| Bill Clarks' Comments on the above. |
1. Number of people serving on RC: I do not know of any documented requirement for the total number of people serving on RC for a given Sunday. The Official CSA Handbook specifies in Section V, paragraph F -- Daily Operating Race Committees: (Item #6) "The responsible fleet will ensure that there will be at least three but not more than five adult persons aboard the committee boat." There are no references in the handbook as to how many whalers are required and how many people on a whaler for a given RC date. Since I have been in the club, it has always been assumed that the club RC would have two whalers with two people in each whaler (for safety reasons) and three people (PRO, scorer and a timer) on the committee boat for a total of seven people. Two whalers are required for safety and ease of setting the race course. I do believe that in light wind and warm weather days (July and August), we can safely do RC with one whaler (2 people) and a committee boat with 3 people (RC - 5 people). By going to only a WL course, one whaler can set the course (extended windward mark, windward mark, pin, and gate). -- However, it should be noted that by only using one whaler; it will have two people, four marks, a pin, five anchors for the marks plus a spare anchor, boat hook, hand held compass, racing flags/pole, wind sticks, wind speed meter, and possible GPS. It will be one very crowded whaler. -- People who only do RC once a year in a whaler may have trouble dealing with this. Also, to set a gate correctly will take a little extra time. I would guess that most people in the club doing Sunday RC duty have never set a gate. I think that the Fleet that has RC duty should always plan on having two whalers. If conditions are light wind, warm weather and experienced crew in a whaler; the PRO can then decide to only use one whaler. I don't believe that you can take finishes from a whaler (see comment #7 below) during club races. 2. Race Duty Dates: This is OK with me. 3. 10:30 a.m. Harbor Warning, 11:00 a.m. Start: This is OK with me. 4. 3 Races on Sunday with 8 mph or more wind: This is OK with me. My crew and I have pretty much decided that we will only sail two races. We want to be off of the water and be putting our boat away by 4 p.m. Even starting the racing a half hour early, it still takes two hours to do a race. 5. San Juan will share a start sequence with the Lightnings/Snipes: This is an Excellent decision. I fully support it. 6. Configure course to be WL with a gate for all fleets, no gybe mark: The WL decision is a good one. One gate for all fleets should make for some interesting mark roundings. 7. Downwind finishes using a whaler at the Leeward Gate: If you want to do a downwind finish, do it at the committee boat where you have the people (PRO, a scorer and a timer) to record the finishes. Whalers are out there for safety and setting the course. Whalers are not set up to take finishes and record elapsed time. I have done this while on RC for a regatta and it is difficult. It is not something that you’re once a year Sunday RC is going to do very well. 8. Back to Back races can be sailed prior to lunch break: It is OK, but it will be after 2 p.m. before you come back to the harbor for lunch. 9. 1 pennant (i.e CSA Burgee) for 5 minute warning and start to simplify RC activities: I believe that we should continue to use the numeral (1-4) pennants to identify which fleet is starting. This is an extremely easy task. I do not recall any RC screwing this up last year. It if did happen most racers could figure it out and continue on in the sequence. 10. Holding informal RC training: This is a good idea. |