ULSSC : Checklist : Officer of the Day (OOD) : University of Limerick Staff Sailing Club, UL Activity Centre, Co. Clare, Ireland

Stop Watch

stop watch

Life Jacket

bouyany aid
rain jacket

rain pants

wellies

power boat

rigid boat

flag stand

whistle

clip board

ULSSC : Race Officer Check List

Guidelines for ULSSC Race Officer

Any club member may serve as Race Officer.
The Race Officer is responsible for starting, finishing, and recording the results of each evening's races.
At the Club Safety Officer's discretion, the Race Officer may act as an assistant aboard the rescue boat. Otherwise, a committee boat will be provided for the Race Officer.
Race Officers will be drawn preferentially from those members not on the rescue officer list.
Race Officers should also read the full guidelines for sailors and Club Safety Officers before undertaking their duty!
Once the roster has been published it is your duty to check with the member who will be acting was safety officer on the day to ensure they are also available. If you are unable to do so please contact the club training officer.
On the day of the event, dress warm, sailing gear or rain gear is ideal, for footwear wellington boots are probable the best.
Aim to arrive at the club around 5.20 to 5.30.
Change into your suitable gear along and along with the rescue officer check that the boats ........

The Race Officer's Duties

Arrive at the centre early (5pm is a good time) to assist the Club Safety Officer in the setting of the course on the water.
Come ashore and hold briefing. The Club Safety Officer will normally be present during briefing.
Record boat type, sail number, helm and crew for each boat sailing in a race. Download and printout this Race Record sheet. Enter the times for each boat after each race. One sheet per race.
Note the time off the water and ensure the evening's activities are completed in advance of this time.
Act as assistant to the Club Safety Officer as required by him/her.
Remind sailors that no boats may launch until a rescue boat is on the water.

Tips on Starting a Race

Using the flags and a horn/whistle the Race Officer provides a count down to all sailors for the start of the race. Usually the sequence is as follows. See this document for help.
5 min's before race: Horn is sounded, One flag is raised.
4 min's before race: Horn is sounded, Second flag is raised.
This is a good time to count how many boats appear to be taking part in the race. If a boat does not come to the start line a DNC can be entered in the race sheet
1 min before race: Horn is sounded, First flag is lowered. Another useful image
At the start: The horn is sounded a final time and the remaining flag is lowered.
Once the race has started, a DNS (Did Not Start) can be entered in the race sheet for those boats who did not start the race.

During the June and September series, fitting three races in per evening.

If all the sailors are ready to the start and at the start line ,one option is to change the starting sequence to 3:2:1 to save time. With flags and horns being used in the same sequence as before.
If there is plenty of time each race should include a triangle, a sausage and another triangle for each race. However if there is not enough time to do so, a good idea is to shorten the second and third races by reducing the number of laps rather than changing the position of the course marks/buoys.
Once a race is completed one of the following entries should be made for all boats on the water.

DNC : Did not come to the Start Line

DNS : Did not start the race.
All boat must start within 10 minutes of the start time.

DNF : Did not finish. All boat must finish within 10 minutes of the first boat over the line.

Actual Time: If none of the above terms are entered then an actual time should be entered for a boat on the water.

TIP : It is important to use the terms DNC and DNS where appropriate, to confirm later that a time result for a boat was not accidentally lost.
Once the final race has been completed the Race officer assists the Safety officer with the collection and return of buoys and flag equipment to ULAC.