Beginner's Guide To
Being On The Race Committee
General
These guidelines are intended to provide reminders and instructions on how to perform the race committee duties. 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.
The following sections are in general order of occurrence on a race day. The race committee members should be familiar with the notice of race and sailing instructions. Copies may be found in the race box.
Competitor's Meeting Area:
Hang the FSC - Come Sail With Us banner between the trees so that it can easily be seen. Put the other items above on the folding table so they are accessible.
Load Into The Signal Boat:
These guidelines are intended to provide reminders and instructions on how to perform the race committee duties. 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.
The following sections are in general order of occurrence on a race day. The race committee members should be familiar with the notice of race and sailing instructions. Copies may be found in the race box.
Competitor's Meeting Area:
Hang the FSC - Come Sail With Us banner between the trees so that it can easily be seen. Put the other items above on the folding table so they are accessible.
- Folding Table;
- Race Box, including
- course charts,
- protest forms,
- rule book,
- registration forms and finish-order sheets,
- pencils/pens/chalk,
- notice of race,
- sailing instructions.
- Clipboard with a registration form for each class and pencils/pens;
- Chalkboard or easel, for posting any changes to the Sailing Instructions or other notices;
- Promotional material about the club.
Load Into The Signal Boat:
- Life jackets
- Megaphone or other sound making device;
- Start timer;
- Start/Finish line flag;
- Pen and paper to record start times for handicap fleet(s);
- Class and other flags;
Answering Pennant (postponement) vertical red and white stripes
P Flag (preparatory) white square with blue background
X Flag (individual recall) white with blue cross
First Substitute Triangle (general recall) yellow with blue background
N Flag (abandon) blue and white checkered
- Anchor and rode;
- Course signals and flag stand;
- Starting pin and anchor;
Competitor's Meeting
The purpose of the competitor's meeting is to make announcements and to answer questions about the day's racing. The competitor's meeting is held on the area at the end of the launch ramp starting at 1030.
All changes to the sailing instructions MUST be written on the chalk board prior to the end of the competitor's meeting in order to be valid.
Potential topics for the competitor's meeting include:
Starting Area and Line
A good rule of thumb for the length of the start line is 1.2 * sum of the hull lengths of the boats starting and perpendicular to the wind direction. Set the general location of the line allowing enough room for all boats to maneuver on the pre-start side of the line without fear of the downwind shore.
Choosing Courses
Some classes, such as El Toros, prefer more windward-leeward courses. Other classes, like Lidos, enjoy reaching to a wing mark, as well as downwind runs. Try to mix up the course selection to give a good variety rather than repeating the same course over and over again.
Displaying the Course
Display the course signal, either a flag or numeral placard, prior to the warning signal which is the raising of the class flag.
Postponement
The most common reason for postponement 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.
If there is any question about whether or not to postpone, the answer is to postpone. It is generally not possible to correct errors and any attempt to do so generally makes matters worse.
The purpose of the competitor's meeting is to make announcements and to answer questions about the day's racing. The competitor's meeting is held on the area at the end of the launch ramp starting at 1030.
All changes to the sailing instructions MUST be written on the chalk board prior to the end of the competitor's meeting in order to be valid.
Potential topics for the competitor's meeting include:
- Point out our course sheets for any new sailors,
- The 3-minute starting sequence,
- Time of first warning signal, which must be no earlier than 1100, and
- Request that skippers who will not start a race inform the race committee.
Starting Area and Line
A good rule of thumb for the length of the start line is 1.2 * sum of the hull lengths of the boats starting and perpendicular to the wind direction. Set the general location of the line allowing enough room for all boats to maneuver on the pre-start side of the line without fear of the downwind shore.
Choosing Courses
Some classes, such as El Toros, prefer more windward-leeward courses. Other classes, like Lidos, enjoy reaching to a wing mark, as well as downwind runs. Try to mix up the course selection to give a good variety rather than repeating the same course over and over again.
Displaying the Course
Display the course signal, either a flag or numeral placard, prior to the warning signal which is the raising of the class flag.
Postponement
The most common reason for postponement 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.
If there is any question about whether or not to postpone, the answer is to postpone. 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, raise the postponement pennant AP (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 affects classes that have already started, you should abandon that entire race and restart it.
If you realize that an error was made in the starting procedure which affects classes that have already started, you should abandon that entire race and restart it.
Starting Sequence
The usual preparatory signal is Flag P.
Elapsed |
Count-Down |
Action |
Time (mm:ss) |
Time (mm:ss) |
Display the course number |
0:00 |
3:00 |
Raise the class flag and make one sound signal. This is the warning signal. |
1:00 |
2:00 |
Raise the P flag and make one sound signal. This is the preparatory signal. |
2:00 |
11:00 |
Lower the P flag and make one long sound signal. |
3:00 |
0:00 |
Lower the class flag and make one sound signal. This is the class start. |
Repeat as needed for additional fleet starts |
Early Starters
A boat is considered to be over early when, at the starting signal, any part of the hull is on the course side of the starting line. The crew or other equipment may be over the line. It is only the hull that is considered when determining if a boat has started early.
A boat is considered to be over early when, at the starting signal, any part of the hull is on the course side of the starting line. The crew or other equipment may be over the line. It is only the hull that is considered when determining if a boat has started early.
If any boats are over early, immediately after the starting sound signal make a second sound signal and raise the X flag (blue cross on white). If possible, hail the boats with "Sail Number". It is not required to hail the boats, as it is each skipper's responsibility to know this, however it is commonly done.
Usually, a boat may duck completely to the pre-start side of the line and re-start. If it is obvious that an over early boat is not going to return, drop the recall flag and record the sail number(s) that are OCS, and for which race.
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.
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 flag (yellow triangle with blue background). When you are ready to restart the race, 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.
Abandoning A Race
Reasons for abandoning a race include:
In theory, you can abandon a race for one or two classes only by raising the N Flag over their class flag(s). However, beware that sailors in other classes might see the N Flag, not understand the class flag below, and quit their race by mistake.
Reasons for abandoning a race include:
- It is obvious that no boats will finish with in the prescribed time limit;
- Foul weather;
- Missing or out of position mark;
- An error in the starting procedure was discovered which affects the races that have already begun;
- Any other reason directly affecting the safety or fairness of the competition.
In theory, you can abandon a race for one or two classes only by raising the N Flag over their class flag(s). However, beware that sailors in other classes might see the N Flag, not understand the class flag below, and quit their race by mistake.
To abandon the current 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, give the warning signal.
Finishing A Race
A boat finishes a race when any portion of the hull crosses 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 one-turn penalty (including a tack and a gybe), return to the course side of the line, and then cross the finish line again. Once the boat has cleared the finish line it is no longer racing, so hitting a mark after clearing the line is of no consequence. As each boat crosses the finish line, optionally make a sound signal, write the sail number and finishing time on the finish-order sheet.
A boat finishes a race when any portion of the hull crosses 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 one-turn penalty (including a tack and a gybe), return to the course side of the line, and then cross the finish line again. Once the boat has cleared the finish line it is no longer racing, so hitting a mark after clearing the line is of no consequence. As each boat crosses the finish line, optionally make a sound signal, write the sail number and finishing time on the finish-order sheet.
Protests and Requests for Redress
The race committee refers any protests or requests for redress to the protest committee. The race committee should not take any stance or comment on the status of a protest, unless called as witness or party to a protest. Protest forms are available in the race box located in the skipper's meeting area.
The race committee refers any protests or requests for redress to the protest committee. The race committee should not take any stance or comment on the status of a protest, unless called as witness or party to a protest. Protest forms are available in the race box located in the skipper's meeting area.
Protest Committee
The Race Captain will normally appoint a protest committee. A hearing will be scheduled as soon as practicable.
The Race Captain will normally appoint a protest committee. A hearing will be scheduled as soon as practicable.
Clean Up
At the end of the day, return the gear to the meeting area at the head of the ramp. If there is any broken or missing equipment notify the Port Captain or Race Captain so that it may be fixed before the next race day.
Give registration forms and finish-order sheets, including fleet start times and any OCSs noted at the start line, to the Race Captain so that season scores may be tallied. If the Race Captain is unavailable, email the information as soon as practicable.
The race committee boat should be cleaned up and left tied to the dock.
At the end of the day, return the gear to the meeting area at the head of the ramp. If there is any broken or missing equipment notify the Port Captain or Race Captain so that it may be fixed before the next race day.
Give registration forms and finish-order sheets, including fleet start times and any OCSs noted at the start line, to the Race Captain so that season scores may be tallied. If the Race Captain is unavailable, email the information as soon as practicable.
The race committee boat should be cleaned up and left tied to the dock.