Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course CLUB RACE OFFICER COURSE

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Club Race Officer (CRO) RYA Club Race Officer Plus (CRO+) RYA Regional Race Officer (RRO) RYA National Race Officer (NRO) ISAF International Race Officer (IRO) Race Management

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Club Race Officer One day seminar (level 1 course) Endorsed by suitable experience National Race Officer RRO 2 day seminar with written test Appropriate experience (4 major events) - submit CV 2 References VHF, PBL2, ISAF Manual Regional Race Officer Club Race Officer+ Appropriate experience (4 events) - submit CV 1 Reference VHF Club Race Officer+ 2 day seminar written test International Race Officer (ISAF appointment) NRO 4 principal events - submit CV National Authority Nomination 3 References Race Management

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course RYA Website

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course RYA Website

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Chart Forecasts BBC Met Office Free Forecasts XC Weather Windguru Subscription Forecasts Windguru Pro PredictWind ProGrib Weather Stations BrambleMet Cowes Harbour Weather WAP Weather Bramblemet/wap Weather

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course A signal (flag) is always DISPLAYED A signal that is displayed is at some time REMOVED These are the terms used in the preamble to ‘Race Signals’ ‘Shall’ - mandatory action ‘Will’ - intended action ‘Should’ - best endeavours ‘May’ - optional action Use these terms at all times! Terminology

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course PRO RO DRO ARO Visual Signals Gunner Timekeeper Recorders Pin end crew Finish boat crew Mark Layers Beach Master Safety Officer Race Committee

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Minimum flag size 3’x2’ (90cm x 60cm) Layout of Flags and Halyards

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Personal Equipment

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Flag Displayed Tells what is going to happen Flag Removed (Executive Signal) Order is carried out Sound Signal Draws attention to visual signal Signals

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Ground Wind The Wind Ground Wind (or Gradient Wind): Measured from a fixed point on the ground (or anchored committee boat) No tide or current

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Tide Induced Wind The Wind Tide No gradient wind at all! A still sunny day But the tide is running

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Ground Wind Tide Induced Wind Sailing Wind Sailing Wind: Wind experienced by a free floating boat stopped in the water The Wind Tide Then the gradient kicks in ?

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course COURSES

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Clean winds Even depth of water Minimal tidal currents Enough space Course areas not overlapped Important factors affecting race management Courses

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Alternatives for this course are: –More rounds –Finish upwind of mark 1 –No gate at Mark 2 Gate laid square to the ‘sailing wind’ Windward-Leeward Course

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Course angles can be: –60 0 –45 0 (90 0 at mark 2) –70 0 (to give both a close reach & a broad reach) The finish can also be located downwind of mark 3 Sausage Triangle Course

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Two parallel W/L courses 70 o for boats without spinnakers 60 o for boats with spinnakers Trapezoid Course

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Uses fixed marks +/- laid marks Provides a mix of courses in one Interesting courses Restricted depending on the position of fixed marks May not produce a great beat because of fixed position of marks May not produce a great run because of fixed position of marks Round the Cans Course

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Research previous courses for length Check marks are in situ Mark roundings - same for all classes Avoid channel marks No looping of marks Common final marks to enable shortening Allow for tide Top Tips for Round the Cans

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Accuracy is very important Especially with increasing wind speeds when the boats will sail very deep The Downwind Leg

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Tidal Compensation - Windward Leg W2 W1 12 kts wind 1 kt tide 15 0 A rule of thumb guide is: -in >10kts wind & 1kt of tide set the windward mark downtide 15 0 of the ground wind -in <8kts wind & 1kt of tide, the offset is 20 0 or more -for tides diagonal to the wind, halve the allowance -for 2kts tide double the allowance

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course The adjustment of the running leg to the tide is critical for a good race Rule of thumb: No matter what the wind strength, set the leeward mark 5 o downtide of the ground wind for every 1 knot of cross tide L1 L2 Any wind 1 knot tide 5050 Tidal Compensation - Leeward Leg

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Tidal Compensation - Solutions kts wind 1 knot tide Use an offset mark to create a ‘tidal correction’ leg)

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course The ‘zigzag’ course Current Wind The ‘X’ course Tidal Compensation - Solutions

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Tidal Compensation - Compromise 2 1 When you only have 2 marks: Set up on the Sailing Wind Equally skewed upwind and downwind GWSailing Wind Tide Induced Wind Tide

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Drop, drop, drop Laying the Start Line Always stream parallel to the committee boat!

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Number of boats x length of the boat plus 10% to 50% Other factors are: size and manoeuvrability of boats sea conditions wind strength current ISAF recommendation multiplying factor 1.3 to 1.5 Start Line Length

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Set line at 90 o to Sailing Wind Wind Bad Current Move pin down wind Good Line Bias for Tide

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Weak tide in Bay Strong tide Wind Starboard bias on the start Mark 1 Factors to consider across the course are: wind angles wind velocity waves current Line Bias for Tactics

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course The Gate Minimum width: 1 zone +1 boat length +1 zone (When zone is 3 boat lengths, minimum width = 7 boat lengths) Usual width: 8-10 boat lengths Angle between gate: same principles as a start line Bias for tide Bias for tactics

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course STANDARD PROCEDURES

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Race team briefing Record as many boats in the start area as possible Monitor the wind direction and strength Set up the boat to ensure that all systems are in place and working - sound signals, flags tied on securely etc. Communicate with other race courses and commercial traffic to ensure no issues are pending Radio checks and time checks Pre-Start Procedures

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Warning signal Preparatory signal One minute Start RRS Default 5 mins 4 mins 1 min 0 All timings and associated actions may be altered from RRS default by SIs Attention signal 10 mins 5 mins 1 min 0 10 mins 4 mins 1 min 0 Others Starting Systems

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Time keeper is the most important person! Starting Procedures

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Starting Procedures

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Starting Procedures

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Starting Procedures

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course WARNING SIGNAL When? at the advertised time Method class flag displayed one sound signal Starting Procedures

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course PREP SIGNAL When? warning + 1 Method papa displayed one sound signal Starting Procedures

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course ONE MINUTE SIGNAL When? warning + 4 Method papa removed one long sound signal Starting Procedures

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course START SIGNAL When? warning + 5 Method class flag removed one sound signal Starting Procedures

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course ASSOCIATED ACTIONS At or before warning signal: Display course Before preparatory signal: Set the start line Make attachments to the committee boat Starting Procedures

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course P – default no penalties apply I – rule 30.1 applies round-an-end rule during 1 min before start Z – rule 30.2 applies 20% penalty rule during 1 min before start Black – rule 30.3 applies black flag rule during 1 min before start Starting Procedures

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course P – default no penalties apply DURING 1 MINUTE BEFORE START Starting Procedures

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course I – rule 30.1 applies round-an-end rule during 1 min before start DURING 1 MINUTE BEFORE START Starting Procedures

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Z – rule 30.2 applies 20% penalty rule during 1 min before start Add 20% of number of boats entered to her score DURING 1 MINUTE BEFORE START Starting Procedures

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Disqualified Black – rule 30.3 applies black flag rule during 1 min before start DURING 1 MINUTE BEFORE START Starting Procedures

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Line officer commentates on the start Line recorder records boats movements from commentary Race Officer communicates with line officer on committee boat and pin end line officer Line officers use tapes to record observations It’s the Race Officer’s decision re clear line, individual recall or general recall Starting Procedures

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Observe the fleet throughout Where are they? Is the course what you intended? Time legs/laps and calculate finish times You may want to shorten Watch for casualties Watch for commercial traffic Are they sailing the correct course Do not protest unless it is a blatant offence and affects the fairness of the race – leave protesting to the competitors! Prepare for the next race Monitoring the Race

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Finish line is defined in the SIs - usually between the mast flying the orange flag and the last mark of the course Finishing Procedures

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course boat lengths long At 90 o to last mark for ‘round the cans’ At 90 o to sailing wind for beats or runs To be crossed from the direction of the last mark LAST MARK OF COURSE: 5 5 Finishing Line

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Two finishing records Collect independently One design only requires the time of 1 st and last finisher with an order of finishing Only record what you see Do NOT cheat/crib Cross check during lulls and at the end Two second disparity is acceptable on timed records Taped records can be very useful Finishing Procedures

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course OTHER PROCEDURES

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course These signals can be used for any reason whatsoever! Even use them as the panic button Reasons can include: buoy drifting major wind shift leading to heavily biased line mistiming between signals misfiring of sound signals broken halyards on the committee boat etc. Postponement

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Display AP All races not started are postponed Can only be used before the start Postponement

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course AP over a numeral Hours postponement AP over H Further signals ashore AP Indefinite postponement AP over A No more racing today Postponement

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Identify those boats that are OCS (On the Course Side of the line) Individual Recall

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Identify those boats that are OCS (On the Course Side of the line) Individual Recall

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Record OCS Watch the boat(s) to see if they return Leave displayed for 4 minutes if they do not return When all returned remove X (without a sound signal) and delete OCS from record Display X Individual Recall

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Identify those boats that are OCS (On the Course Side of the line) General Recall

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Display 1 st Sub To be used: when there are several unidentified OCSs or if there is an error in procedure General Recall

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Display N The race that has started is Abandoned, return to the starting area. ‘N’ displayed alone cannot be used before the start Use for: errors in the course, dangerous or foul conditions, major wind shifts, late recognition of errors in start sequence, wind vanished, etc Beware multiple class starts! Abandon Racing

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course N Abandoned, return to start area N over H Abandoned, further signals ashore N over A Abandoned, no more racing today Abandon Racing

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Display S Displayed at a rounding mark finish between the rounding mark and the staff displaying the ‘S’ flag In multi-class races display over class flag(s) if not shortening all classes Use when wind dies, another race needs to be fitted into the day, etc Shorten Course

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Display C Displayed at the mark before the leg to be changed - on a RIB Must be displayed as each boat approaches this mark Course Change Displayed with associated signals: Red square, green triangle, +, -, bearing

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Display M Displayed in the position a mark was expected to be - on a RIB Must be displayed before the leader is in the vicinity preferably before that leg starts Mark Missing

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Remove AP Remove 1 minute before warning signal After Postponement Restarting

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Remove Ist Sub Remove 1 minute before warning signal After General Recall Restarting

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Remove N Remove 1 minute before warning signal After Abandonment Restarting

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Be helpful to competitors even if they are requesting redress from the race committee Ensure that protest time limits are observed Tell the truth in the protest room Do not argue, challenge or question the competitors in the protest room Leave it to the jury! Protests After Racing

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Debrief Personal assessment Group assessment Get feed back from competitors After Racing

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course DIFFERENCES BETWEEN KEEL BOATS AND DINGHIES

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Dinghy Many youngsters (consents) Safety boats Safety briefing Tally system Buoyancy aids often compulsory Compliance with instruction compulsory Keel Boat Few youngsters Skipper’s responsibility Y flag Safety

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Limited by risk of injury Limited by risk of damage Ability of fleet to be considered Consider pressure on youngsters Limited by committee boat Skipper’s responsibility Racing Conditions DinghyKeel Boat

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course One design Short course geography Windward/Leeward Trapezoid One design & handicaps Extensive course Windward/Leeward Fixed racing marks DinghyKeel Boat Courses

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course WHEN IT GOES WRONG

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Big wind shifts Committee boat moves at start Competitor tangles around committee boat Container boat approaching the beat at start Course incorrectly displayed Cruiser or fishing boat on the line at the start When it Goes Wrong

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Finish line too shallow Flags don’t go up Flags fall down Mark is moved Mark not present Mark walks When it Goes Wrong

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Visual Signals Mistimed or Absent Results confused / omissions / lost Sea Sickness Sound signals are mistimed or absent Timing error noticed after the start When it Goes Wrong

Protecting your Rights, Promoting your InterestsClub Race Officer Course Recognise problems Admit your mistakes Have contingency plans Deal with issues When it Goes Wrong