Race Committee 2023

Choptank Race Committee Responsibilities 2023

Printable Copy of Race Committee Responsibilities 

Choptank Fleet 2023 - Fleet Captain,  Joe B., cell: 443-521-9798

Scorekeeper: George B. , 443-521-9920

1. VHF 72 should be used for all announcements to the fleet. Prompt all boats to check-in on channel 72. Check-in all boats on the scoring sheet. Determine the number of boats competing.  Communicate the check list to the Land Crew. Confirm the communication. (Note: the use of flags is optional.)

2. Assign Roles:

One person should manage the clipboard checking boats and writing down the Start time. One person manages the GPS clock time and “OLLIE”. One person sits “on the Line” to observe which boats are “Over Early” or involved in a Foul. Pre-test Ollie to make sure you know how it works and the battery is charged.  For the first start, Spin class, sound the warning at 1754 (5:54 PM) if possible. It has a countdown sequence (beep,beep) before it sounds the warning horn. Use the radio to broadcast the horn. The second countdown for N-S should start at 1801(6:01 PM). Have an air horn ready as a back-up. In September, it may be necessary to start earlier.

3. Establish the Starting Leg

Note the magnetic wind direction, Use the predefined course list to find the best starting leg. The first mark should be directly upwind of the starting line. The course list has compass headings to assist. 

4. Establish the Starting line

The starting line should be perpendicular to the wind direction. To set the line, drop the Pin (Yellow  Ball) or use an ESSA Mark to turn. Head perpendicular to the Wind. Use your apparent wind gauge or compass (+ - 90 degrees). After traveling about 500-600ft, turn directly into the wind. Travel several boat lengths and then drop the Committee Boat anchor. Pay out the anchor rode until the boat is on a square line with the other end of the starting line.

Set a line long enough for all the boats to cross without too much crowding. The line should be 1.5 to 2 times as long as the total LOA (length over all) of the competitors, approximately 500-600 feet. A longer line is appropriate for windier conditions. [10 boats x 30 feet x 2.0 = 600 feet]

5. Determine the courses for Spinnaker & Non-Spinnaker

The race should last about an hour or up to 90 minutes.  Note the wind direction and speed. Use the Course List to select the course. The first boat must finish within 90 minutes of the starting signal per class.  All other finishers must finish within 45 minutes of the first boat to finish per class.  In light air you may elect to deviate from the course list by skipping a mark.

If an unlisted or customized course is selected, repeat the course announcement several times on channel 72.

On VHF Channel 72, announce the selected courses. First, state that you will be announcing the courses, then announce the courses.

            “CHOPTANK FLEET, STANDBY FOR COURSES” repeat.

“SPINNAKER FLEET, YOUR COURSE IS NUMBER XX,” repeat.

“NON-SPINNAKER FLEET, YOUR COURSE IS NUMBER XX” repeat.

6. Judging the Start

The Race Committee is responsible for identifying boats that are On the Course Side (OCS) of the Start Line at the starting gun (Over Early). Note boats that are OCS and attempt to call them back by hailing on VHF 72 and Recall Flag.  Immediately raise the “RECALL” flag and sound the horn once. Lower the “Recall” flag after all have returned or when two minutes have elapsed after the starting signal.

7. Shorten the Course at a Mark of the Course, if necessary, by setting up so the racers can leave the mark on the correct side, and in as direct a line as possible from the previous mark. Display the “S” flag and announce the shortened course on VHF 72.  DO THIS BEFORE any boats have rounded the mark.

8. Finish line: Once the race has started, the Committee boat returns to the dock and joins the land crew. The finish line will be defined by a land crew red flag on the dock and Mark “Z” (Zulu) just north of the CYC dock. Sound the horn as each boat’s bow crosses the finish line. One person works the horn, another identifies the boats, one person calls out the time, and one person records the time. Use cell phone or gps clock time of day: HH:MM:SS. Video recording of close finishes is recommended.

 9. Record the finish times and Sail Number of each boat on the “ESSA Scoring Sheet” in the Race Committee Binder and report them to the Fleet Scorekeeper. It is helpful if wind speed and direction are recorded and boat check-in.    Copies of the Protest Form are available in the back of the Binder.

Photograph scorings forms and text to George Breig, the scorekeeper, at (443)521-9920 or email to essasailing38@gmail.com

 

SPINNAKER Starting Sequence:   Race Starts at 1800 (6:00 PM)   

Ollie pings as it counts down to a blast.  Announcing count down is helpful but, optional.

Hold the VHF radio microphone near Ollie so the fleet can hear the horn.

1754  6 minutes    5 blasts

1755  5 minutes    1 long blast

1756  4 minutes    1 long blast

1759  1 minute     1 long blast

1800  Start            1 long blast

 

NON-SPINNAKER Starting Sequence:   Races Starts at 1807 (6:07 PM)

Ollie pings as it counts down to a blast. Announcing count down is helpful but, optional.

Hold the VHF radio microphone near Ollie so the fleet can hear the horn

1801  6 minutes    5 blasts

1802  5 minutes    1 long blast

1803  4 minutes    1 long blast

1806  1 minute     1 long blast

1807  Start            1 long blast

 

CRUISING CLASS  Staring Sequence:   Races Starts at 1813 (6:13 PM)

Repeat 6 minute Sequence

               Photograph forms. Text or email to the scorekeeper

George Breig at (443)521-9920 or

email to essasailing38@gmail.com   Email works better.