1. Race Management for On Water Volunteers
Program 2
Start Boat

2. 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

3. 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 

4. WS Race Signals - Preparatory

5. WS Race Signals - Recall Signals

6. 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

7. WS Race Signals - Abandonment

8. 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

9. WS Race Signals - Changing the next leg

10. WS Race Signals - Other signals

11. 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

12. What’s wrong with this picture?

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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 

16. Recording wind

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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'

23. 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

24. Thank you