Race Management Course

This seminar is sponsored by the US SAILING Race Management Committee and the Portland Yacht Club. It is designed for people who have some race committee experience, but newcomers are also welcome. It will begin at 8:00 am and end at 5:30pm

The topics covered include: RC objectives, RC responsibilities, sailing instructions, RC jobs, RC equipment, setting the course, starting system, starting penalties, before the start, during the race, finishing, and scoring. The changes in The Racing Rules of Sailing 2009-2012 that affect race management will be discussed.

The principal instructor for the seminar is Stephen B. Jeffries. Stephen is a US SAILING Regional Race Officer and Senior Judge. He is a member of the Race Management and Budget Committees at US Sailing and has taught several similar seminars and workshops.

At the seminar you will need your own copy of The Racing Rules of Sailing 2009-2012 (“RRS”). If you are a US SAILING member, you should have received a copy. If you are not a US SAILING member, you can either join US SAILING and get a copy free, or purchase one from the US SAILING web site (www.ussailing.org and click on Store, Racing, Show All Racing Rules).

You will be given a copy of Join the Race Committee Team.

To prepare for the seminar you should try to answer the Study Questions, which are available on the forms page of this website - see the link on the left of this page.

The Club Race Officer Certification test, which is given at the conclusion of the seminar, is optional. However, in order to be certified as a US SAILING Club Race Officer, you are required to attend a complete basic seminar and to pass the test. In order to be certified as a Club Race Officer you will also need to have your own copy of the current US SAILING Race Management Handbook, and meet the program’s other criteria. The 2005 version of the Race Management Handbook is available from the US SAILING website.

The seminar fee ($55.00 for US SAILING members and for non-members who do not take the test; $85.00 for non-members who take the test) includes: continental breakfast, morning and afternoon breaks, lunch and some workshop materials.  Advance registration is required, and the number of participants is limited. Registration is available online on this website click the registration link on the right.

Schedule
8:00 am - Registration and continental breakfast
8:15 - Seminar begins
12:15 pm - Lunch
4:40 - Test
5:10 - Test debriefing
5:30 - Seminar concludes

For further information, contact the PYC's Race Officer, Mark Waite at 207 712 0952 or waitem@earthlink.net