Race Committee Instructions 

1.  Equipment:  Pick up the race equipment (horns, tally sheet, megaphone, stop watches, wind gauge, etc) from Peter Van Kampen on Saturday.  This is the time to ask any questions and to discuss them with Peter.   

2.  Show-time:  Be on the course at approximately 9:15am on Sunday.   The race course will have already been set out by Curt and Peter. 

3.  Set the Start Line:  The Committee Boat crew will position and anchor the pontoon boat to set the starting line.  Anchor so the line between you and the starting buoy is perpendicular to the line from the starting buoy to the first mark. If you are not sure ask one of the guys around you for a second opinion. 

If a significant change in wind direction occurs, the starting line may have to be repositioned to be perpendicular to the wind. 

4.  Record Sail Numbers:  Record the sail numbers of all racers as they arrive on the race course.   

5.  Wind Speed:  Periodically take wind speed measurements up to the start of the race.   

Minimum:  The minimum wind for a start is any sustained air sufficient to sail.  If insufficient, delay the start and reevaluate in 15 minute intervals until 11:00 a.m.  If the race can start at 11:00 a.m., shorten it to 2-1/2 laps.  If it can’t be started, cancel and it will be rescheduled for the following weekend.  Also cancel the race if the first lap is not completed within 1 hour. 

Maximum: If at any time when the Race Committee is setting the course and preparing for the start a wind gust reading of 20 mph is recorded on the wind meter, the race is cancelled.   Sailors that decide to race anyway will not have results recorded.  The RC may leave the course at its discretion.

6.    Starting Horn:  Provide the proper horn signals (but no flags) signaling the start of the race: 

                                               Stop Watch    

Horn No.      Minutes  Reading     Description                                                         EXAMPLE

1. +5    0:00          5 Minute Warning Horn                                                                      9:55  AM

2. +4    1:00          4 Minute Warning Horn                                                                      9:56  AM

3. +1    4:00          1 Minute Warning Horn                                                                      9:59  AM

4.   0    5:00          Race Start                                                                                             10:00 AM

5. - 2    7:00          Handicap start (top 3 finishers of a prior race)                           10:02 AM

6. - 5  10:00          Handicap start (top 3 finishers 2 or more times)                        10:05 AM

7.  Chase Boat: 

After the last boat crosses the Start Line, the Committee Boat will trail the fleet to serve as the chase boat.  Assist any sailors in need.  We allow sailors who receive help in righting a boat to continue racing. If the Committee boat is helping sailors and it is time to go and set the finish line, choose to stay with the downed sailor until all is safe. If you are late to the finish, sailors on the course will finish themselves. 

8.  Finish Line:   Anticipate when the lead boat will be at the last mark before the finish.  As the lead boat rounds the last mark, have the Committee Boat positioned at the Finish Line in preparation for the finishers.   

9.  Finishing:  At the finish, as each boat crosses the line a committee boat assistant will call-out the sail number in a timely manner to ensure that everyone’s finish is properly recorded in sequence by another committee boat member.  The horn will be sounded for each finisher to mark their time. 

10.  Post-Race: 

a. The Committee Boat will retrieve the buoys and store them at Doug Ward’s.   

b. Return the Race Materials to Peter Sunday after the race.