CLUB RACE OFFICER COURSE

1. CLUB RACE OFFICER COURSE

2. 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

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

4. RYA Website www.rya.org.uk/raceofficials

5. RYA Website

6. Chart Forecasts BBC Met Office Free Forecasts XC Weather Windguru Subscription Forecasts Windguru Pro PredictWind ProGrib Weather Weather Stations BrambleMet Cowes Harbour Weather WAP Weather Bramblemet/wap

7. 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

8. PRO RO DRO ARO Visual Signals Gunner Timekeeper Race Committee Recorders Pin end crew Finish boat crew Mark Layers Beach Master Safety Officer

9. Layout of Flags and Halyards Minimum flag size 3’x2’ (90cm x 60cm)

10. Personal Equipment

11. Signals Flag Displayed Tells what is going to happen Flag Removed (Executive Signal) Order is carried out Sound Signal Draws attention to visual signal

12. Ground Wind The Wind No tide or current Ground Wind (or Gradient Wind): Measured from a fixed point on the ground (or anchored committee boat)

13. Tide Induced Wind Tide The Wind No gradient wind at all! A still sunny day But the tide is running

14. Ground Wind Sailing Wind Tide Induced Wind ? Tide The Wind Sailing Wind: Wind experienced by a free floating boat stopped in the water Then the gradient kicks in

15. COURSES

16. Clean winds Even depth of water Minimal tidal currents Enough space Course areas not overlapped Courses Important factors affecting race management

17. 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

18. Course angles can be: 600 450 (900 at mark 2) 700 (to give both a close reach & a broad reach) The finish can also be located downwind of mark 3 Sausage Triangle Course

19. Two parallel W/L courses 70o for boats without spinnakers 60o for boats with spinnakers Trapezoid Course

20. 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

21. Top Tips for Round the Cans 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

22. Accuracy is very important Especially with increasing wind speeds when the boats will sail very deep The Downwind Leg

23. Tidal Compensation - Windward Leg W1 W2 12 kts wind 150 1 kt tide A rule of thumb guide is: • in >10kts wind & 1kt of tide set the windward mark downtide 150 of the ground wind • in <8kts wind & 1kt of tide, the offset is 200 or more • for tides diagonal to the wind, halve the allowance • for 2kts tide double the allowance

24. Tidal Compensation - Leeward Leg Any wind 50 1 knot tide L2 L1 • 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 5o downtide of the ground wind for every 1 knot of cross tide

25. 1 2 12kts wind 50 150 1 knot tide 3 Tidal Compensation - Solutions Use an offset mark to create a ‘tidal correction’ leg)

26. The ‘zigzag’ course The ‘X’ course Tidal Compensation - Solutions Wind Current

27. 1 GW Sailing Wind Tide Induced Wind Tide 2 Tidal Compensation - Compromise When you only have 2 marks: Set up on the Sailing Wind Equally skewed upwind and downwind

28. Drop, drop, drop Laying the Start Line Always stream parallel to the committee boat!

29. Number of boats x length of the boat plus 10% to 50% Start Line Length ISAF recommendation multiplying factor 1.3 to 1.5 • Other factors are: • size and manoeuvrability of boats • sea conditions • wind strength • current

30. Line Bias for Tide Wind Current Bad Good Move pin down wind Set line at 90o to Sailing Wind

31. Line Bias for Tactics Mark 1 Wind • Factors to consider across the course are: • wind angles • wind velocity • waves • current Weak tide in Bay Strong tide Starboard bias on the start

32. 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

33. STANDARD PROCEDURES

34. Pre-Start Procedures 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

35. RRS Default 5 mins 4 mins 1 min 0 10 mins 5 mins 1 min 0 10 mins 4 mins 1 min 0 Others Warning signal Preparatory signal One minute Start Starting Systems Attention signal All timings and associated actions may be altered from RRS default by SIs

36. Starting Procedures Time keeper is the most important person!

37. Starting Procedures

38. Starting Procedures

39. Starting Procedures

40. Starting Procedures WARNING SIGNAL When? at the advertised time Method class flag displayed one sound signal

41. Starting Procedures PREP SIGNAL When? warning + 1 Method papa displayed one sound signal

42. Starting Procedures ONE MINUTE SIGNAL When? warning + 4 Method papa removed one long sound signal

43. Starting Procedures START SIGNAL When? warning + 5 Method class flag removed one sound signal

44. Starting Procedures ASSOCIATED ACTIONS At or before warning signal: Display course Before preparatory signal: Set the start line Make attachments to the committee boat

45. 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

46. P – default no penalties apply Starting Procedures DURING 1 MINUTE BEFORE START

47. I – rule 30.1 applies round-an-end rule during 1 min before start Starting Procedures DURING 1 MINUTE BEFORE START

48. Z – rule 30.2 applies 20% penalty rule during 1 min before start Starting Procedures DURING 1 MINUTE BEFORE START Add 20% of number of boats entered to her score

49. Starting Procedures Black – rule 30.3 applies black flag rule during 1 min before start DURING 1 MINUTE BEFORE START Disqualified

50. Starting Procedures 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