Series Formats and Times

The majority of the club’s racing events are series of races across several weeks, with a number of discards so that even if you are unable to compete every week, you can still gain a favourable placing. Day and weekend events and regattas are also held across the year. The Racing Programme is the key to what happens and when. 

Sunday Racing

Most Sundays have three races - a Pursuit (generally 60 minutes) which will normally be run from the OD hut. As this is near the launching bay, it is quick to get started, and easy to get back after the race. The 1st race normally starts at 12:00.  After this, we will have a break for lunch and then run two Handicap races back-to-back starting at 14:00. These races are timed to be around 45 minutes each, usually with simpler courses than the Pursuit. They are most likely to be from Penelope (the Committee Boat) at the northern end of the reservoir. If there is a clean northerly wind, we may continue with the OD hut, or move the Committee Boat.

In November only, we will run only 2 races, starting at 12:00. The first is a pursuit, then a handicap, run back-to-back. These start from the OD Hut as we are not allowed to sail in the northern half of the reservoir to protect over-wintering birds.

Wednesday Racing

On Wednesdays, there is a single Handicap or Pursuit race, as shown in the Racing Programme. This normally starts at 18:30 or 18:45. 

For the darker evenings of the first two races in March/April and the last races in September and October, races start at earlier times as early as 16:45 to make maximum use of the light. Check the Programme on each particular day!

Many of us get together socially after the Wednesdays races in a local pub to eat, drink and chat. 

Club Fleets

Except for single fleet Open Events, we normally run a single handicap fleet start unless there is a large number of entries, when there may be separate starts for:

• Asymmetric spinnaker fleet
• Conventional spinnaker fleet and single handers
• Juniors.

For this, all classes share the same start and finish lines but will start at 5-minute intervals in the order set out above. Full details of this procedure are described in the club Sailing Instructions.

Race Entry

All racing helms must sign on before the start via our on-line race management system in the Member's Area of the website. This simplifies the work of the Race Officers and allows Welsh Water to monitor how many boats are on the water. 

It is the responsibility of each race entrant to check that the OD has their details so they can be included in the results. It is also good practice for the OD to check that they have names and boat types for all the boats that are about to start each race.

. 

The Start Sequence	Wednesday and OD Hut start lights	Lights
5 mins Asymmetric class 'A' displayed.  1 hoot	Yellow Flashing Light
4 mins Preparatory 'P' displayed 1 hoot	plus Green Flashing Light
1 min Preparatory 'P' removed  1 hoot	plus Red Flashing Light
START 'A' flag removed 1 hoot	All lights off
The Start Sequence …	…     for formal Starts without the lights.
5 Mins, ‘G’ displayed
4mins 'P' displayed 1 hoot
1 min 'P' removed;  1 hoot
START 'G' down;  1 hoot  Flag 'O' up etc.	General Handicap fleet starts (Conventional boats             Start of Junior start sequence…….
Recall Signals
Individual Recall Class flag stays up with Flag 'X' 1 extra hoot	A Green light  All boats clear when X is removed or the light is turned off
General Recall 2 extra hoots Flag 'First Substitute' displayed	A Red light All boats return to the starting area and wait for a new sequence to run.
Shorten Course (end of the race)
Shorten Course Flag 'S' displayed, 2 hoots	A Red light     Finish racing when you next cross the start/finish line
Postponement (for any reason)
Postponement Flag 'AP' displayed, 1 hoot	Wait for further instructions or a new start sequence.
Abandonment
Flag “N” is displayed with hoots	Flag N might be used, or if all three lights come on during a race, with 4 hoots, then the race is to be abandoned.  Please sail to the launching bay immediately and get off the water.  If there are boats struggling or capsized, help if you can.  The cause of the Abandonment could be anything from bad weather to trouble with the safety boats.

Pursuit Times and how it all works. 

Pursuit times can be found here at   Pursuit Times, handicaps   and in the OD hut and committee boat. Write your time down on the boat for both 45 and 60 minute races - it will remain the same all season. These races can be considered the opposite way around compared with Handicap races. Pursuits have different start times, but we finish at the same time. Handicaps we start together ans straggle over the finishing line spread by up to half and hour.  

Staggered Start 

Unless you are a Topper 4.2, at the start DO NOTHING. Your start is n minutes later, and you will see that it is the slow boats setting off before the faster boats. It is similar to the days when small children were given a start when “race you to the next lamppost”! 

One Finish time

In theory, at the end 45 or 60 minutes after the start, all boats should be lined up, having sailed the same distance. The horn will sound once, and Flag S or the Red light will show. Make a not of the boat in front of you and behind, It can be difficult for the Race Officer and the Safety Boat crew to get all the boats in the correct sequence when recording the results if they are spread out over the whole reservoir. 

There is a small board that should be put with the course numbers on the OD hut. It can be hung l o n g w a y s for a 60 Minute Pursuit, or upright for a thin, short 45 minute pursuit. Even if you struggle to see the letter and numbers the shape should tell you!

Risk Statement

Remember that you (or your child) join in a race at your own risk. It is your responsibility to check the weather and assess your experience and your boat’s seaworthiness and decide whether it is safe to sail. 

In extreme weather circumstances, the Race Team may issue an Abandon Race command to all boats (flag N, or all three lights come on during a race with 4 horn blasts). Until that point, Rule 3 of the Racing Rules of Sailing states: “The responsibility for a boat’s decision to participate in a race or to continue racing is hers alone.” Sailing is by its nature an unpredictable sport and therefore involves an element of risk. By taking part in the event, each competitor agrees and acknowledges that:

1. They are aware of the inherent element of risk involved in the sport and accept responsibility for the exposure of themselves, their crew and their boat to such inherent risk whilst taking part in the event;
2. They are responsible for the safety of themselves, their crew, their boat and their other property whether afloat or ashore;
3. They accept responsibility for any injury, damage or loss to the extent caused by their own actions or omissions;
4. Their boat is in good order, equipped to sail in the event and they are fit to participate;
5. The provision of a race management team, patrol boats, umpires and other officials and volunteers by the organiser does not relieve them of their own responsibilities;
6. The provision of patrol boat cover is limited to such assistance, particularly in extreme weather conditions, as can be practically provided in the circumstances;