Race Committee Guidelines
1.0 GENERAL
These guidelines are intended to provide reminders and instructions on how to perform the race committee duties.
The race committee members should be familiar with the Standing Race Instructions. Copies may be found in the race box.
The following sections are in general order of occurrence of a race day.
By following these guidelines you will make the committee duties less stressful on yourselves and make your actions predictable by the racers enabling everyone to enjoy the day.
2.0 EQUIPMENT
The equipment needed to conduct the races is stored in a locker at the lake. The locker is located in the boat storage area. The locker number is 121. The combination of the lock is available from the Race Captain or Commodore.
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FSC - Come Sail With Us Banner;
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Folding Table;
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Race Box, the race box contains the small "bits" needed including the course charts, protest forms, rule book, registration forms, pencils/pens/chalk, and sailing instructions;
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Clipboard with a registration form for each class and pencils/pens;
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Chalkboard or easel, this is used for posting any changes to the Sailing Instructions or other notices, this is the official notice board identified in RRS rule 88.2(c);
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Promotional material about the club.
2.1 Skippers Meeting Area
The following items should be set up in the Skipper's Meeting area:
The banner should be hung between the trees so that it can easily be seen by passers by. The clipboard with the registration forms and the promotional material should be setup on the folding table. The open race box should be set on the table so that people can get copies of the course sheets and sailing instructions.
The promotional material should be displayed so that interested people can take information at anytime during the day.
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Megaphone;
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Backpack containing stopwatch, handicap fleet timer, class flags, P flag (white square with blue background), and course cards;
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Course card stand;
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Poles for flags;
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First Substitute or General Recall pennant, triangular, yellow with blue background;
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X or Individual Recall flag, rectangular, white with blue cross;
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I or Round the ends flag, rectangular, yellow with black dot;
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Answering Pennant or Postponement pennant, vertical red and white stripes;
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N or Abandon Flag, rectagular, blue and white checkered;
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A flag, rectangular swallow tail, white and blue;
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H flag, rectangular, white and red;
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Orange or red flag on pole.
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Life jackets;
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Megaphone;
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Backpack containing stopwatch, handicap fleet timer, class flags, P flag (white square with blue background), and course cards;
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Course and flag stand, this has the orange line flag already attached;
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First Substitute or General Recall pennant, triangular, yellow with blue background;
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X or Individual Recall flag, rectangular, white with blue cross;
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I or Round the ends flag, rectangular, yellow with black dot;
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Answering Pennant or Postponement pennant, vertical red and white stripes;
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N or Abandon Flag, rectagular, blue and white checkered;
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A flag, rectangular swallow tail, white and blue;
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H flag, rectangular, white and red;
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Two anchors and rode;
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Starting pin and anchor;
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Ball float, this is used when you want to move the committee boat during a race without raising the anchors.
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Large orange or red flag on pole;
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Clipboard with registration sheets and pencils/pens;
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Handicap fleet timer;
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S or shorten course flag, rectangular, blue square with white border;
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Whistle.
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Starting order of classes;
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Planned postponement between races and duration (for lunch, etc.);
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Time of first warning signal.
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It is obvious that no boats will finish with in the prescribed time limit;
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Foul weather;
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Missing or out of position mark;
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An error in the starting procedure was discovered which effects the races that have already begun;
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Any other reason directly effecting the safety or fairness of the competition.
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Foul weather;
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An error in the starting procedure was discovered which effects the races that have not yet begun;
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Any other reason directly effecting the safety or fairness of the competition.
2.2 Starting Line Area
There are two starting areas; the north shore and the committee boat.
2.2.1 North Shore Starting Area
The following items should be taken to the north shore starting area:
You should also take some of the promotional material with you to the starting area to hand out to interested people.
2.2.2 Committee Boat Starting Area
The committee boat should carry the following:
2.3 Finishing Line Area
The following items should be taken to the finish area:
The shore end of the finish line should be set up on the north shore of the lake so that the line formed by mark F and the orange flag is approximately perpendicular to the last leg. In most cases, the last leg will be from mark 4 or 5, however this may change depending on the wind direction.
If the starting line and finish line are the same, as is the case when the course is reversed, do not set up a separate flag for the finish line, simply use the same flag as was used for the starting line.
If you are on the shore, you should also take some of the promotional material with you to the starting area to hand out to interested people.
3.0 SKIPPERS MEETING
The purpose of the skipper's meeting is to make announcements and to answer questions about the day's racing or the Sailing Instructions. The Skipper's Meeting is held on the grassy area at the end of the launch ramp usually starting at 11:30am. You should try to have the starting area equipment set up about 15 minutes before the Skipper's meeting begins.
If the Skipper's Meeting lasts more than 10-15 minutes, a postponement should be considered to permit ample time for the racers and the committee to get to the starting area.
All changes to the Sailing Instructions MUST be written on the chalk board prior to the end of the skipper's meeting in order to be valid.
Potential items for discussion are:
If there will be separate groups of people at the starting and finish lines and there is a handicap fleet, the timers for the starting and finishing lines should be started simultaneously prior to leaving the skipper's meeting area.
4.0 RACING AREA
5.0 COURSE DESIGNATIONS
When selecting the course to be sailed the most important criteria is the direction of the wind. The course selected should have the first leg as close to being up wind as possible. The leeward mark of the course should be selected to provide as much of a pure up wind leg to the windward mark or finish line as possible.
The length of the course should be selected based on having a race of 30-45 minutes. This should guide your decision in whether or not there is a wing mark as a part of the course and whether to sail the course twice around. To signal that the course should be sailed twice prior to finishing use the "X" placard.
In addition to the courses outlined below, there are two course modifiers that you may use to help make the first leg up wind. The first is the "A" placard. This instructs the racers to substitute mark 1 for mark 2 for the posted course. Generally, this would be used when mark 2 is the first mark of the course. The second is the "R" placard. This instructs the racers to sail the course in reverse order. Reversing the course is only appropriate when the wind is from the east.
When the course is reversed, the Sailing Instructions state that the starting line is also the finish line.
The placards are displayed on the course stand in the following order:
1. Course Number
2. Course Modification Placard(s) if applicable. Multiple modification placards may be used as appropriate.
If there are enough classes that it is impossible to have the classes not sailing through one another or it is likely that there will be significant congestion at the marks, it is suggested that the courses be selected so that the classes go to different marks. For example, with the wind coming out of the typical westerly direction, the first group of classes could be given the course 10 with the A placard, a course of S-1-5-F. The second group of classes would be given course 9 without the A placard, a course of S-2-4-F. This would have the two groups sailing essentially parallel courses and would minimize congestion at the marks. If this is done, it is recommended that the restriction on passing through the starting line be removed by announcement at the skipper's meeting to help keep the groups separate.
| COURSES | |||||||
| NUMBER | ROUNDING MARKS | ||||||
| 1 | Start | 2P | 7P | 4P | 2P | 4P | Finish |
| 2 | Start | 2P | 7P | 5P | 2P | 5P | Finish |
| 3 | Start | 2P | 7P | 4P | Finish | ||
| 4 | Start | 2P | 7P | 5P | Finish | ||
| 5 | Start | 2P | 6P | 2P | 6P | Finish | |
| 6 | Start | 2P | 5P | 2P | 5P | Finish | |
| 7 | Start | 2P | 6P | 4P | 2P | 5P | Finish |
| 8 | Start | 2P | 1P | 4P | Finish | ||
| 9 | Start | 2P | 4P | Finish | |||
| 10 | Start | 2P | 5P | Finish | |||
| 11 | Start | 2S | 3S | 6S | 2S | 6S | Finish |
| 12 | Start | 1S | 3S | 5S | Finish | ||
| 13 | Start | 2P | 1P | 6P | 4P | Finish | |
| 14 | Start | 2P | 6P | 4P | Finish | ||
| 15 | Start | 2P | 8P | 4P | 2P | 5P | Finish |
| 16 | Start | 3P | 1P | 6P | Finish | ||
| 17 | Start | 3P | 1P | 5P | 3P | 6S | Finish |
| 18 | Start | 3S | 8S | 3S | 8S | Finish | |
| 19 | Start | 3P | 1P | 5P | Finish | ||
6.0 STARTING A RACE
The timelines show the standard actions that the race committee would perform. It is suggested that you cross off the completed actions to prevent confusion. If there are more than 3 classes starting, the timeline can be extended to the actual number of starting classes.
It is the responsibility of each competitor to insure that they are prepared to race based on the schedule shown in the Sailing Instructions. The preparedness of some of the racers should not be considered a reason to postpone the race.
If there is any problem during the sequence, immediately signal a postponement by raising the postponement pennant (red and white vertical stripes) and making two sound signals. Once you have sorted out the problems, lower the postponement pennant with a single sound signal. One minute later, re-start the timeline at the beginning with the class flag for the next class to start.
6.1 POSTPONEMENTS
There are some typical situations when it is appropriate to postpone the start of a race. The most common reason is insufficient wind. The second most common is when there a problem with the race committee during the starting sequence. These can include losing track of time or lowering or raising a flag or signal at the wrong time. A postponement should also be made if the Committee is not ready to start as scheduled in the Sailing Instructions or at the skipper's meeting.
If there is any question about whether or not to postpone, the answer is to postpone. It is better to postpone even if things are OK but there is doubt. It is generally not possible to correct errors and any attempt to do so generally makes matters worse.
To postpone the start of a race, and hence the start of all subsequent races, raise the Answering Pennant or postponement pennant (vertical red and white stripes) and make two sound signals. Once you have sorted out the problems, lower the postponement pennant with a single sound signal. One minute later, re-start the timeline at the beginning with the class flag for the next class to start.
If you realize that an error was made in the starting procedure which effects classes that have already started, you should abandon that entire race and restart it. This will involve ALL the classes whether the mistake effected them of not.
It is the responsibility of each competitor to insure that they are prepared to race based on the schedule shown in the Sailing Instructions or announced at the Skipper's meeting. The preparedness of some of the racers should not be considered a reason to postpone the race.
6.2 SEQUENCE TIME LINE
This sequence outlines the timing for three typical classes, FJ, Lido, and El Toro. The tasks without specific times assigned can be done anytime during the time interval between the previous task and the next task. The task must be done prior to the time of the following task.
| Time (mm:ss) | ||
| Elapsed | Count Down | Action |
| Display the course number for the FJ class. | ||
| 0:00 | 15:00 | Raise the FJ class flag and make on sound signal. This is the warning signal for the FJ class. |
| 1:00 | 14:00 | Raise the P flag and make one sound signal. This is the preparatory signal for the FJ class. |
| 2:00 | 13:00 | Lower the P flag and make one long sound signal. |
| 3:00 | 12:00 | Lower the FJ class flag and make one sound signal. This is the FJ class start. |
| Display the course number for the Lido class. | ||
| 4:00 | 11:00 | Raise the Lido class flag and make on sound signal. This is the warning signal for the Lido class. |
| 5:00 | 10:00 | Raise the P flag and make one sound signal. This is the preparatory signal for the Lido class. |
| 6:00 | 9:00 | Lower the P flag and make one long sound signal. |
| 7:00 | 8:00 | Lower the Lido class flag and make one sound signal. This is the Lido class start. |
| Display the course number for the El Toro class. | ||
| 8:00 | 7:00 | Raise the El Toro class flag and make one sound
signal. This is the warning signal for the El Toro class. |
| 9:00 | 6:00 | Raise the P flag and make one sound signal. This is the preparatory signal for the El Toro class. |
| 10:00 | 5:00 | Lower the P flag and make one long sound signal. |
| 11:00 | 4:00 | Lower the El Toro class flag and make one sound
signal. This is the El Toro class start. |
| Display the course number for the handicap fleet. | ||
| 12:00 | 3:00 | Raise the handicap fleet class flag and make one
sound signal. This is the warning signal for the handicap fleet. |
| 13:00 | 2:00 | Raise the P flag and make one sound signal. This is the preparatory signal for the handicap fleet. |
| 14:00 | 1:00 | Lower the P flag and make one long sound signal. |
| 15:00 | 0:00 | Lower the handicap fleet class flag, records the
time on the handicap fleet timer, and make one sound
signal. This is the handicap fleet start. |
Classes shown are based on a typical starting order. Appropriate adjustments should be made to this sequence if fewer or more classes are racing.
6.3 OVER EARLY STARTERS
A boat is considered to be over early when, at the starting signal, any part of the hull or rigging is on the course side of the starting line.
If any boats are over early, immediately after the starting sound signal make a second sound signal and raise the X or individual recall flag (blue cross on white flag). If possible, hail the boats with "Sail Number over early". It is not required to hail the boats, as it is the skipper's responsibility to know this, however it is commonly done and helps avoid any friction between the RC and the sailors.
A boat may return to the pre-start side of the line either through the line or around an end, except when the I or "round an end" (black dot on yellow) flag is displayed. When the I flag is displayed boats are required to go around the end of the line before crossing to the course side.
Once it is obvious that a boat is not going to return to the pre-start side of the line, simply drop the recall flag and note the sail number and report it to the finish line people for recording as a DNS.
6.3 GENERAL RECALLS
When there are so many boats over the starting line early that you can not identify the individual boats then a general recall is appropriate.
To signal a general recall, make two sound signals and raise the First Substitute or general recall flag (yellow triangle with blue background). When you are ready, drop the flag and make one sound signal. The warning signal (raising the class flag) for the new start for the recalled class must be made one minute after this flag is dropped.
7.0 SHORTENING THE COURSE
There are a few reasons to shorten a race course. These include insufficient wind and a missing mark in the remaining portion of the course to be sailed. The course can only be shortened at a rounding mark.
To shorten the course, the finish line personnel must move to the mark where the race is to be finished. Set up the finishing line flag so that it forms a line with the rounding mark and causes the sailors to pass that mark on the side required by the course while coming in the direction from the last mark. The racers must pass the rounding mark to the side described in the course description. The finish line must not require the sailors to perform a "button hook" to cross the finish line while keeping the rounding mark on the proper side. Display the S flag (rectangular with blue square and white border) and make repeated sound signals as the first boat approaches the new finish line. As each boat finishes, follow the standard finish line procedures.
8.0 ABANDONING THE RACE
A race may only be abandoned once it has been started. Reasons for abandoning a race include:
It is not practical to abandon a race for only one class since few people realize that the signal is the N flag over the class flag(s) for the class(es) whose race is being abandoned. Therefore, if you choose to abandon it should be done for all classes that have started. Note that the signals for abandoning a race are the same as for canceling a race. So that if you are abandoning a race for classes which have started, the classes which have not started will assume that their races have been canceled. A race may not be abandoned for a class which has had at least one finisher.
To abandon a race and then follow with another race, give three sound signals and display the N flag. Once the boats have returned to the starting area, you can restart the sequence. When you are ready to restart, make one sound signal and drop the N flag. One minute later, restart the starting sequence from the beginning.
To abandon the current race and have all skippers meet at the skipper's meeting area, give three sound signals and display the N flag over the H flag.
To abandon the current race and cancel all subsequent races for the day, give three sound signals and display the N flag over the A flag.
9.0 CANCELING A RACE
Races may be canceled before they are started. Reasons for canceling a race include:
It is not practical to cancel a race for only one class since few people realize that the signal is the N flag over the class flag(s) for the class(es) whose race is being canceled. Therefore, if you choose to cancel it should be done for all classes that have not started. Note that the signals for canceling a race are the same as for abandoning a race. So that if you are canceling a race for classes which have not started, the classes which have started will assume that their races have been abandoned unless there has been a finisher in that class. It is more appropriate to postpone the start of a race when there is a problem with the starting sequence or there is insufficient wind.
To cancel a race and then follow with another race, give three sound signals and display the N flag. When you are ready to restart, make one sound signal and drop the N flag. One minute later, restart the starting sequence from the beginning.
To cancel the current race and have all skippers meet at the skipper's meeting area, give three sound signals and display the N flag over the H flag.
To cancel the current race and all subsequent races for the day, give three sound signals and display the N flag over the A flag.
10.0 FINISHING A RACE
A boat finishes a race when any portion of the boat or crew in their normal position cross the finish line from the direction of the last mark. It is not necessary for a boat to completely cross the finish line in order to finish.
If a boat hits the finish mark in the process of crossing the finish line, the boat must complete a 360 turn (must include a gybe and tack), return to the course side of the line, and then cross the finish line. If the boat has completely crossed the finish line and then hits the mark on the way away from the finish line, they need not do this since they are no longer racing at that point.
As the boat crosses the finish line the race committee should call out the boat's sail number. The sail numbers should be written down on the registration sheets in the order of finish or in any other manner which the Race Captain can use to record the scores later. It is not necessary to record the actual time of finish unless the boat is in the handicap fleet. If the boat is part of the handicap fleet then the finishing time read from the handicap fleet timer must be recorded.
If a boat is flying a protest flag this should be noted on the registration form. The boat may also inform you of whom they are protesting. This should also be noted.
12.0 PROTESTS
There are no responsibilities for the race committee with regard to protests, unless the race committee is a party to the protest or members are called as witnesses. This will only occur if a boat decides to protest actions of the race committee. The best advice is that the race committee not take any stance or comment on the status of a protest. Protest forms are available in the race box located in the skipper's meeting area.
Normally the protest committee will be appointed by the Race Captain. In the event that the Race Captain is unavailable, a member of the FSC board may request that the race committee appoint a protest committee. Protest committee members should be non-interested parties as defined in the RRS and be knowledgable on the racing rules.
13.0 CLEAN UP
At the end of the day, the gear removed from the gear locker should returned. If there is any broken or missing equipment the Port Captain or Race Captain should be notified so that it may be fixed before the next race day.
The registration forms should be given to the Race Captain so that season scores may be tallied.
TThe race committee boat should be cleaned up and left tied to the dock near the rangers patrol boat. The park staff will remove the boat from the water and put it away. The boat is on loan to us by the City and therefore we should return it in a better condition than we got it.