Race Management for On Water Volunteers Program 2 Start Boat

Start boat roles Race Officer Timekeeper Sound Visual signals Overall responsibility for conduct of racing and safety Timekeeper focused, controls the sequence Sound may be timekeeper Visual signals coordinate with sound & timer Recorder (a scribe) OCS & returns, UFD, BFD count starters, relay to course boats – let top mark know how many boats to expect

Start boat roles - Signals Person What happens with the flags during the start sequence? First Warning (Division/Class Flag Up) Prepartory Flag Up (up for 3 minutes) Prepatory Flag Down (long hoot) Start (Class Flag Down) 5 min  4 min  3/3 2/3 1/3 1 min  0 min 

WS Race Signals - Preparatory

WS Race Signals - Recall Signals

WS Race Signals - Postponement AP, answering pennant, postponement flag races not started are postponed 1 min between dropping this and next signal over H races postponed, further signals ashore safety! over A races postponed, no more racing today over numeral pennant races postponed for 1-9 hours depending on numeral pennant AP    AP over H AP over A AP over numeral

WS Race Signals - Abandonment

Visual Signals (Flags) cont’d responsible for ensuring the visual signals are ready for display at the appropriate times knowledge of the visual signals as illustrated in the ‘Race Signals’ section of the RRS when to use them what message the signal is sending to the competitors when to remove a signal that is displayed takes all timings from the Timekeeper

WS Race Signals - Changing the next leg

WS Race Signals - Other signals

Race documents the Signals person needs to reveiw Notice of Race (NOR) schedule of races Sailing Instructions (SI) key times – first warning, time limits class flags method for displaying change of course number of races

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Sounds Reports to: RO & Timekeeper May be Timekeeper Responds with sound on Timer’s countdown Responds with sound on Race Officers direction of “Individual” or “General” Is familiar with flags and their sounds       Sound signaller works closely with the visual signals & timekeeper       Responsible for all the sound signals that accompany the visual signals       Understand that there is a difference between sounds required for different signals Tools: Horn – Auto Hoot

Recorder Responsible for the paper work on the water – compile a diary of the race note the competitors reporting at the start keep the log of actions and communications Keep the wind log – speed and direction Information about course used all noted against the appropriate time Record OCS boats & those returning Record number of starters course board setup

Recorder - things to remember... Reports to: RO Keeps notes of each communication from the RO to other boats or vice versa. Can assist with Radio if asked by RO Gives RO or recorder for RO the number of each fleet if asked Listens for any boats leaving the race course in order to track them back to shore Tools: Pen Clipboard list of participants or piece of paper for recording 

Recording wind

Wind Recorder - things to remember... Reports to: RO Uses compass and wind indicator to determine direction of the wind. Records results for every 5 minutes on wind graph Records readings coming in from other boats on the course Reports to RO on trends when asked

Wind Recorder - things to remember... Cont’d Reports to RO on shifts of wind larger that 10 degrees Confirms wind throughout the duration of the racing Tools: Compass Wind Indicator Anemometer if given one by RO Wind Chart from RO Pen

Display of Course Board Reports to: RO Ensures that the course board has the correct information displaying as directed by the Race Officer: The bearing of the wind Ensure the course board is displayed at the back of the boat or other prominent place in such time the sailors are made aware before racing starts

Radio Monitoring – On Start Boat If there is a separate Radio Operator on board, they are key to the communications between boats on the water and on shore. Remain on listening watch throughout time on water. Ensure changes in wind direction (from Mark Boats) are reported to the Wind Recorder/RO as soon as received if major change is occurring Listen to comms between Mark Boat/Safety Boat Operators Communicates with Recorder (scribe) to make sure important changes are noted

Radio Monitoring – On Shore Important to maintain radio survelliance of all radio channels being used listening watch monitor weather & report to Race Officer if storms are coming, stronger winds or other event radar BOM observations lightning key to safety plan know the DSC Radio Procedures – be sure you have read it

Radio Communications Depending on frequency being used for the race course the DSC Call Sign from shore is DSC73 DSC Call signs from the water Boat name... 'This is Start' or 'This is boat name (Mark Boat) ' Be brief and keep idle chatter to a minimum A double click is used to convey 'message received'

Other Radio Communications Hints You may want to attend the course held at DSC – Marine Radio Operator Should hold a VHF License Ask questions if in doubt before making a transmission Have the Key Contacts list handy Keep a record of all comms between shore and the water on the DSC Log Sheets, especially in case of emergancy

Thank you