Racing at the Royal Cornwall Yacht Club

The Basis for the new race management system is:-

• Sound signals afloat will be made by the electric horn only – Guns to be used only for the club finish.
• Courses will be broadcast over the radio AND course boards will be used on the committee boat. All courses for all Classes will be broadcast at 18.00 and repeated at 18.05.  Individual class courses will be broadcast after that class Preparatory sound signal and before their start. Upon completion of ALL starts the Race Committee will repeat Courses to individual boats on request.
• Starting sequences will not use Class or other starting flags.
• Starts will be at 5 minute intervals - All starts will be announced and counted down over radio.
• Hand held flags only will be used for Individual and General recalls, Postponement, Shortened Course and Abandoned Race accompanied by the appropriate sound signal and a radio message.
• Radio transmissions to the competitors for courses and start timings will be made on channel 72. The Race Committee (RO, ARO, and Mark Layer) will work on Channel 77 to lay marks and the Start line.
• Competitors must not transmit on either of the working channels until completion of all starts. This will be a protest offence.
• Individual recalls will have one sound signal with hand held flag “X” Broadcast “Individual recall”.  OCS boat details will be broadcast as quickly as possible if known.
• General recalls will have two sound signals and hand held flag “First Sub” Broadcast “General recall”. The sequence for a recalled start will be as now (to the back of the queue)

• BEFORE RACING. - ASHORE.
  • Check in with Sailing Secretary and establish that:-.
    • The committee boat crew is available
    • The Committee Boat owner’s requirements and the arranged meeting time and place.
    • Race team assembled
    • Mark Layer and Pin End RIBs each have a Cox and a crew.
  • Latest weather forecast and tidal situation will be in this folder, but check with Culdrose or Coastguard for their view of the forecast.   
    • RNAS Culdrose.          01326 - 574 - 121      
    • Coast Guard     01326 - 317 - 575.
  • If the weather is unsuitable for classes V and D to race safely fly the appropriate flags ashore.
  • If appropriate, raise the Y flag for the use of lifejackets by the racers.
  • Latest view of the shipping movements from the website will be in this folder. Very latest updates require a telephone call to Harbourmaster or Pilots.
    • Telephone.       01326 - 211 - 395 (before 1700hrs).
    • Pilot.                07836 - 661 – 668 or VHF Channel.   9.
    • If a movement is scheduled, telephone pilot boat for latest information. If racing cancelled telephone pilots to inform them of the situation.
  • Perform a radio check with Club Safety boat. Channel 77
    • Call signs.     Ocean 1, Ocean 2 and RCYC Committee boat.
    • Set VHF to dual watch to monitor channel 16.
  • Instruct Safety Boat which of the marks they must take afloat.
    • If Central, Zone or Headland are likely to be required then the dihedral Spinners marks should be loaded to the Mark Layer RIB.
    • The pin end mark must be loaded onto the Pin End RIB. The pin end mark is a tall yellow pillar buoy with specific ground tackle marked as PinEnd Tackle (including anchor, chain, warp, and chain fitting to mark).
    • Windward marks should be loaded on the mark Layer RIB, The preference is orange and then yellow.
    • For each mark, there is specific ground tackle made up (including anchor, chain and 20 metres warp plus chain to act as a weight under the mark. You should also take 3 spare warps of 10 meter length for each mark. These already have snap shackles and eyes fitted.
    • Marks should be carried on the RIBs with anchors and warps etc in the buckets provided.
  • Check that all race equipment is ready for loading.  This will include switched on radios and mobile phone, flag poles, radio box, anemometer, hand bearing compass, horns and flag rucksack plus a special pen with cotton attached. Spares are available for portable VHF sets and canister horns.
  • Note data on risk assessment document.
• AFLOAT BEFORE RACING.
  • Select and set suitable courses. Bearing in mind the local wind strength and ability of the boats to reach the start line. (East Narrows must not be used as a mark of a course). Determine suitable location for the starting line and lay Pin End mark normally to port. The westward side of the Carrick Roads adjacent to the Docks / Trefusis is preferable.
  • Take note of time for boats to get to start line and any road traffic conditions.
  • Course lengths for each class are dependent on wind conditions and discussed in the course length section of this folder.
  • Hoist Orange flag.
  • Hoist White flag, below the orange, if there are shipping movements in the race area.
  • Place poles with recall flags at the bow of the committee boat. Prepare the AP pole for possible use. Locate M and S flags on third pole for possible later use.
  • Hoist Y flag if life jackets must be worn.
  • Check if Mylor Yacht Club is racing. Dates when they are expected are included in the folder, note they will start at 1900.  Race officer - Phone    07837 609 319 or by radio Channel 77.
  • Organize the setting up of the starting horn, usually on the stern, check this with the boat owner.
  • Once the courses have been set by the RO, write and display the courses boards on the lifelines on the side away from the outer distance mark. Pass details to the Radio announcer.
  • The yellow pillar pin end mark will be laid to the RO instructions by the Pin End RIB and the ARO. Success is a line 90 degrees to the prevailing wind.
  • Instruct the Mark Layer RIB which of the Bay fixed marks are required and any other windward marks.
  • Start the race and enjoy your success.
  • FINISHING LINE can be set via a CF location as a Club finish. HF is the harbour finish between the Committee boat and the eastern end of the Northern Arm of the Docks. The finishing boat must fly a Blue flag rather than Orange.
  • Remember that you can use one or all of the 3 finishing situations of CF, HF and shorten course to give optimum racing with safety.
  • Remember that you can use one or all of the 3 finishing situations; CF, HF and shorten course to give optimum racing with safety.
  • SHORTENING THE COURSE.      After confirming which yacht is the leading yacht for the class or classes to be shortened, use the Pin End RIB with the ARO, or the committee boat to shorten course of one or more classes by locating the finish boat at the chosen mark, flying an S Flag and the class flags concerned. Make TWO sound signals as the leading class yacht approaches the mark.
  • Organize the recording of sail numbers for all starting yachts, and the order and time of finishing of yachts in each class.  Ensure that all the yachts are accounted for at the end of racing.  Any missing must be investigated and protested for non-compliance with SI.
• ON COMPLETION.
  • On all boats being accounted for stand down the RIBs reminding them to collect marks laid for the racing.
  • Return all racing gear to their correct storage areas.
  • Pass the spotting sheets to the sailing office for calculation of the results.
  • Scan results for any anomalies before publication
  • Write a short report on the evening’s races.
  • Complete the equipment faults report if required and ensure the Sailing Secretary has a copy.