Race Committee Notices

Valcour Sailing Club
PO Box 1362
Plattsburgh, New York 12901

Spinnaker/Non-Spinnaker Classes

Last Wednesday PHRF race we had two starts to accomodate a non-spinnaker class. After confering with the Race and Executive Committees, we have decided to continue with two starts. The starts will be as follows:

Spinnaker Class Warning Signal (5 minutes prior to start): Spinnaker Class Flag (Green Flag) raised with one sound
Spinnaker Class Preparatory Signal (4 minute prior to start): "P" Flag raised with one sound
Spinnaker Class 1 Minute Signal (1 minute prior to start): "P" Flag lowered with long sound
Spinnaker Class Starting Signal & Non-Spinnaker Class Warning Signal: Spinnaker Class Flag lowered and Non Spinnaker Class Flag (White Flag) raised with one sound
Non-Spinnaker Class Preparatory Signal (4 minute prior to start): "P" Flag raised with one sound
Non-Spinnaker Class 1 Minute Signal (1 minute prior to start): "P" Flag lowered with long sound
Non-Spinnaker Class Starting Signal: Non-Spinnaker Class Flag lowered and with one sound

Non-Spinnaker Class Race Course for Wednesday night should generally be a shortened course, i.e. twice around a windward-leeward course instead of 3 times around. For Sunday races, the non-spinnaker class will run the same course as the spinnaker class, shortened if necessary. To signal a shortened course for the non-spinnaker class, raise the class flag (white) along with two sounds. Keep the class flag raised until the race finishes and periodically repeat the two sounds.

O.D. reminder: Please take wind readings every 1/2 hour per the O.D. instructions for every race; also, fill in the race course number, waves and distance (if known). We are trying to keep all this data to assist in maintaining accurate PHRF ratings and for general information.

All ODs:

To properly score each race you must record on the Scratch Sheet the actual starting time of each class racing, the actual finish time of each boat and wind velocity at the start, every thirty minutes and when the last boat finishes the race!!!! This is very important for us to correctly score the races!!!

Use the large clock on the Race Committee boat for start and finish times. Do not record the time on course of each boat. We will calculate this!

Also—We are now starting a non-spinnaker/B class 5 minutes after the "big boys" start on Wednesday nights (and if enough "b" boats show on Sundays). The non-spinnaker/B class is intended for the less experienced/less competitive boats who are more interested in having fun and less serious about the outcome of the race. ADAMUS, REVERIE, GIZMO, SHAKA, POLARIS and others may be interested in this class. Come out to the race course and we’ll explain the simple starting procedure and course. Wednesday night races start at 6:30 and Sunday races generally start at 11:00 (check the website for exact starting times). Come out ½ hour before the start to get the procedure and course. We look forward to seeing you.

July 17, 2003

The atomic clock on the Race Committee Boat is broken. If anyone has a large battery operated or atomic clock to donate, the club would appreciate it

OD's - until we find or buy a replacement clock, please bring a watch. Continue to document the actual starting time of the race and actual finish tine of each boat according to your watch. We will calculate the time on course and adjusted times. For the starting sequence using your watch, if the start is scheduled for 6:30, the warning should occur at 6:25, the preparatory signal at 6:26, the 1 minute signal at 6:29 and the start at 6:30.

We are looking for an OD for Tuesday, July 22, 2003, to replace Ray Cash. If you are available please let me know ASAP

Penalty Turns - There is a good article in this month's Sailing World magazine regarding penalties. In a nut shell, if you break a rule regarding right of way you must take your 720 degree penalty turns as soon as you are clear of other boats or retire immediately. Waiting to take your penalty turns for a more opportune time during the race, or waiting to retire later in the race, will not exonerate you from the infraction. if you know you broke a rule, you are expected to take a penalty whether or not you are protested.

We are now approximately half way through our racing season. If anyone has comments or suggestions regarding the conduct of the races, please let me know.

July 26, 2003

We have reached the halfway mark to our racing season. So far the OD's have done an excellent job and the races have been conducted very well. There have been few confirmed scoring errors. On two occasions the actual finishes of two boats have been transposed. On another two occasions, the actual time of two boats were entered incorrectly. Thank you ODs!

Thanks to Bob Bunnell we now have another Atomic Clock on board the race Committee Boat. Please use this clock for scratch sheet entries.

Ladies Cup, sponsored by LCYC is next Saturday, August 2, 2003. It is the longest continually running race on the Lake (started in the late 1800s by LCYC Ladies Auxillary who donated the Cup) and is one of the more popular races on the other side of the lake. It usually has lots of competitors. It starts in or around Shelburne Bay. If you are interested in more information for racing your boat in the Ladies Cup see the LCYC website (link is on VSC homepage) or contact Tris Coffin at tristramjc@aol.com. Bob Bunnell is looking for crew for that race.

VSC's website now has webpages for posting crew wanted/crew looking, suggestions/comments and discussions pages. For information on how to post, contact our webmistress, Angie French at angiefrenchie@yahoo.com or click on the link on the website. Once again, thank you Angie for all your generous time and hard work!

As always, if you have any suggestions or comments please let me know in person or feel free to drop me an e-mail.

August 5, 2003

Last night the club held its monthly meeting. All VSC members, including crew are invited and encouraged to attend the meetings. Then next meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 15, 2003, at 6:30 pm, at Kjell Dahlen’s office, Eyecare for the Adirondacks, 450 Margaret Street, Plattsburgh, New York, 2^nd floor.

At last nights meeting some race related issues were discussed:

Volvo Leukemia Cup – We are hoping to host a Volvo Leukemia Cup next year. The Volvo Leukemia Cup is a national organization that sponsors races throughout the country. It is well publicized in sailing magazines and would bring favorable publicity and income to our area and club. We expect representatives from the national Volvo Leukemia Cup to attend our September 15^th club meeting. We hope you will attend and show that VSC members are actively interested in bringing this prestigious race to Lake Champlain. If you have any questions regarding the Volvo Leukemia Cup contact our secretary, Bill Brockway.

The length of the starting line should be calculated by multiplying the number of participating boats by their average length. For PHRF races, use a length of 30’. For Soling races, use 27’. For example, if 8 PHRF boats are racing multiply 8 x 30 = 240’ length of starting line. This equates to approximately 9 race committee boat lengths (the race committee boat is 26’ long). If in doubt, make a longer line for safety reasons.

General Recalls should be used rarely and only when the OD cannot determine who is over early. If six boats are over early and one is not, then the General Recall should not be used because it would be easy to determine the ones over early. Using General Recalls are generally unfair to those who are starting correctly.

Race Committee Boat Problems – ODs please write any problem that you notice with the Race Committee Boat and its equipment on the scratch sheet. If there is a mechanical problem with the boat, please write it down, if there is a problem with inflation of our marks, please write that down too. If we need more scratch sheets please notify me or Angie. Reminder – Be gentle with the Committee Boat, the club cannot afford to replace it!

One Minute Rule is always in effect. The Race Committee Boat need not fly the one minute rule flag. The one minute rule requires a boat that is on the course side of the starting line and its extensions within one minute before the race starts, to return to the non-course side of the line by going around either end of the line. You cannot dip through the starting line to the non-course side and then start.

August 8, 2003

Race Committee Notice – Keep Clear of the Finish Line! Keep a proper lookout!

After you finish a race, please keep your boat clear of the finish line, clear of the Race Committee Boat, and do not sail onto the racecourse side of the finish line until all boats finish the race, unless an emergency dictates otherwise. This is common courtesy, proper sailboat racing etiquette, and avoids the possibility of interfering with other finishers and violations of RRS Rule 22.1. Keeping your boat near the finish line unfairly shortens the line, creates bad air for the other competitors regardless of the size of the rig and effects the finishing time. Being near the Race Committee Boat distracts the attention of the OD from the the race. If lodging a protest, inform the OD when his/her attention is not directed at watching the finishing boats.

Also, you are responsible for keeping a proper lookout for other boats. This is especially important when you are on port tack. We have had at least three incidents this year that have caused damage and/or effected race results because the give way boat “did not see” the stand on boat.

Thank you!

September 2, 2003

To All VSC Members:

Please note the following amendment to VSC Handbook and Race Instructions effective today, September 1, 2003:

Section 13E of the Handbook is amended from:

E. The Protest Committee chair will inform all interested parties and Protest Committee members of the protest and the location of the protest hearing as soon as practicable after the protested race. The protest will be heard the first Thursday after the protested race, at 7:00 pm.

to:

E. The Protest Committee chair will inform all interested parties and Protest Committee members of the protest and schedule a protest hearing as soon as practicable after the protested race.

Please note the change in your copy of VSC Handbook and Racing Instructions.