PRYC Race Officer tips
Introduction
This guide is intended for PRYC club racing days, and those not familiar with RO or OBS duties. If there are 8 helms or more racing, then you will be allocated one race where you are off the water as Race Officer (RO). If there are more than 8 helms then 2 helms will be off on some races, one as an observer (OBS). Always check the starting trolley to see if you have been allocated a duty. The below is a good guide of what is entailed, but experienced helms are there to help too!
The start
Ensure everyone is on the water and near the start. If someone just needs a few seconds as they were off the water the previous race, or someone is a long way from the start line, delay the start slightly. However, do not hold up racing because someone has decided to change their rig, or they have an issue that will take time to sort, they must accept they will miss a race, or two!
Press the start button on the trolley, or the remote box if that is being used. The 1-minute countdown will now start. Position yourself where you can sight the start line, if helms are in your way ask them to move.
During the countdown racing rules apply, so keep an eye out for collisions (if two people are doing duties, one usually does the line, the other looks for collisions). If there is a tangle shout collision and the boat numbers. The helms should agree between them who was at fault and one of them will do a penalty turn.
Note - It is not your job as RO, or an observer to decide who was at fault. This also applies throughout the race. Your job is to shout contacts and observe that one of the boats has done a correct penalty turn.
When the start gun goes off you need to decide if any of the boats have jumped the start. The start line is an imaginary line between the starting marks, on the course side of the buoys. In the example below, blue would be over early as part of its hull is over the line.
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If anyone is over early shout ‘Recall XX, recall YY………. (where XX is the boat number) Observe that these boats return completely behind the start line and they restart.
If there are multiple boats over early and it’s impossible to see all the numbers, or sight the line, as your view is blocked, shout ‘General recall’. Restart the start count down again. This is the only reason you can do a general recall, if there lots of collisions/tangles, that’s not a reason to do a general recall.
During the race
Once the boats are racing your job now is to look for contacts. If two boats collide, call collision and the boat numbers. Pay attention to mark rounding’s, as infringements increase at marks. Some fleets are allowed to hit marks, some aren’t. Check which applies to your fleet. If contact isn’t allowed with a mark, call the boat number if you see contact with the mark.
If two helms can’t agree who was at fault, then they might protest each other. Note this and the protest will be resolved after the race, before the next race is started. Helms experienced in this will ensure the protest is resolved correctly.
If a boat misses a mark, note this. If they don’t go back and round the mark correctly inform them after the race and they will be disqualified.
Always focus your attention to where the close racing is, boats crossing, etc. If there’s more than one of you on duty agree to watch different marks or ends of the fleet.
The finish
Once the first boat is approaching the finish, align yourself correctly to sight the finish line. This is usually where the trolley is. The finish line is an imaginary line on the course side of the two finishing marks. A boat has finished when any part of it has crossed the finish line. In the below example blue has finished ahead of green. The winning boat is announced with the hooter:
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Record the boat numbers in the order they finish. If you are fortunate to be paired with an observer, get them to say the numbers as you write them. If you are on your own, ask the first finishers to help, particularly if it looks like there will be bunch finishes.
If there is an infringement close to, or on the finish line, a boat might have to do a penalty turn and finish again. Just keep writing boats down as they cross the line, even if you record them twice. You can then check the results after and cross through a number that has been recorded twice. Much better than stopping recording!
Once you think everyone has been recorded, check the amount of boat numbers against the number of entries, this should match. Boats that didn’t finish should still be recorded on the results sheet. The three main codes used are:
DNC = Did not compete (boat was not on the water and didn’t start the race)
DNS = Did not start (was on the water, but didn’t start the race)
DNF = Did not finish (started but did not finish the race)
Lastly, before leaving the trolley, remind the person(s) who are off the water to do duties next, as this keeps things moving along.
