Peter van Muyden, International Race Officer, So you are a racer; Here is what you should know about Race Management. Peter van Muyden, International Race Officer, Regional Judge

Regatta Notice of race Sailing Instructions National Prescriptions Deed of gift Class Rules PHRF, IOR, etc Start Racing Finish Protests Scoring

Notice of Race ( Appendix J) The notice of race shall include any of the following that would help competitors decide whether to attend the event or that conveys other information they will need before the sailing instructions become available. Schedule, Fees, Venue, Scoring, Courses to be sailed, Etc

Sailing Instructions(Appendix L) More details about the event. Course diagrams, Target times, Prizes, Restrictions for haul-out, Class flags, Etc It is common for problems to arise because sailors did not read or understand the SI’s. Remember; oral instructions are not valid unless ….. Can a boat ask questions or talk to the RC on the water?

National Prescriptions Prescriptions of a national authority may change a racing rule, but not the Definitions; a rule in the Introduction; Sportsmanship and the Rules; Part 1, 2 or 7; rule 42, 43, 69, 70, 71, 75, 76.2, 79 or 80; a rule of an appendix that changes one of these rules; Appendix H or N; or ISAF Regulation 19, 20, 21 or 22.

Deed of gift DEED OF GIFT FOR THE AMERICA'S CUP This Deed of Gift, made the twenty-fourth day of October, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-seven, between George L. Schuyler as the sole surviving owner of the Cup won by the yacht AMERICA at Cowes, England, on the twenty-second day of August, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, of the first part, and the New York Yacht Club, of the second part, as amended by an order of the Supreme Court of the State of New York dated December 17, 1956 and April 5, 1985. http://www.a3.org/ac2000_DeedofGift.html

Class Rules Measurement, Membership, Course configuration for championships, Championship restrictions, Etc CHANGES TO CLASS RULES The sailing instructions may change a class rule only when the class rules permit the change, or when written permission of the class association for the change is displayed on the official notice board.

PHRF, IOR, etc Time correction rating systems

Prior to the Start The NOR and SI’s must state the time of the warning or starting signal of the first race. Warning (usually a class flag) AP

The NOR and SI’s state that the 1st warning signal of the day will be at 11:00:00. Class flags: Fleet/class Numeral Pennant PHRF 1 Martin 242 2 San Juan 24 3 J24 4 What time does the Martin 242 fleet start? What will be the starting order?

Postponement variations AP over Numeral Pennant Postponement of 1–6 hours from the original scheduled starting time AP over A no more racing today AP over H further signals ashore

Abandonment before the start N over H further signals ashore N over A no more racing today

When do the marks have to be set? Starting Pin? By the preparatory signal RRS 27.2 27.2 No later than the preparatory signal, the race committee may move a starting mark and may apply rule 30. What about the weather mark? before the warning? before the prep? before the start?

First Mark Wind

First Mark Wind

Starting sequence 11:00 Laser warning 11:01 Laser preparatory 11:04 Prep removed 11:05 Laser start 11:06 470 warning 11:07 470 preparatory 11:10 Prep removed 11:11 470 start

Starting sequence Remember the visual signal defines the time Why …….. What happens; The Preparatory signal is late? Extra or no sound signal? No sound signal for General recall? No sound signal for Individual recall? Late display of “1st” sub?

ISAF Direction “AP” prior to the start in case of an obvious General Recall. “Black flag” for a restart in case the line was square. Don’t be tempted to try to start if the line is skewed or too short. Use “AP” and reset.

Individual recall Flag “X” – rule 29.1 “the race committee shall promptly display. . . .” i.e. immediately (within 2 seconds)! >4 seconds redress Sound signals – 1 nice to have a different sound for “X” Remove when? Dipping of Flag “X” ?

General recall Reasons for recall – rule 29.2 Unable to identify OCS boats; or Error in procedure usually a timing error (use “AP” or “N” instead) How many boats OCS? doesn’t matter 29.2 General Recall When at the starting signal the race committee is unable to identify boats that are on the course side of the starting line or to which rule 30 applies, or there has been an error in the starting procedure, the race committee may signal a general recall (display the First Substitute with two sounds). The warning signal for a new start for the recalled class shall be made one minute after the First Substitute is removed (one sound), and the starts for any succeeding classes shall follow the new start.

Starting penalties I flag – RRS 30.1 Z flag – RRS 30.2 Z & I flag – RRS 30.1 & 30.2 Black flag – RRS 30.3

Course management once the race has started Abandon race Change course Shorten course Regular finish

Abandonment Used after the start See rule 32.1 – flag “N” with 3 sounds When? error in starting procedure foul weather insufficient wind for time limit missing mark any other reason affecting safety or fairness

Abandonment after the start Return to starting area

Abandonment variations N over H further signals ashore N over A no more racing today

Changing the course Rule 33 Flag “C” + multiple sound signals “changing the next leg of the course” Flag “C” + multiple sound signals Before a boat begins the leg being changed Can change direction compass bearing or red/green placards or flags Can change length plus/minus boards/flags to decrease or increase the length of the leg Combination of the last two

Missing mark If a mark is missing or out of position, the race committee shall, if possible, (a) replace it in its correct position or substitute a new one of similar appearance, or (b) substitute an object displaying flag “M” and make repetitive sound signals.

Shorten Course Flag “S” – 2 sound signals Why shorten? See rule 32.1 time limit or target time bad weather What notice do we give the competitors? none – just get the committee boat to the mark Where is finishing line? see rule 32.2

Finishing line Blue flag suggested Sound at the finish who gets a sound signal? Remember you do not have to completely cross the finishing line.

If a race officer sees a boat miss a mark but the boat crosses the finish line according to the definition of finishing, the race officer has the following options: Score the boat in its finishing position or time. Score the boat in its finishing position or time and file a protest against the boat after the boat finishes the race. Suggest as soon as the boat finishes that she might want to take a “Retired After Finishing” (RAF) score after explaining that she didn’t sail the course. This would be a volunteer score. Remember that the race committee only can score a boat DNF without a hearing if the boat does not cross the line according to the definition of finishing.

Finish A boat finishes when any part of her hull, or crew or equipment in normal position, crosses the finishing line in the direction of the course from the last mark, either for the first time or after taking a penalty under rule 44.2 or, after correcting an error made at the finishing line, under rule 28.1.

If a competitor sees a boat miss a mark, the competitor has the following options: Protest the boat on the water any time after the course error was made or when the boat finishes the race. This is one of the cases where a boat may correct any RRS 28 errors before finishing. The protest hail and flag does not need to be at the first opportunity. Ignore the incident. After the boat finishes, explain she didn’t sail the course and suggest to the boat that she might want to take a “Retired After Finishing” (RAF) score and. This would be a volunteer score.

If you as a competitor notice that you have been scored DNF even though you crossed the finish line according to the definition of finishing you can file a request for redress under rule 62.1(a) within the protest time limit. In this case the protest committee should be instructing the race committee to score you in your position or time. The protest committee can’t disqualify you for not sailing the course because the hearing can only be about the incident (RRS 60.3). However, if you learn that you indeed did not sail the course according RRS 28, as a good sport, you should request a RAF score.

Protests and redress When can the RC disqualify a boat? see rule A5 start or finish infraction may be disqualified without a hearing Otherwise . . . (see rule 60.2) must file a written protest (rule 61.1(b)) within protest time must notify boat notice on the Official Notice Board must attend hearing Can a boat protest the RC? only request redress Results (scoring inquiry)

Any Questions?