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Club Race Officer(Trainers Seminar)
Module 1 Before the RaceModule 2 On the Water,
before the start
Module 3 During the Race and the Finish
Module 4 Post-Race and Safety
Regional Race Management Training Coordinator:Mike Harrison (National Race Officer & National Judge)0131.554.7773 e-mail: [email protected]
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Club Race Officer
Module 1 Before the RaceModule 2 On the Water,
before the start
Module 3 During the Race and the Finish
Module 4 Post-Race and Safety
Regional Race Management Training Coordinator:
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Group Discussion
How does your club organise its Race Management?
How effective is Race Management in your club?
What are the main difficulties?
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Race Management at Club level is designed to
make the most of the club organisationgive customer satisfaction - good sailing
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Who are the customers?
Beginners / LearnersExperienced recreational racersThe Open Meeting experts
(customers becoming competitors)
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Learners (of all ages) require
Space no-one carving them up
Tolerance while they learn
Chance to finish the race without being cursed by the Race Officer
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Experienced recreational racers require
Enjoyable racingCompetitive sailing at their levelA regular pattern to the racing
don't want to have to think too much!
Time to talk about the race in the bar
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Open Meeting experts require
Competition in which they stand a fair chance of winning
Perfect organisation accurate start lines true beats correctly angled reaches
Emphasis on racing and winningRemember - for many of these, club racing is
only a training session, but it must be good
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To give competitor satisfaction, the club organisation needs to
Communicate efficientlyFollow a regular pattern in its organisational
structureHave an efficient method of encouraging
members into taking and accepting responsibility
GET AWAY FROM THE 'ONE-MAN BAND'
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One method of club organisation (race management aspects only)
F lee tC ap ta in s
B osu n C h ie fR ace
O ffice r
R esu ltsS ec re ta ry
O th ers
S A IL IN G C O M M ITTE E
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Job Descriptions
Sailing Captain acts either as chairperson
or secretary to sailing committee
is responsible to club management for efficient running of the sailing programme
Bosun ensures all equipment is
in good working order
Chief Race Officer co-ordinates all club race
management trains Club Race Officers issues Club Race Officer
Certificates in conjunction with Regional Race Management Training Co-ordinator
vets all Sailing Instructions
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Job Descriptions
Fleet Captains communicate fleets' views
to the Sailing Committee communicate committee
decisions to fleets
Results Secretary processes and publishes
all results
Monthly Race Managers responsible to Sailing
Committee for completion of race programme in their duty period
responsible for all race management matters during their duty period
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Monthly Race Managers (from Committee Members)
A p ril M ay
W eek 1R O + team
W eek 2R O + team
etc .
Ju n e Ju ly A u g u s t e tc .
M on th lyR ace M an ag er
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Monthly Race Managers
these are the people the club needs to train they will probably come to your training sessions they will hopefully become your Chief Race Officers
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Race Officer Duty - Preparation
Long before the day go on duty with a good race officer observe make notes
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D-day minus 7 Contact Monthly Race Manager (or be contacted) Get a copy of the Club’s Race Management Guide Check
programme is to run as scheduledrace team members are all availableexperience (balance) of team is OKall equipment is operational
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Race Equipment
If you start races away from a fixed Race Box - what equipment is in the club’s race bag?
What personal equipment does a CRO need to provide?
What has to be done in the time before the start (especially the first 30 minutes after you arrive at the clubhouse)?
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The Race Officer’s bag• suncream• seasickness tablets• aspirin• insect repellent• shackle key• duct tape• memo recorder• batteries• pencils (chinagraph),
pens• burgee• cotton wind indicator• neck towel• fingerless gloves• woolly hat, baseball cap• recording sheets & plain
notepad• clipboards (2)
• Rule Book• SIs for the event• VHF radio• monocular • gas air horn• mouth-blown horn• whistles (2)• anemometer• hand-bearing compass• orienteering compasses
(2)(for handing to mark-layers)
• GPS• complete flag set
(including orange, black, red, green & blue)
• set of letters & numbers (for course notification)
Additional Personal Equipment
• waterproofs• buoyancy aid• snacks (food & drink)
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D-day minus 5 Check personal equipment Re-read Racing Rules -
Part 3 Racing Signals
Re-read Club Sailing Instructions
D-day minus 1 Watch TV weather
forecasts - get a picture of what is happening, fronts etc
If bad weather is predicted then arrange additional safety boat coverage
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Start minus 1-2 hours Arrive at Club with latest
forecast Note wind direction at
Club Unlock/prepare equipment Check all boat crews have
arrived and that they have checked their craft and its equipment
Check that all starting equipment is in order
Complete radio checks Check wind again From forecast and current
observation predict wind strength and direction at start-time
If too strong/light prepare to postpone
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Pre-Start Preparation
Rescue craft afloat and readyWatches ready
wound / batteries OK set to correct (real) time
Recording Sheet readyPencils sharpGuns readyFlags bent on to halyards
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The Start
Do you know your flags? What are the main problems in getting a clean
start?How can you try to ensure a good start?Write out a simple ‘Idiot’s Guide’ for dealing
with one or more OCS yachts.When ‘short-handed’ in the Race Box, which
are the most difficult times? And how can these situations be resolved?
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Linlithgow Loch Courses
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Port Edgar DinghyCourses
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Courses
What factors influence course setting in your club?
Using the Port Edgar course card, select a course for an evening race for Fast Yachts. The wind is 8-12 knots South-Westerly. High water was at 15:58 (5.9m); low water is at 21:18 (0.7m). The race starts at 19:00.
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Setting a Course
Refer to recommended courses in Club’s Race Manual
Select a course that is suitable for the PREDICTED wind
strength and direction the tide
Seek advice if necessary Note start and finish line
positions
Check that marks shown on recommended course actually are in situ
Prepare course display, double-check that rounding sides of marks are correctly displayed NO LOOPING OF MARKS!
Confirm choice with duty Race Manager or get someone else to check
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Decision Time!
A Race Officer must use his/her judgement to decide length of start line
how many last minute starters?
how much bias is necessary?how shifty is the wind?any current to be considered?
postpone the startorganisation not ready (race team, rescue)wind - too little, too much
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The Race Officer must also use his judgement to
start the racerecognise on-course-side at start time and
signal an individual recall
or
a general recall
shorten course
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Before the Warning Signal
The Race Officer must signal or otherwise designate the course
The Race Officer may remove and substitute a new course signal
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Warning SignalWhen
in ‘System 3’ - 1 minute prior to Preparatory Signal
at advertised time
at 00 seconds on real-time clock
Method class flag
displayed one sound signal
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Before the Preparatory Signal
The Race Officer may shift a starting mark
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Preparatory Signal
Fleet now under racing rules
Yachts sailing in the vicinity of the Starting Line rank as competing yachts
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Before the Start
The Race Officer may shorten course to one prescribed in the Sailing
Instructions postpone, to designate a new course before or with
the new warning signal, or for any other reason postpone to a later day
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Start
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Identifiable Boat(s) On Course Side of the line
hoist X one gun record OCS on race
sheet watch boat(s)
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Identifiable Boat(s) On Course Side of the line - Re-Starting
When all have returned behind the start line lower X delete OCS
If some do not return, keep X up until 1 minute before next start or until starting line is closed
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‘I didn’t see anything...’
A Sunday race has three starts. A strong tide pushes several boats of the first fleet over the line. Your view is blocked by the nearest boat. What is the sequence of actions you follow?
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General Recall
To be used when there are
several unidentified OCSs or
if there is an error in procedure
Method hoist 1st Substitute two guns
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Re-Start after General RecallTry to keep to
multiples of the time sequence - start on next 5 minute (or 3 minute) interval always at 00 seconds
on real-time clock!
One minute before this time lower 1st Substitute one gun
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Re-Start after General Recall : Stage TwoRemember you
go straight into the Preparatory signal
One minute after lowering 1st Sub. hoist class flag and preparatory flag (P or other)
fire one gun
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Club Rules
What is the rule in your club about late starters?
The first fleet of an evening race is due to start at 19:00. At 18:56 you see a yacht cast off from its mooring, sail to the pre-course side of the line and start at 19:02. What do you do (or should you have done)?
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Postponement Signals
These can be used for ANY REASON WHATSOEVER!
Use them as the panic button - a cry for helpReasons can include
buoy drifting major wind shift leading to heavily biased line mistiming between signals misfiring of sound signals broken halyards etc. etc.
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The Postponement Signals : 1
AP All races not started
are postponed Keep to multiples of
original time sequence if possible when lowering
Warning Signal made one minute after this signal is lowered
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The Postponement Signals : 2
All races are abandoned This includes ones already
under way as well as those preparing to start
N
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The Postponement Signals :3
AP over numeral pennant postponed x hours from
scheduled start time
AP over H and N over H as for AP and N but -
"further signals will be made ashore"
i.e. go back to the beach/harbour
AP over A and N over A postponed/abandoned to
another day
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After the Start : Race Control
To remain in control of the race, the Race Officer must, at regular intervals, check: Safety
the weather conditions (that the crews can handle stronger winds)
that rescue craft are still operational
that rescue craft know of vessels which appear to be in trouble
that priority is being given to people and not boats
Time by timing boats on various legs of
the course calculating the approximate
finishing time for the first yacht comparing this time with the time
limit, and preparing to shorten course if necessary
Recording of Yachts ensure that recorders have
positions of each yacht at end of each round
keep track of leaders of each fleet keep track of 'tail-end charlies' of
each fleet relative to leaders
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Shorten Course or Abandon valid reasons in Rule 32
error in starting procedurefoul weatherinsufficient wind, making it unlikely that any
boat will finish within the time limita mark missing or out of placeany other reason affecting the safety or
fairness of the competition
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Shorten Course Signal means
displayed at the starting line sail the shortened course
prescribed in the Sailing Instructions
displayed at the finishing line finish the race either:
at the finishing line at the end of the round still to be completed by the leading yacht or
as prescribed in the Sailing Instructions
displayed at a rounding mark finish between the
rounding mark and the committee boat (see definition of finishing - later)
in multi-class, fly over class flag(s) if not shortening all classes
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Shorten Course : the method
At Club Race Officer level, the most important thing is knowing when to shorten course The position of the leading boat must be known If the race is a close one, with the leader covering
the second boat, it is essential that the boats all see and hear the shorten course signal, as this may affect their tactical sailing to the finishing line
In club racing the signal is normally flown when the leader rounds the penultimate mark before the shortened course finishing line
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Shorten Course : the signal
When the leader rounds the last mark before the finishing line (i.e. is just on the last leg) hoist flag S two guns
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Finishing the Race
The Race Officer has to set a finishing line
(in most clubs this is frequently the same as the starting line)
has the race team set up for the finishGunner with sound signalsTimekeeper ready to record finishing timesRecorder ready to record sail numbers and times
note any protest flags
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The Finishing Line
Yachts must cross the finishing line in the direction of the course from the last mark
Hook finishes are not permitted or valid
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FINALLY -
Tidy up Give out and receive protest forms, noting relevant
times Present the results in the agreed manner required by
the results secretary Prepare, if required, a brief report on the race for the
Press Officer Report any defects in the equipment to the Bosun Ensure that all equipment is securely locked away GO TO THE BAR AND RECEIVE PRAISE FOR A GOOD JOB
WELL DONE!!!
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It couldn’t happen to us...
What safety precautions does your club insist on before a club race starts?
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Twice a year....
What standards can you (reasonably) expect from the person who does a duty (Race Officer or Safety Officer) twice a year?
As trainers, how can you effectively organise training for these people?