete the allotted laps. This is very much dependant on the wind conditions on the day. Races should last minutes. Light wind conditions usually involves shortening the number of laps.

Finishing the Race As the leading boat in each fleet to be finished rounds the penultimate mark, sound the horn and hoist the relevant fleet flag to signify the end of the race for that fleet. For fleets that are being finished before the allotted number of laps, also hoist the Shorten Course flag. When boats cross together, note which one is visibly just ahead and give a one second advantage.

First Race Over Record all the finishing times, as they are, including the uncorrected preparatory times, DNF's and DNS's and return to the clubhouse. Let the ARO's know what time you expect them back at the committee boat for the afternoon race preparations. This should be at least 20 minutes before the start of race timing, more if the start line is distant from the clubhouse and more if the wind is very strong, to allow for anchoring. Talk to some of the racers and get feedback on the race course and possible improvements.

Lunchtime observations to note Observe what went well in the morning. Take hints from racers during lunch. Modify or change the course completely for the afternoon. Objective is to make everyone's day You cannot please everybody.

Afternoon Race If the afternoon race start looks likely to be delayed, i.e. after 13:30, announce the new start time to everyone. Use the club Tannoy. Collect all the morning race sign-on sheets, put new race sign-on sheets out. Draw the new course on the clubhouse board. Take new race-time sheets for the afternoon race. Remember to transfer the race times to the sign-on sheets before leaving.

Pursuit Racing Wednesday evening pursuits are well attended, 70 boats is not uncommon. Races are 70 minutes long from first start to finish. Sign-on sheets are in the hut. There is a race start every 30 seconds. Boats start according to handicap timings shown on the chart in the hut. Slowest boats start first, fast boats can be more than 30 minutes later. These races are more for pleasure, less strict on rules, maximum enjoyment, minimum formality. There will often be complete novices on the water, be alert to their needs.

Pursuits – The Course is Important Set a long and roughly rectangular course so that you can observe the progress of the leading boat at all times. Aim to include 2 beats. You will lose track if you set a complex course and finishing will become 'tricky'. Wednesday Pursuits usually start at 6:50pm, timing sequence begins at 6:44. Switch on the timer unit using the black button and use the white button to set it to programme 3. Ensure the toggle switch on the junction box is in the down position for the horn to work automatically.

Pursuit Race - Starting At 6:44, press the red button and raise flag G At 6:47, the horn will sound and you also raise the Blue Peter, often called the preparatory flag At 6:50, the horn sounds, the display reads zero and the two flags come down

Pursuit Racing The timer counts down in 30 second intervals, giving a 5 second count-down to each start. When the last boat has started, flick the toggle switch up to silence the automated horn signals. Racers should know their start time from the handicap chart times in the hut and start at their allotted time after the race timing start. Very experienced helms may choose to start a few minutes after their “official” times. The club website has detailed instructions both for sailors and race officers in the “Wednesday Evenings” section.

Pursuit Racing - Finishing The SRO must ready the committee boat to move 5 minutes before the end of the race, navigating and positioning the committee boat with a chosen rescue boat abeam, so as to create a moving finishing line in front of the leading boat. Brief the rescue boat crew beforehand to avoid confusion. At 69 minutes, raise the shorten course flag (S) At 70 minutes, sound a long horn blast and proceed down the course with the rescue boat keeping pace 50m abeam so as to “net” the leading boat and subsequently, all the boats behind it.

Finishing a Pursuit Race Rescue boat Committee boat

Pursuits - Finishing The AROs must record the boat numbers in sequence as the finishing line crosses over them including any boats lying outside the finishing line. The horn may be used to acknowledge when each boat has finished but this can become impractical when there are a great many boats, all attention is required to note the finishing positions correctly. Racers can be questioned afterwards to resolve any doubts about the order of finishing.

Finishing the Day Committee boat – Lock the chain around the outboard, lock the course number box into the cabin, put any loose items such as the burgee into the cabin, lock the cabin. Disconnect the petrol tank, take it to the petrol store. Take the keys and race timer to the garage. Return the walkie-talkie to the clubhouse and the flag bin and race-book to the hut. For Handicap racing, transfer the race times to the sign-on race-sheets in the race hut. Place all the race time sheets in the hut, making sure they are correctly identified with date and race number. Thank the ARO's and the OOD before leaving.

Wrapping - Up By now, you should understand: How to prepare for the days' races Where to find the items you need How to lay an enjoyable race course How to use flags and horn signals How to record race times How to finish races How to go home satisfied that everybody....