Clinton Lake Sailing Association

CLSA Race Committee handbook

Below are some of my thoughts for being on race committee. If you have done this before, you may have some additional things that you do that I can add and share with others. Please send me your suggestions.

Setup

Arrive early enough before the Skippers Meeting to make sure everything is ready for the race, such as marks inflated, mark anchor lines ready, committee boat started, and check the gas. There should be enough but fill it up with an oil mixture if needed and either charge it to the club and/or pay for later reimbursement. A 3rd option would be to bring some.

The marks are easier to handle if they are slightly under inflated.

I recommend you arrange for a couple of people to help you;  One to do the flags, one to do the stopwatch & air horn and the 3rd person to monitor the starting boats for over early, etc. 

You might also go out into the middle of the lake before the skippers meeting to check wind conditions and determine the optimum racecourse for the day.

Skippers meeting

Try to start on time. 12:00 for triangle races, 11:00 for distance races.

Welcome everyone.

Ask them to register for the race, with skipper & crew, boat name, class and handicap (if known)

Make introductions for any new people,

Check to see if any newcomers would like to crew on a boat needing crew.

Help facilitate newcomer crewing arrangements.

Draw the racecourse on the white board, including probable course configuration.

Unless there are a large number of boats in a fleet registered, start all fleets at the same time.

Announce any exceptions to the Sailing instructions.

If appropriate, review the timing of the starting flag sequence.

Remind competitors that if they retire from the race, they need to notify the race committee on the water.

Remind everyone of the race awards ceremony after the last boat has finished.

Cancellations

The race committee has total discretion whether to hold a race or not.

If there are not enough boats to hold a race, a postponement of up to ½ hour may be appropriate before canceling the racing for the day.

If the wind is blowing steadily more than 20 mph, or the wind is blowing less than 3 mph, it is probably questionable to run the race.

It is the participants’ responsibility to make sure the weather conditions are within their safe sailing ability.

Setting the Race course

If a distance race is scheduled, the weather should determine whether to do a full distance or 1/2 race.  The mid point of the lake is straight out from the CLSA dock. 

Set the starting line square to the wind with a turning mark (if needed) upwind about 1/8th of a mile up.  On a distance race, I recommend having the boats pass through the start finish line mid way so that the race could be shortened, if needed.

The triangle racecourse should be long enough so that it will take about a half hour for the first boat to complete.

The CLSA typical racecourse configuration alternatives are included in the sailing instructions.

Post the course number on the white board on the committee boat.

I usually set the Windward mark first.

Then take a reading of the wind from that position and drive directly down wind to set the leeward mark.

If a gybe mark is needed, set it next.

To judge the wind, I hold a handkerchief or small flag in front of me and then sight down it.

To set a square start line, I look across the flag at a right angle and then change the anchor line scope until the starting line is somewhat square.  If the wind is very strong, two anchors may be needed to hold the boat in place.

The starting line (usually set on the port side of the committee boat) should be as long as the number of boats times their length plus one extra boat length. IE. 3 cabin boats 22 ft long would have a line of approx 88 ft.

One school of thought for starting lines is to favor the pin end a little, which will tend to spread the boats out across the line rather than having them bunch up at the committee boat.

Since the winds are so shifty on Clinton Lake, it’s unlikely that you will be able to set a perfectly square racecourse.  Do the best you can.  My opinion is that boats would rather be racing than waiting while the RC resets the marks.  It would be acceptable to ask an early finisher to adjust one of the marks while the remainder of the fleet finishes.  Just make sure they have time to return to the starting area before the start of the next sequence.

Starting the race

The starting sequence should begin as close to 1:15 as possible. I try to start the next race within a couple of minutes after the last boat crosses the finish line.

If time permits, try to run 3 triangle races in the afternoon. This helps to reduce ties.

We usually don’t start a new race after 3:00, unless race committee and participants are willing.

Recording Finishes

The first boat to finish in their class should be signaled by a horn blast.

The remaining finishers should have their sail number called out when they cross the finish line.

Record the elapsed time for each boat on the handicap sheets.

Time Limit:

It’s very difficult to establish an appropriate fixed time limit for a race.  We want to score everyone that wants to race with us.   The race committee has always had the discretion to shorten the race course based upon conditions of the day. The CLSA board has agreed to modify the sailing instructions to allow the race committee to move the finish line after some of the boats have finished.  The race committee can shorten the race course for a boat when it will not affect the overall results for the race. This would allow moving the finish line in front of the trailing boat and record the finish time from that point. This could be very welcome on a hot or light air day.

Calculating handicaps

The races should be scored for three different fleets.  It takes 3 boats registered to comprise an open fleet (cabin boat and dingy) and 2 for Flying Scots.

The Portsmouth and PHRF ratings and formulas are in binders in a plastic container, as are a stopwatch watch and calculator. 

PHRF Calculation instructions

1. Convert the actual time to seconds.

2. Multiply the PHRF number by the race distance

(11 NM for full distance, 5.5NM for half distance)

3. Subtract the PHRF correction from the actual time.

4. The remainder is the corrected time in seconds.

5. Rank the boats in ascending order for each fleet.

PHRF for Distance Races

Most boats have a PHRF handicap already established.  If one is not known use one of the following:

1. Use the handicap from the nearest Midwest location

2. Average the handicaps from the various yacht clubs for that particular design

3.     Convert the PHRF handicap from Portsmouth rating by using the formula:

PHRF = (D-PN – 55) x 6

Portsmouth handicap calculation instructions:

1. Look up the boat handicap number based upon the wind speed for the day

a. Beaufort number 0 = 0 to 1.7 mph

b. Beaufort number 1 = 1.8 to 4 mph

c. Beaufort number 2 = 4.1 to 7.4 mph

d. Beaufort number 3 = 7.5 to 12 mph

e. Beaufort number 4 = 12.1 to 18.9 mph

f. Beaufort number 5 = 19 to 24.7 mph

2. Convert the elapsed time to minutes.

3. Corrected finish time = (Elapsed time X 100) / Portsmouth number

4. Rank the boats in ascending order for each fleet.

Daily awards ceremony

I like to announce the standings and then post the standings on the white board.

Competitors may find the elapsed and corrected times interesting. Sometimes, the corrected times between boats are very close.

Award pennants are in a folder in the Race committee box.

(Blue first, red second and white third.)

Skippers and their crews can add personal touches to the pennant before they are stapled to the rafters. If a boat receiving an award is not represented at the awards ceremony, leave their pennant inside the storage shed for them to personalize later.

Remind competitors of the next race day and time.

Race committee signal flags are to be dried (as long as possible) and stored in the plastic container in the cabinet storage locker on the RC boat after the race.

Results communication

Please email the results of the day to me at Christmanz@hotmail.com.

Also include any observations that you made during the race.  Such as, weather and wind conditions, the start, race lead changes, interesting mark roundings, and tactical situations.  The race committee book has some forms that can be used to send the information.

Race Safety:

It is the responsibility of competitors and race committee to provide assistance to a sailor in peril to insure their personal safety.

The race committee is not responsible for boat recovery.

The marina may be called at the skipper’s request. The skipper will be responsible for any marina charges incurred.

A competitor who provides assistance may request redress.  In this case, the elapsed time may be adjusted for the time the competitor spent helping a boat in distress.

Before leaving the lake, the race committee should verify that all competing boats have finished and are able to return to the harbor.

Committee Boat Instructions:

The combination to the dock is 5, 1&2 together.

The keys and other equipment are in the console.

If you haven't operated our committee boat before or if it has been awhile since the last time, please contact me to get a check-out ride prior to your assigned race day.

Radio communication

The marina monitors channel 16

The race committee will monitor marine channel 68.

Finally

If anything needs attention, (like additional supplies, committee boat problems, etc.) 

Please let me know so they can be handled before the next race.

Good luck running the races.

Thank you for assisting the CLSA racing program.

Gerry Christman

Race Committee chairman

Proper Starting Sequences for Racing at CLSA

The racing season at CLSA will be compliant with the US Sailing Racing Rules of Sailing (2005-2008) starting sequence which is 5 minutes (rule 26).  All racers and race committee should be aware of the following:

The warning signal for each succeeding class shall (can) be made with or after the starting signal of the preceding class but for now all fleets will start together.

Instructions Unique to CLSA – All racing flags should be preset and down ready to be hoisted.

1.   The Race Committee flag shall be hoisted on the middle or highest halyard.

2.   The Warning flag (yellow) is set on the outside (to the starting line) halyard.

3.   The Preparatory flag (blue with white square center) is set on the inside halyard.

4.   The Answering Pennant (AP flag) (red white stripe) is set next to the inside halyard.

5.   The Abandon Pennant (blue white check or N flag) is set next to the outside halyard.

Thus, the arrangement from left to right (facing the wind) is: 

Prep (P), AP, Race Committee (RC) , Abandon (N), & Warning (Yellow) flags.

Understanding the Use of AP, Abandon (N), and other Flags:

1.   Postponement

AP Pennant is a kind of “time-out” flag Hoisted when the Race Committee needs more time for any reason (e.g., some boats are late, screwed up the timing sequence, lost anchor or rounding mark, wind shift or loss, etc.). 2 sounds accompany the flag.  The sequence restarts 1 min. after takedown.

2.   Abandonment

The N or abandon pennant is used at any time for a variety of reasons such as no or too much wind before or after start, loss of marks, equipment failure, threatening weather, etc.  The committee boat will either stay in the starting area (if abandonment is temporary), return to the CLSA pavilion dock to determine feasibility of restarting, return to the marina dock if abandonment is for the day.  A starting sequence begins 1 min. after takedown.

3.   Taking Finishes

The solid blue flag is to be hoisted on any halyard to indicate that Race Committee is prepared to take finishers (important when confused re: how many times one should go around the course and whether an upwind/downwind finish is called for, etc.).

4.   Individual Recall

The X flag or Individual Recall pennant is immediately raised on a hand dowel if a boat starts early.  Sail numbers of the offending boat can be called but it is not required. 1 sound accompanies the flag.

5.   General Recall

The First Substitute or General Recall pennant is immediately raised on a hand dowel if RC thinks too many boats are over early and wants a fleet restart.  2 sounds accompany the flag.

6.   Life Jackets required

The Y pennant is a safety prompt calling for personal floatation devices to be worn (can be tied to middle halyard).

7.   Another Race will be held

The Solid Red flag hoisted on any halyard can be used to signify the intent to run another race after the originally planned races are complete (e.g., a great day and everyone would like to do 1 more).  Mention this at the skippers meeting. (This differs from the RRS, where this is the Protest flag)

8.   Additional Signals At The Start:

These typically are NOT used for club races at CLSA, but:

Z pennant   (displayed at 4 minutes with P) The 20% Penalty Rule (30.2) will be in effect. A boat within the triangle formed by the ends of the line and the first mark during the minute before the start will receive a 20% scoring penalty as specified in Rule 44.3(c). (20% of the number entered)

I pennant   (displayed at 4 minutes with P) The Round-an-End Rule (30.1) will be in effect during the minute before the start. The boat on the course side must go around the end of the starting line before starting.

I & Z pennant (displayed at 4 minutes with P) Both the Round-an-End Rule and the 20% Penalty Rule will be in effect during the minute before the start.

Solid Black flag (displayed at 4 minutes with P) Rule 30.3 will be in effect. A boat within the triangle formed by the ends of the line and the first mark during the minute before the start will be disqualified.