1. To Do List Try to arrive at club no later 17:00; there’s a lot to do before the start. That gives you one hour to prepare on shore, get out on the bay, set up the course and get the race started. Onshore Check to make sure LL is at the dock; if not, ask the Dock Master to bring it in. Get one or two crew to retrieve and inflate, using the shop-vac, the drop marks (2 orange tets and 1 yellow cylinder). Get a hold of the RC backpack and review the race prep materials in it on your way out to the start. Get a hold of a chase boat if one is available; make sure at least one of your crew is comfortable operating it. Give your hand held VHF to the chase boat operator and agree on what channel you’ll use to communicate (recommend Ch 71 or 72) Locate all the signal flags you’ll be needing and get them rigged on the proper poles. Make sure that the shot gun and enough shells are on board. Get the inflated drop marks down to the dock and attach ground tackle; make sure you’ve got sufficient line on each to reach the bottom (30’-40’ near Clapboard, 60’-70’ at the mouth of the Hussey). Load the orange tets onto the chase boat. Locate the windex and any letters / numbers (I.e., WL) that you might be using. If unfamiliar with operation of the LL or any of the gear on board (I.e., VHF, loud hailer, windlass) ask Dock Master or one of the knowledgeable fleet members for a quick lesson. Raise the RC flag and head out to the course. Pre-Start On the Water Set Up Determine based on the wind direction and strength how you’ll set up the course. Some days it’s obvious, some days not. You’ll want to bring the LL to a stopnear the bottom of your prospective course and get out on the foredeck with a windex to see what the wind is doing. Chase boat should speed to windward and give a report on wind condition ¾ - 1 mile from LL and radio back relevant info. Once you’re settled on a basic course location and direction, anchor the LL and raise the “on station” flag. Radio the chase boat and direct them to where you want the windward mark dropped. (For course setup suggestions, the May 2004 Race Management Seminar presentation.) Once you’re happy with the windward mark, the chase boat should head downwind and set the leeward mark, again with your direction over the VHF. You should continually check for changes in wind direction as this is occurring; any shift of more than 10 degrees and you’ll probably want to reset the marks. Once the leeward mark is dropped, the chase boat should retrieve the Pin from the LL and set that, again at your direction. Use letters and numbers to post the course and compass direction to the windward mark on the board. Boats should sail by the transom to “check-in”. Someone on the crew with the responsibility for recording results should monitor this so you are aware of who will be racing.

2. To Do List Race Signals / Start Sequence If, by the time designated in the sailing instructions for the first warning signal you have not finished setting up, you should postpone. (AP flag and 2 guns) Continue to monitor wind conditions throughout the run-up to the start sequence. 1 minute before the designated warning time or at the removal of AP, use LL’s “Yelp Hailer” to give a heads-up signal. Start the sequence. Continue to monitor for major wind shifts or velocity changes. If after the sequence is started, conditions change to the degree that the race course is no longer appropriate or the wind no longer adequate, you can abandon the race by firing three guns and displaying code flag “N”. See the Signals / Start Sequence page for more details. Racing & Finishing Monitor the wind during the race. Major wind shifts might warrant abandonment of shortening. (See RRS for procedures.) Record finishes on the sheets provided. First finisher should get a gun and the rest a sound signal when they cross the finish. If running a second race, wait until all competitors have finished (or have signaled that they are retiring). Check the wind again to see if any adjustment to the mark settings is necessary. If so, VHF the chase boat to get the work done. Once the course is settled for the second race, change your course posting, if necessary. Give the competitors a few minutes to prepare and start the second sequence. Use of the “yelp” feature a minute before the warning signal is helpful. Use of the loud hailer to alert the fleet to course changes is a nice courtesy. Wrapping Up Once the last boat has round the windward mark for the last time, the chase boat should retrieve the mark; same with the leeward mark. Pin can be retrieved after the last finisher. Marks should be deflated when you’re done for the day and ground tackle should be disconnected and returned to where it came from. Anchor up on the LL using the windlass. It’s best to steam slowly ahead 10 yards or so to take some of the strain of the windlass. Flags, letters, numbers, windex and anything else removed from below should be removed and restowed below. Shotgun should be returned to its cover and extra shells placed below. Ground tackle and anything else taken out of the stern storage box should be restowed. LL should be returned to its mooring just west of the PYC dock. You can VHF PYC on channel 68 if you need help finding it. Engine and all electrical systems should be shut off and battery switch should be set to off position. Cabin should be locked. Keys and shotgun should be returned to launch driver on the way in. Drop marks should be returned to wooden box (for orange tets) or LL (for yellow cylinder). Results scoring sheet should be brought to RC chair. Black backpack goes back to the wooden box. If any protests are lodged, you have the pleasure of sitting on the jury. Lucky you. You read the final results for the night and then... Your done.

3. RC Gear Orange Tets: You’ll need two of these – a windward and a leeward mark. They are located in the locked wooden box near the fence at PYC. Inflate them with the Shop-Vac in the shed. Ground tackle is either in the wooden box or on board the LL in the stern storage box. Yellow cylinder or Orange Ball: For the pin end of the starting line. The yellow cylinders are usually on the LL. They need to be inflated. Signal flags: Down below on the LL. Letters / Numbers: Down below on the LL. For posting the course on the white instruction board on the stern. Shotgun / Shells: Ask the Dock Master for the Shotgun as it is not stored on the LL. Shells are often on the LL, but check to make sure you have an adequate supply before you leave the dock. Dock Master has more if you need them. Windex: Usually on board LL. God to be able to check wind direction. RC Backpack: Located in wooden box. Contains everything you need to know plus score sheets, pencils, etc. Lubrication: ‘nuf said

4. Crew Work Good crew work is as important to managing a good race as it is to being competitive while racing. We suggest the following: Its best to have at least 3 on board the LL – one to raise / lower flags, one to make sound signals, one to watch the start line and count down the time sequence. If available a chase boat is very handy for setting and resetting marks. The chase boat is essential when the winds are shifty. 1 person can manage in the chase boat, but 2 is better. The chase boat should have your handheld VHF so that it can can communicate with Lindsay Lord. There’s a lot to do before and after the race. Its best to parcel out various tasks your crew. There’s too much to do by yourself. The Denali crew shows how to get it done.

5. Rigging Flags Flags are found down below on the Lindsay Lord in the bins and the alphabetic flag holders. Flags should be rigged at the dock before you head out. On a typical day, you will need: The LL flying “RC”, “on station” and “AP”, waiting for the wind to settle in.

6. Signals / Start Sequence Since we do not typically use them, no discussion is included here of other signals that may be used, including but not limited to “I”, “Z”, “Black Flag”, “N” and “First substitute”. For a complete understanding of the meaning of these and other relevant signals and their use you should review the RRS 2005-2009 Part 3. In making signals and starting a race, you should remember that the RRS state that, “Times shall be taken from the visual signals; the absence of a sound signal shall be disregarded.” So don’t worry if the gun misfires, just make sure that the flags are raised / lowered at the proper times. It is a courtesy in the Fleet, but not a requirement of the rules, to hail those boats over early. The loud hailer onboard the LL is a handy device for this purpose.