Race checklist for the PRO and PRO's delegates

Before race day

Find crew for the race committee

Read the latest NORs and SIs for your race.

Confirm these items are on the committee boat, and refill supplies if needed:

  • Spare handheld airhorns
  • Black Clipboard Case with:
  • Race Documents Folder with:
    • This checklist
    • The latest version of the race NORs and SIs
    • Helpful tools for setting the course
    • Flag Legend Sheet
  • Flat Clear Plastic Box with Extra Supplies
    • Extra pencils
    • Pencil sharpeners
    • Markers
    • Scissors
    • Cable Ties
  • Course board and placards
    There are 2 folders of placards. One which contains only the characters and numbers needed to run ODC series races. The other has extra characters and symbols if needed to run specialized races and courses.
  • Marks: 2 orange, 1 yellow for windward-leeward course. Need 3 orange for a triangle course.
  • The flags listed on our Visual Signals page
  • Orange inflater
  • iStart horn (the big orange box)
    Make sure this is charged, and familiarize yourself with operating it. Pre-set it for the mode of the race you are using (52 for PHRF 32 for Dinghy). Hold the mode button down to get it to cycle through the modes.
  • Water for your crew
  • Sunscreen
  • First Aid Kit
  • Bag of PFDs

The night before / morning of

With the race committee chair and fleet captains, review the weather forecast. Update racers as needed as described in SI.

Review the NOR, SI for your race, confirming start times.  Bring your own copy of these and this checklist if you did not find the latest when you checked Grover.

If needed from your Grover inventory, print at least 5 copies of the scoring sheet.

Print check-in sheet frmo the race scratch spreadsheets.
      It’s best to select “Custom Page Breaks”. Then print only the page with the participants. For help with this click here.

Bring with you:

  • Handheld VHF
  • Watches and phones to keep track of and record times. Note that the preferred method of recording time is Time of Day hr:mm:ss.  iPhones can somehow show time of day in seconds, some of us have found the S3 Clock app a bit easier to use.  Start Timer is another handy phone app for starting the first race.
  • Smartphone or tablet that allows weather monitoring throughout the day.
  • GPS
  • A lunch for yourself
  • PFD for yourself
  • Water for you and your crew if not already onboard
  • Sunscreen for you and your crew if not already onboard

On the dock, before leaving

Continue to monitor weather, checking in with race committee chair and fleet captains.

Note how the Grover is tied up so you can retie the same way. If you pull on the port breast line, the Grover will come alongside in alignment with the ladder and step stool for easy boarding.

The instructions for starting and running the Grover’s engine are on a laminated sheet on the door to the cabin. There is also a shortened pre-launch and closeup checklist to be used even if you know what you are doing.

Rig the Grover’s riding sail. It’s in a sausage bag in the cockpit, and put up the bimini. Be sure to keep dock lines free to cast off!

If you are using a chase boat, establish a VHF channel other than the racer’s Channel 72. This enables you to chat about wind shifts etc. without offering information to the racers.

Note what you’re taking from the dock box so you can put it back.

Make sure you have the course board, flags, and markers.

On the water, preparing for races

Set up the race course.

  • Check if wind is building or diminishing
  • Check if wind is predicting to shift during the race
  • Refer to "Setting the Course", pg 8 and 9 of Race management for Club Racing. There is a laminated tool with compass headings on board to help you.

Put up the course board. Display the course left to right.

Use the check-in sheet to identify the boats racing.

Assign roles: one person on flags, another on the horn, one recorder.

Review flag procedures.  There are a few laminated sheets on board for reference.

Don’t start the race until you’re ready. The postponement flag is your friend.

Codes for the horn machine are written on the side of the box. Hold down "mode" to get it to cycle through programs if you need to change it.

On the water, during racing

Continue to check the weather and communicate with fleet captains if conditions evolve that will affect the race. You can cancel the race at anytime if you feel the conditions are unsafe, but the fleet captains can and will advise you.

If one or more boats is over early, raise the individual recall flag, do a horn blast, and call them out on the VHF. Hold flag up until they return & start or for 4 minutes. If they don’t restart, record as DNS – Did Not Start or OCS – On Course Side.

If most or all boats are over early, raise the general recall flag, do 2 horn blasts, and restart the sequence at your convenience.

If everyone starts correctly, shout “all clear”

Keep track of the racers and stay in touch with mark boats throughout the race

Check and clean up the scoring sheets

Review finishing procedures and roles

  • Sighter notifies the recorder of the sail numbers as boats are approaching the finish and blows the air horn as each boat finishes
  • Timer tells the recorder the time each boat finishes
  • Recorder fills out the scoring sheet

After racing, back at the dock

ORIENTAL DINGHY CLUB. COME SAIL WITH US!

Contact our Commodore, Don Munn  ODCCommodore@gmail.com

PO Box 981, Oriental, NC 28571


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