Main section 8: Duties of the Officer Of The Day
Before the day:
1. Check with your assistants that they will be present or have arranged a substitute.
2. Familiarise yourself with the flags used, starting sequences, rescue boat and committee boat features.
3. Check that you have a compound key and that a club key holder will be present to unlock the clubhouse and boathouse.
4. Make sure that you know what format of racing is used on the day.
5. Ensure you have a watch suitable for starting the races and for timing the handicap fleet and Laser fleet if Radials and or 4.7s are entered.
At the club: (please be aware this page is currently under development by WRSC and NO flags have be included – this page will be updated soon).
1. General set-up of the facility:
a. Unlock changing rooms, boathouse and compounds.
b. Open the shutters around the bar area, unlock the doors and switch on the heating if it is cold, to make it a nice place to be for those who don’t sail.
c. Hoist the Club Burgee on the mast, Red Ensign on the Yard Arm and the Commodore’s Burgee (if present) on the right Crosstree.
d. Check necessary starting flags, with a small set on the Committee Boat and a large set available for the main mast.
e. Prepare the race sheet on the laptop and place on the clubhouse table to allow sailors to enter their details.
2. Prepare the committee boat:
a. Open the canopy.
b. Check that there is enough diesel in the tank (min 5L) and fill up if required (Bosunduty?).
c. Check that the required flags are on board and useable.
d. Check function of horn and lights.
e. Fit the course board on the side and check that all numbers are there.
f. Make sure that pens and results sheets are on board – and/or a laptop for the same.
3.Prepare the rescue boat:
a. Check that there is petrol in the tank and fill up if required. The engine uses neatunleaded petrol.
b. Check that lines, ores and other rescue equipment is present in the boat (checklist?).
c. Launch the rescue boat and drive it to the jetty where it is moored to be on stand-byfor rescue. There should always be at least one rescue boat on stand-by to provideadequate rescue at all times. Adequate rescue being the ability to remove peoplefrom the water as quickly and safely as possible. Despite what sailors say it is farmore important to rescue people; if needs be, leave the boat till later.
4. Preparing to race:
a. Try to get out on the water to assess the wind strength and direction enabling a goodcourse to be set.
b. Consult with assistants on the best course available given the existing windconditions. If in doubt seek advice from a Sailing Sub Committee member.
c. A good course should have a windward start followed by a long beat to the firstmark. It should avoid areas with no wind and also consider potential anglers.
d. Set a course on the course board in/near the clubhouse. Additional notes can bewritten on a blackboard.
e. The course should be displayed 30 minutes before the start of the race.
f. Ring the bell and do a briefing following the standard agenda.
g. Display the course with the numbers on the committee boat.
h. Sail out in the committee boat to the starting position and check that the course isstill OK.
i. If required, change the course by:
i. Changing the numbers on the board.
ii. Displaying flag ‘L’ accompanied with 2 ‘hoots’.
iii. Set a start line, normally between a mark and the mast on the committee boat. A start line should be one and a half times the length of the fleet. The line should be at right angles to the wind with any slight bias favouring the port tack.
5. Starting the race:
a. If it is a handicap race then all boats start together using flag ‘R’
b. If it is fleet racing then there will be 3 starts (Only if 5 or more Solos or Lasers have entered the race):
i. Handicap (Flag ‘R’ )
ii. Laser’s ( )
iii. Solo’s ( )
c. The starting sequence for each race is:
i. 5 min - 1 ‘hoot’ plus hoisting the class flag ↑
ii. 4 min - 1 ‘hoot’ plus hoisting flag ‘P’ ↑
iii. 1 min - 1 ’hoot plus lowering flag ‘P’ ↓
iv. 0 min - 1 ‘hoot’ plus lowering the class flag ↓
(when multiple fleets are starting the starting ‘hoot’ is also the 5 minute ‘hoot’ for the next fleet).
d. If 1 or 2 boats are over early then do an individual recall:
i. 1 ‘hoot plus raise flag ‘X’
ii. Shout out the sail numbers of the boat(s) over early.
iii. The offending boat(s) must come back and cross the start line again. If not then pls write OCS (on course side) next to their result.
e. If most of the boats are over early then do a general recall:
i. 2 ‘hoot plus raise flag ‘1st substitute’
ii. When all boats have returned to the starting area, lower the general recall flag and 1 ’hoot’.
iii. Begin the starting sequence again 1 minute after the general recall flag is lowered (if there are multiple fleets starting the recalled fleet goes to the back of the starting sequence).
f. If for any reason you need to halt the starting sequence:
i.1 ‘hoot’ plus raise flag ‘AP’
ii. When you are ready to start the race 1 ’hoot’ and lower AP.
iii. Begin the starting sequence again 1 minute after AP is lowered.
6. During the race:
a. Keep an eye out for anybody that might be in trouble. Help where you can.
b. Keep an eye on the sailors and watch out for any rule breaking.
c. Make sure that all the boats are recorded on the race sheets.
d. Note if any boat retires.
e. Record lap times for all boats if possible and/or relevant. At least maintain an awareness of lapped boats.
f. Start thinking about when and where to finish the race. (Ideally, the lead boats should race for about 45 minutes [Short Races 20 minutes]).
7. Finishing the race:
a. Set up a finishing line. This can be between the committee boat and a mark or between the outer distance mark and the racing hut.
b. When the leading boat is coming nearer to the last mark before the finish, raise flag ‘S’ either on the mast of the committee boat or on the main mast on land.
c. As the leading boat rounds the last mark before the finish, make 2 ‘hoots’.
d. As the boats finishes, give each boat a ‘hoot’ and record the time for each boats.
e. It is the ODs responsibility to enter the days results on the club’s Lap Top computer at the end of the day. A member of the Sailing Committee will be happy to offer guidance. If for any reason the computer is not available results should be calculated manually and the completed sheets left in the folder on the club noticeboard.
f. Take a photo of the results and upload it to the members Facebook page.
g. Upload the results to the WRSC website if possible.
8. Other comments:
a. When finishing the Handicap fleet, finish the fastest boat first. If slower boats are to be finished a lap early, ensure they are finished after the leading boat on the water. Time every lap completed and ensure that the part lap (at the start of the race) is not included when multiplying up the lap times for those boats that have completed fewer laps.
b. Make sure that Laser radials and Laser 4.7s are included in the Laser fleet, not the handicap fleet and that all Lasers are timed if necessary.
c. Notes on handling rescue/committee boats:
• Move to and from the shore using oars when the water is not deep enough to put the motor down.
• Avoid hitting the propeller on the slipway, following a line from the end of the jetty to Number 9 buoy is usually safe.
• Approach a capsized boat from the leeward side and slow down in good time.
• If needs be when operating in confined areas, anchor the boat and drift down towards the capsized boat.
• Remember the priority is to rescue people first, boats second.
9. Pursuit Races:
a. A pursuit race involves starting the entrants at different times according to each class’s PY rating, with all boats finishing at the same time.
b. At WRSC we base the timings around Lasers racing for exactly 1 hour, with other start times being relative to the Lasers.
c.The start times are re-calculated each year when the PY numbers care issued and displayed in the clubhouse.
d. The OD must determine the classes of boat entered into the race and calculate the staring times.
e. There is a 5,4,1 Start Sequence as described above for the ‘slowest ‘ class using the handicap flag. After the first start each subsequent start Is signalled by 1’hoot’ only (no flags).
f. The race finishes exactly 60 minutes after the Laser Start.
g. The race team should stay on the water throughout and keep a close eye on the relative positions of the competitors. It is advisable to set a relatively long course to avoid the confusion caused by lapped boats.
h. In the last few minutes of the race it should be possible to determine which boats are not likely to change positions and log their results. Ensure you are positioned near to any potentially close finishes at the finishing gun.
i. If in any doubt over final positions at the end of the race ask the competitors.
10. After racing:
a. Return any marks that may have been moved during the day back to their original positions.
b. Park the committee boat and pack it up ready for next time.
c. Obtain assistance to return rescue boats to the boat house. Replace any flags that have been used. Return fuel cans to the fuel store. Replace any other equipment.
d. Calculate handicap results for the handicap fleet (and laser fleet) using the laptop or if it is not available, write up all results on the results sheets in the Club House.
e. If a protest is submitted, ensure it is made out on the correct form (kept in the club house) and arrange a protest committee as soon as possible. Protests should be heard before entering results.
f. Upload the results to the WRSC Facebook page if possible.
g. Lower the flags of the main mast, fold them nicely and return them to the flag pockets.
h. Ensure the boathouse, committee boat and compounds are locked. Check that a designated club key holder is there to lock up the club house.
i. Relax with your fellow sailors in the bar and reflect on the events of the day.
Remember: If in doubt please ask a member of the sailing Sub Committee.