CANDLEWOOD YACHT CLUB
Starting Races
Preparation
Make sure you have carefully read the Sailing Instructions.
When you are in the approximate position for the start, copy the chase’s boat wind readings.
Take your own wind reading.
Finalize course selection.
See the Bouy Zone chapter for tips.
Anchor the boat where you want to start the race.
Put the blue RC flag in the holder on the port side next to the Bimini. This is the starboard end of the starting line.
If you believe the conditions warrant it, raise the “Y” flag, indicating that life vests are required.
The “Y” flag should be placed on the pole holder towards the center of the bow railing, so it won’t obstruct the view of the signal flags in the other holders on the port side.
10. Set up your course in Bouy Zone. Use the “Update with my current location” option.
Once you have entered the details, look at the map to verify the course.
Share the course, and then let the Chase Boat know they can join the course.
Calculate bearing to the starting mark from the wind bearing. (Subtract 90° unless the wind is from the northeast, in which case add 270°.)
Have the Chase Boat set the starting mark. For details, refer to “streaming the mark” in the Buoy Zone chapter.
This is a preliminary position; it may need to be adjusted later if a persistent wind shift of more than 10°.
The Chase Boat will then take the tetrahedra marks they need from the RC boat.
Uncoil only the first few feet of the rode.
The Chase Boat will come alongside
Pass them the anchors one at a time.
The windward-leeward courses “W” and “L” need two yellow marks.
Three marks are needed for the triangle courses “T” and “O”.
The orange mark stays tied to the committee boat. It is used for the second race if you decide to set a new windward mark due to a wind shift.
It should be tied so that it is just behind the stern, creating a “standoff” buoy. This helps protect the RC Boat if someone is barging.
Have the Chase Boat start setting the other marks.
The leeward mark can be set first for the “L” and “T” courses.
Then, the windward mark and, if needed, the jibe mark, should be set.
The Chase Boat should return to the RC boat to set the finish mark and adjust the starting mark if needed.
If you are running late, you can start the race even if not all the marks are set. The windward mark must be set before starting the sequence.
While they are setting the marks, insert the course placards for the selected course into the top of the bracket.
One letter for the type of course.
One number for the number of laps.
Set the course bearing on the digital bearing board.
Use the Velcro straps to attach the bearing board to the lines tied along the port side of the Bimini, so the numbers face outward.
Since the board is light, you should attach it to the top and bottom lines so it doesn’t flap around in the wind.
Announce the course and bearing on the radio.
Make sure the horn is ready.
Make sure the signal flags are ready.
Verify you have the following flags:
Flying Scot class flag
The yellow Cruising fleet class flag
“P” Prep flag
“AP” Postponement flag
“N” Abandonment flag
“X” OCS flag (On Course Side) for someone starting too early
You may also need these flags later:
C” Change of Course flag
“S” Shorten Course flag
“Y” Life jacket flag
These flags do not need to be attached to a pole until needed.
They are stored in the compartment and can be clipped onto a spare pole.
Do a final wind reading ten minutes before the warning signal.
If there is a persistent wind shift of more than 10°, have the Chase Boat reposition the starting mark so it is square to the wind.
See the Bouy Zone chapter for instructions.
Check in
The RC crew should do the check-in.
Take a blank Check-in and Score Sheet from inside the clipboard.
Place the Check-in Sheet on top of the Score Sheet and attach them to the clip board.
Place a rubber band around the bottom of the clipboard to prevent the pages from blowing around in the wind.
When ready, say on the radio, “Ready to check in.”
As each boat calls its sail number, find the sail number on the sheet and place a check next to it.
Repeat the sail number and say, “Checked in.”
If needed, say, “repeat the last sail number”.
If the sail number does not match the listed boat number, note it on the score sheet.
When it is about ten minutes before the warning signal, count the number of boats checked in and the number visible on the lake.
They should be the same. If they are not, call on the radio and remind people that they need to check in.
If a boat hasn’t checked in, it should be scored DNC (Did Not Compete).
If a boat retires before the end of the day, place a check in that column and write “RET” in the notes column of the score sheet.
We then have a record of who is on the water, if the weather turns foul.
Score Sheet
Fill in the top of the score sheet completely with the course, course size, wind bearing, wind speed, committee members, and stewards.
We need the wind speed for the PHRF calculation.
Recording the leg length and course helps improve our data for the course length guide.
If someone checks in but does not start, record them on the score sheet as “DNS.”
Signal Flags
The RC crew should handle the Signal Flags.
The first sound signal (4 horns) does not have a flag.
At 5 minutes before the start, the warning is raised. This is the class flag.
At 4 minutes before the start, the prep flag is raised. This is the blue and white “P” flag.
At 1 minute before the start, the prep flag is lowered.
At the start, the class flag is lowered.
It is crucial that the flags are raised and lowered precisely on the horn signal.
If this is not done correctly, the race should be postponed and the sequence restarted.
Listen for the countdown beeps to prepare you for the horn.
To raise the flags properly:
The crew should hold the flag pole horizontally in front of them, starting 15 seconds before the horn sounds.
One hand should hold the middle of the pole, and the other should be towards the bottom end of the pole.
Listen to the beeps counting down to the horn. See table below.
When the horn sounds, very quickly turn the flag pole to point straight up.
Only after raising the flag, insert the pole into the holder, keeping it vertical.
When preparing to lower a flag:
Lift the flag out of the holder about 10 seconds before the horn, keeping it vertical.
Stay next to the pole holder.
Listen to the beeps counting down to the horn.
When the horn sounds, turn the flag pole down smartly.
Sound Signal Device
When it is time to start the race, press “SEQUENCE START” on the Regatta Pro.
At the Warning Signal for the fleet, read the time to the second from the clock and record it on the score sheet.
We record the time at the Warning Signal since you may be busy with OCS boats at the start.
We use the time from the clock stored inside the port storage compartment.
After the start, turn off the device by pressing “SEQUENCE SELECT” and “SHAPE ALERT SELECT” together.
We will no longer use a rolling start; the next sequence should start about a minute after the previous start.
This prevents confusion if there are OCS boats in the prior fleet returning below the line.
Regatta Pro Start Instructions
Sound Signal Sequence
Postponements
If there is a delay in preparing for the start, such as the marks not being set yet, or a problem during the start sequence, postpone the race.
You can postpone a race at any time up until the start signal.
Raise the “AP” flag with two horns.
Take the other signal flags down if you are in the middle of the sequence.
When ready to start the race, lower the “AP” flag with one horn.
Immediately start the sound signal device so that the Warning Signal is one minute after the “AP” is lowered.
Individual recalls for OCS (On Course Side) boats.
During the last minute before the start, the PRO should stand directly behind the blue RC flag pole and sight the line.
You should have the clipboard, the signal horn, and the radio on its lanyard. The “X” individual recall flag should be next to you.
If any boat looks like it might be over the line early, write down its sail number on the clipboard.
If you don’t do this before the start, you may not be able to identify the boat quickly at the start.
If a boat is OCS at the start, sound the horn once and raise the “X” flag. Then call their sail number on the radio.
Watch the boat until it is completely below the line, then lower the “X” flag.
If they do not restart properly, score them “OCS” in the notes column of the score sheet.
Lower the “X” flag within 4 minutes of the start, even if a boat does not restart properly.
There is no horn when lowering the “X” flag.
Next chapter: Finishing Races
Back to Best Practices
