Race Committee

How to Run a Race

PRE-RACE

  1. Prepare equipment

    • Obtain the following equipment from the locked LGYC shed / dinghy stand. If equipment is missing, try to find it first, then resort to asking the Commodore to replace it. If you don't already have it, obtain the combination for the lock from the Commodore or one of the other officers. The shed contains a box of race supplies and the race equipment.

      • Pencils (note: ink runs when wet)
      • Paper
      • Race Score Sheet
      • Stopwatches or clocks (2 ea.)
      • Race Handicap Computer
      • Flag Standard & Flags
      • Course Board & Mark Number Placards
      • Hailer (preferably an air horn)
      • Inflatable Start Mark Buoy (large orange ball)
      • Lake Maps
      • Compass Heading Forms
      • Protest Forms
      • Race Participation Waivers
      • Starting Horn

    • Test the starting horn, race watch/clock, and race handicap computer.

    • Mount the course board on your boat's port side.
      Secure the flag standard at your boat's port stern, with all flags down.

  2. Conduct skippers' meeting

    • Register Participants
      • Require signed waiver release from each partipant
      • Collect $5 fee (per raceday) from each participant
      • List participant on score sheet, including:
        • Skipper's name
        • Boat's Sail Number
        • Boat Type/Length
        • Boat's LGYC Handicap
        • Spinnaker Declaration
      • Provide maps and racing instructions as needed to each participant

    • Announce Race Plans
      • General Information
        • Make announcements of any new LGYC information.
        • Propose number of races for the day.
        • Note any race time limits (usually none).
        • Weather and safety warnings; describe shorten-course flag.
        • Explain race throwouts and scoring details (below) if desired by participants
      • Start Instructions
        • Note intended start time and weather conditions required for start
        • Give location and description of starting line
        • Ask for on-the-water skipper check-in
        • Review starting sequence (steps are listed, below)
        • Explain recalls
          • Individual Recall: White flag with blue cross will be raised. Skipper will be notified with hailer, if possible, but it is always skipper's responsibility to know.
          • General Recall: Will notify fleet with multiple horn blasts. Blue and yellow pennant will be raised, as well.
      • Protest Instructions
        • Try to resolve protests on the water with 720 rule.
        • If really necessary, protests will be received for 30 minutes after the committee boat returns to the dock.
        • LGYC Gentleman Policy: Strict adherence to "no-collision" rules

    • Question-and-Answer Session

DURING THE RACE

  1. Set Starting Line and Course

    • Move committee boat to start area at least 45 minutes before start.
    • Inflate and set start buoy.
      • Buoy should be set to port of the committee boat's position.
      • The start line should be roomy; allow 1-1/2 boat lengths for each starter. The finish line, if separate from the start line, should be narrow.
    • Post the course.
      • Ideally, try for a upwind start with the start line perpendicular to the wind.
      • Ideally, try to set a upwind finish as well.
      • Red number placards indicate port mark roundings; green number placards indicate starboard roundings. Port roundings are preferred because they provide a safer course.
      • The start line is usually the finish line as well. The finish line may be moved to any mark of the course if needed to shorten course in case of uncooperative weather.
      • Ideally, each race should include at least 1 beat, 1 reach, and 1 run.
    • Prepare for start.
      • Acknowledge on-the-water check-ins of all participants.
      • Prepare yourself to make an accurate start; don't allow distractions.

  2. Start the Race

    Ideally, one person should handle the flags and watch for any boats that go over the line early, while a second person handles the watch and horns.

    BEGIN THE SEQUENCE

    11 minutes before start

    multiple short horn blasts

    1 minute later

    10 minutes before start

    horn blast; white flag goes up

    4 minutes later

    6 minutes before start

    white flag comes down

    1 minute later

    5 minutes before start

    horn blast; blue flag goes up

    4 minutes later

    1 minute before start

    blue flag comes down

    1 minute later

    START

    red flag goes up;1 long horn blast

  3. Handle the Finish

    • If finish line is different from start line, set the finish buoy.
      • Buoy should be set to port of the committee boat's position.
      • The finish line should be narrow.
    • As finishing boats approach, prepare. Get race watch, paper (NOT the race scoring sheet), pencil.
    • As each boat crosses the line, one person should give a short horn blast and call out its sail number while another person lists its sail number and the finish time (hours:minutes:seconds).
    • Post the next course and start the next race (if another is planned for the day).
    • At soonest opportunity, transfer finish times to race scoring sheet. (Remember to deduct the 10-minute start sequence time, if necessary.)

POST-RACE

  1. Rank the Finishers
    Using the race handicap computer, rank finishers on score sheets:
    • 1st = 3/4 pt., 2nd = 2 pts., 3rd = 3 pts., etc.
    • DNF = number of starters + 1
    • DNS = number of starters + 2 (if present near start)
    • DNS = number in fleet + 2 (if not present near start)
    • DSQ = number of starters + 4

  2. Post race results
    • Send results to the race Chairman. He will send them to the Webmaster to be published on the club website.
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