Race Officer Training Version 03 [Draft] March ‘13 © chamberssailing.org

Rules of the day The rules for the day will be: ASK - If you don’t understand SAY - If you have something to add QUESTION – if you are unsure SILENCE – what is said in the room, stays in the room ANSWER – if you don’t know an answer then say so, others probably don't either FOOL – the only foolish question is the one you wished you asked, but didn't Others?

Agenda The course outline: Terminology; Roles and responsibilities; Preparation; The course; The start; Problems with the start Problems during the race; The finish; Delays; and What’s next? Terms Roles Prep Course Start Start Issues Race Issues Finish Delays Summary Agenda

Terminology Key terminology: The ‘gun’ only draws attention to the flag The ‘flag’ controls what happens The ‘gun’ is irrelevant Agenda Terms Roles Prep Course Start Start Issues Race Issues Finish Delays Summary

Roles and responsibilities The Race Officer is responsible for the conduct of the racing, which includes: Ensure races are run in accordance with the rules; Maintain and record scores/times; Assure the safety of the fleet, considering: Risk assessments; Weather and water conditions; Confirm if non-racing dinghies can sail (bylaw 19.9) Stop a boat/person from sailing if in Race Officer opinion it is not safe to do so (bylaw 19.9.a) Ensuring adequate safety boat cover Set the course Don’t forget: Arrange a swap with someone else if you cant make your allocated date! Agenda Terms Roles Prep Course Start Start Issues Race Issues Finish Delays Summary

Preparation You need to prepare for the race, this includes: Is it safe to sail? Is there adequate rescue boat cover? What direction is the wind? Are all the buoys in place? Are there any hazards? Are the Club’s risk assessments still valid? Brief your team, check knowledge etc Prepare your flags Set your course Advise competitors how long to the start Try to be on time. Agenda Terms Roles Prep Course Start Start Issues Race Issues Finish Delays Summary 6

Your flags and starting rules….. Agenda Terms Roles Prep Course Start Start Issues Race Issues Finish Delays Summary

Preparing your flags There are 5 broad categories of flags; The flags all have specific meanings; It pays to set them in an order; Do you know what they are? Agenda Terms Roles Prep Warning Penalty On the start After the start Delay Course Start Start Issues Race Issues Finish Delays Summary

Preparing your flags: determine penalties Penalty flags (Code flags) You can fly more than one; They impose different penalties/obligations Agenda Terms Roles A boat over the line at the start must return to the pre-course side of the start line and re-start P Flag Prep Course Rule 30.1 Any boat OCS in the last minute before the start must go around the ends and restart Sometime called round the end rule I Flag Start Start Issues Rule 30.2 Any boat in the triangle formed by the start line and first mark, in the last minute before the start shall take a 20% penalty without a hearing Race Issues Z Flag Finish Rule 30.3 Any boat in the triangle formed by the start line and first mark, in the last minute before the start is disqualified (DSQ) without a hearing Delays Black Flag Summary ‘I’ and ‘Z’ can be flown together resulting in both penalties being in force.

Start OCS What is ‘Over the Course Side’ [OCS]? Agenda Terms A boat is deemed OCS when: In the last minute before the start (-1 to 0 minutes); Is on the course side of the start line including its extensions Roles Prep Course Start OCS Start Issues Windward Mark Mark #1 Race Issues Wind Finish Delays Summary Start Line

I-Flag Rule (aka Round the Ends) Rule 30.1 I Flag Rule. A boat that is OCS when Rule 30.1 is in force, shall: ‘sail from the course side across an extension to the pre-start side before starting’ Agenda Terms Roles Prep Course Start Start Issues Windward Mark Mark #1 Race Issues Wind Finish Delays Summary Start Line

I-Flag Rule (aka Round the Ends) Rule 30.1 I Flag Rule. The rule was called ‘Round the Ends’ but has been renamed ‘I-Flag Rule’ because it was realised that it can be complied with, without sailing around the end. Agenda Terms Probably not recommended as maybe difficult to prove that you did your penalty, could be difficult cutting through the fleet on the start line (22.1). Roles Prep Course Start Windward Mark Mark #1 Start Issues Wind It crossed an ‘extension’ to the pre-course side and therefore complied with the rule. Race Issues Finish Delays Start Line Summary

Rule 22 Starting Errors Rule 22 Starting Errors, Penalties, moving astern 22.1 A boat sailing to the pre-start side of the start line after her starting signal to start or to comply with rule 30.1 (I Flag) shall keep clear of a boat not doing so until she is completely on the pre-start side of the line 22.2 A boat taking a penalty shall keep clear of one that is not 22.3 A boat moving astern through the water shall keep clear of one that is not Agenda Terms Roles Prep Course Start Start Issues Race Issues Finish Delays Summary

OCS Area Start NOT OCS For Z and Black Flag Agenda Terms A boat is deemed in breach of the rule when: In the last minute before the start (-1 to 0 minutes); Is in a triangle formed by the marks at the end of the start line and the first mark Roles Prep Course Start NOT OCS Start Issues Windward Mark Mark #1 OCS Area Race Issues Wind Finish Delays Summary Start Line

Course Agenda Terms Roles Prep Course Start Start Issues Race Issues Finish Delays Summary

Course Considerations before setting the course: Wind direction, try to have a beat start and try to include reach and a run Set a longer course than expected – easier to shorten it later (shorten course); Look for wind shadows, direction changes, hazards (weed); Check all the buoys are in place, consider if they should be moved; Avoid looping around marks Display course in good time Consider using one of the standard courses Set the start and finish lines the best you can – we need to acknowledge wind shifts Agenda Terms Roles Prep Course Start Start Issues Race Issues Finish Delays Summary

Course Other considerations: The first mark should really be a PORT rounding Try to avoid figure-8 courses as they get repetitive Try to avoid too many crosses on the course Think of where the gybe mark is in relation to the wind Try and sail on all points of sailing Avoid simple possessions as they give little room for over-taking Agenda Terms Roles Prep Course Start Start Issues Race Issues Finish Delays Summary

Course Rule 27.1 The course must be displayed no later than the warning signal (-5 minutes) This rule can be changed by the local sailing instructions – at Rotherham we have not. Rule 27.2 No later than the preparatory signal (-4 minutes) the race committee can move a starting mark Rule 27.3 At any time prior to the starting signal (0 minutes) the race committee can postpone or abandon a race/racing [more later] Agenda Terms Roles Prep Course Start Start Issues Race Issues Finish Delays Summary

The Start Line Set the start line 90o to the wind Windward Mark Mark #1 Agenda Terms Roles Prep Course Start Line Start Set the start line 90o to the wind Start Issues Set the Windward Mark about in the middle of the start line Race Issues Finish Try and ensure that boats have to do at least one tack. Delays Summary

The Start Line Wind Agenda Terms Roles Start Line Prep Course Start The start line needs to be long enough so all boats can, theoretically, start at the same time Start Issues Race Issues Finish Delays Summary

The Start Line How long should the start line be? There is no rule; Agenda Terms Wind Roles Prep Start Line Course Start Start Issues There is no rule; Good practice is: Number of Boats x Average length of a boat PLUS 10% to 50% [ISAF recommend 30%-50%] Race Issues Finish Delays Summary

The Finish Line Finish line must be crossed from the direction of the last mark, try and set the line so this is obvious Agenda Terms Roles Prep Course Not finished Start Correct finish Start Issues Finish Line Race Issues Last Mark Finish Delays Summary From previous mark

The Finish Line This can be achieved by adjusting the position of the line to the last mark or the last mark relative to the finish line Agenda Terms Roles Prep Course Start Correct finish Start Issues Finish Line Race Issues Finish Last Mark Delays Summary From previous mark

The Finish Line The finish line should be at about 90o to the direction of travel from the last mark Agenda Terms Roles Prep Course Start Start Issues Finish Line About right angles Race Issues Finish Last Mark Delays Summary From previous mark

The Start Agenda Terms Roles Prep Course Start Start Issues Race Issues Finish Delays Summary

Start -5 minutes Warning Flag - UP 1 Sound Agenda Terms Roles Prep Course Start Start Issues Race Issues Finish Delays Summary

Start Racing Rules Apply -4 minutes Penalty Flag – UP 1 Sound Agenda -4 minutes Penalty Flag – UP 1 Sound Terms Roles Prep Course Penalty flags - choose 1 or 2 Racing Rules Apply Start Start Issues Race Issues Finish Delays Summary

Start -1 minutes Penalty Flag - DOWN 1 LONG Sound Agenda -1 minutes Penalty Flag - DOWN 1 LONG Sound Penalty regime in force Terms Roles Prep Course Start Start Issues Race Issues Finish Delays Summary

GO! Start 0 minutes - START Warning Flag - DOWN 1 Sound Agenda Terms Roles Prep Course GO! Start Start Issues Race Issues Finish Delays Summary

Start Issues Agenda Terms Roles Prep Course Start Start Issues Race Issues Finish Delays Summary

Start Issues One or more boats OCS (including I Flag) and they can be identified. These boats are recalled – ‘individual recall’ X Flag, Rule 29.1 Flag UP – 1 sound Sound in addition to start signal Lowered when all boats identified have returned and started correctly. Agenda Terms Roles Prep Course Start Start Issues Race Issues Finish Delays Summary

Start Issues If a boat does not return? Agenda If a boat does not return? Terms Roles They are not deemed to have started until they cross the start line correctly Probably as they complete ‘their’ first lap – so first lap disregarded. The lines closes after 4 minutes from the start (rule 29.1) a boat starting or deemed starting after +4 minutes is deemed ‘Did Not Start’ (DNS) Prep Course Start Start Issues Race Issues Finish Delays Summary

Start Issues More than one boat OCS and they can not all be identified Agenda More than one boat OCS and they can not all be identified Or where there has been an error in the starting procedures 1st Substitute Flag, Rule 29.1 General Recall Flag UP – 2 sounds Sound in addition to start signal All boats return Terms Roles Prep Course Start Start Issues Race Issues Finish Delays Summary

Start Issues When all boats have returned, or Agenda When all boats have returned, or When race officer is ready Lowers with 1 sound The race countdown starts 1 minute after the 1st Substitute has been lowered with the warning flag at -5 minutes Terms Roles Prep Course Start Start Issues Race Issues Finish Delays Summary

Start Issues: good practice tips You need someone to: Sight down the start line; Who can communicate with boats of they are OCS (e.g. Shout) Who can communicate with you so you know whether to initiate an individual or general recall One hand up – individual recall Two hand up – general recall Use the radios Agenda Terms Roles Prep Course Start Start Issues Race Issues Finish Delays Summary

Finish Agenda Terms Roles Prep Course Start Start Issues Race Issues Delays Summary

Finish Aim to: Finish the first boat at about 55 minutes Finish all boats in the shortest possible time Shorten course Rule 32.2, S Flag Up – 2 sounds Agenda Terms Roles Prep Course Start Start Issues Any boat that subsequently crosses the finish line shall be deemed to have finished and should be ‘belled’ across the finish line. Race Issues Finish Delays Summary

Finish Crossed the line before the shorten course – has to complete the lap he is on Agenda Terms Roles Prep Not crossed the line when course was shortened – finishes when crosses the line Course Start Start Issues Finish Line Race Issues Finish Last Mark Delays Summary From previous mark

Delays Agenda Terms Roles Prep Course Start Start Issues Race Issues Finish Delays Summary

Delays Race Abandoned Rule 32.1, N Flag Up – 3 sounds Used prior to the start of a race (0 minutes). A race abandoned will be started at a later stage. Can be used because of error in start procedure. Agenda Terms Roles Prep Course Start Start Issues Race Issues Finish Delays The OOD’s Friend! Summary

Delays Removed with 1 sound Warning signal indicating commencement of start sequence 1 minute after removal Agenda Terms Roles Prep Course Start Start Issues Race Issues Finish Delays Summary

Delays Postponement All races started are delayed (indefinite – until withdrawn). Rule 27.3 Can be used for a general delay e.g. Weather or error in start procedure. Can only be used before the start of a race (0 minute) Up – 2 sounds Agenda Terms Roles Prep Course Start Start Issues Race Issues Finish Delays Summary

Delays Remove when ready with 1 sound Agenda Terms Remove when ready with 1 sound Start sequence commences 1 minute after removal (-5 minute warning) Roles Prep Course Start Start Issues Race Issues Finish Delays Summary

Conclusion

Aims and objectives We have covered: Your roles & responsibilities; Setting the course; Starting the race; Pause/re-start the start sequence if something goes wrong; Stopping the race; Cancelling or delay racing; and Finishing the race Do we need to recap anything?

Personal Crib Card Flag - Bell over line 1 Sound 1 Long 2 Sound Can be accompanied by a number pennant indicating delay - Personal Crib Card -5 Warning Time Flag -4 Penalty -1 Penalty in force Start ~55 Shorten Course See alternates 1 Sound Bell over line Individual Recall General Recall 1 Long 2 Sound Start sequence commences 1 minute after removal Line closes at +10 minutes, those starting after that time marked DNS Race Abandoned 3 Sound Race Postponed