POFROC
RACE
OFFICER
GUIDE
Version 3 March 2015
CONTENTS
Section 1
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Page
Background
3
How the Race Officer List is Compiled.
Management throughout the Season.
What you can do to help the efficient running of a race
Section 2
Safety
5
Section 3
Before the Start
5
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Setting Up
Setting the Course
Section 4
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During the Race
15
Shortening the Course
Section 6
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13
Individual Recall
General Recall
Postpone
Abandon
Cruiser Pursuit Starts
Section 5

The Start
The Finish
16
After Racing Activities
18
Protests
Section 7
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Section 1
BACKGROUND
1.1.1
Race Officer Duty is defined in POFROC’s Notice
of Race: Clause 3.
1.1.2
However we thought it would be helpful to give you
further information of what it entails and what you
can do to help us with its organisation.
1.2 How the Race Officer List is compiled.
 POFROC compile the next season’s list from the
competitors from the previous season.
 Therefore even if you are not racing this sailing season
but raced last season you may be listed for race office
duty. However those who know they will not be racing
during the forthcoming season (moved away, sold boat,
working abroad etc.) please inform POFROC on 01726
833573 or [email protected] by 30th
November so that you will not be included on the list.
You will see the current Race Officer list on the sailing
calendar.
 A list of POFROC duty roster is available in the race
office should you need advice or guidance on situations
you have not seen before.
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1.3 Management throughout the Season.
 Two weeks before your duty you will be contacted to
remind you, and make sure if you have swooped your
duty we know who is doing the duty.
 If you have swapped your duty you must inform RFYC
office on 01726 833573 or [email protected]
as stated in NOR 3.1. This often does not happen
leaving POFROC chasing around wondering who is on
duty and what help they may need.
1.4 What you can do to help the efficient running of a race.
 PREPARE ahead of your race office duty: you and
your crew are encouraged to shadow/help in the race
office prior to your duty.
 Familiarise yourself with the race start computer.
 Swot up on the flag system of starts in case
computer/lights don’t work. This is in the back of The
Racing Rules of Sailing - Class Flags that can be found
in the small set of drawers on the right hand side as you
go in the door. Or see section 7 of the Race Officer’s
Information pack.
Brush up on the Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions, in
particular for the series that you are on duty for.
Example –
 Start and finish lines
 Time Limits
 Procedure for shortening the course
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 Recorder sheets are prepared for you and they are in
the POFROC Recorder Sheet binder.
 There is Race Officer’s Information pack in the office to
help you.
 Ensure you have a least one person assisting as stated
in NOR 3.1, more than one helper is really useful.
Section 2
Safety
2.1 The Race officer is legally responsible for safety.
2.2 The Designated senior Race officer is responsible for
coordination of courses and resources.
2.3 While the crew of the safety boats will assist with
coordination and provide feedback, the Race Officer is
responsible for their correct deployment and tasks.
2.4 If you are not sure ask for guidance.
Section 3
BEFORE THE START
3.1.1
Prepare by getting weather forecasts and check
with Polruan NCI on the VHF Ch65,
computer/internet or telephone 870291. If in doubt
of the weather in St Austell Bay (NW) call
Charleston on 817068
3.1.2
Arrive at Race Office at least one hour before the
start of the first race.
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3.1.3
Get Race Office Door key from RFYC from the key
safe on the wall of the race office. (code in your
email)
3.1.4
If the weather is so foul that you consider
Abandoning all racing (thick fog, howling gale) then
it is a good idea to get to the Race Office as early
as possible so as to be able to inform people that
racing has been abandoned. Please make sure
that you need to abandon all fleets before
actioning. Then it is important that, once decided:
 Hoist Flag N over A if no more races today and
sound 3 signals
3.1.5
3.1.6
 After that try and call the cox’n of Arthur E and
Club Tender to inform them.
 Competitors will be ringing up to check about this
from about 1630hrs onwards.
If on Wednesday evening the Club Tender is
unable to be (at anchor) on station outside the
harbour it is possible to lay a line inside the
harbour or use line 1.
If this is required then the Afloat Race Officer in the
Club Tender will:
 Try and make the decision before 1630hrs
 You need to seek permission from Fowey
Harbour using VHF or phone.
 Permission will be granted if possible but is not
guaranteed.
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3.1.7
If permission is granted by the Harbour Master
himself, then the Afloat Race Officer will:
 Change of start for the cruiser fleet can be given
on VHF Ch. M2
 Liaise with the Race Officer at Club Base to hoist
flag H ashore, for more detail see 8.5 of the
Sailing Instructions.
 Liaise with Race Officer at Club Base for Troys,
Fowey Rivers and Dinghies to make sure there
are no course clashes.
 Arrange with Race Officer at Club Base that the
starts for Troys, Fowey Rivers & Dinghies are
postponed for 10 minutes.
 Arrange to lay the start line to seaward of
Whitehouse.
3.2 Setting Up
3.2.1
where things are:
 Radio clocks in inner office.
 Key is on top of Course Board box.
 Binoculars in Safe on floor (key on hook on
Course Board box).
 Recorder Sheets in folder on front surface,
likewise Race Officer’s Log.
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3.2.2
Then:
1. Switch on 240V master Action 1
2. Switch on 12v master Action 2
3. Check radio is on M2 use the up down arrow. The squelch
is automatic and the only other setting you need is Volume.
( Do not use power buttons!)
4. Check radio is on Ch12 use the up down arrow. The
squelch is automatic and the only other setting you need is
Volume. (Do not use power buttons!)
5. Check the horn. Action 5
6. Switch the power on button on the start computer on and
wait for the computer to boot up. The start computer is now
ready to load the light system please follow the following
steps:
a. Double click the mouse on the race
computer icon.
b. When the system has put the start lights
screen up click the load races button.
c. Select the race you are running from the
list.
d. Check the correct classes are ticked on
the box.
e. Select start races by clock.
f. The system is now live and ready to start
the race.
g. Familiarise your self with the individual
recall, general recall and delay buttons on
the start screen.
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Go outside and open hooter box on sea wall. Test hooter by
pressing button adjacent to computer “mouse”.
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 Check Racing Calendar and Schedule of Races
to establish which series and time limits etc. See
section 1 & 11 of the Race Officer’s Information
pack.
 Start considering what course to set and whether
to race inside for all classes (except cruisers).
 For more information see Clause 2.3 ‘Setting the
Course’ below.
 Consider Cruiser Courses for Saturday series.
 Take out Recorders’ sheets.
 Call Fowey Harbour Radio on Channel 12 and
check if there are any shipping movements for
the afternoon/evening.
 Inform Safety boats, “ARTHUR E” and “Mike E”
on M2 (your call sign is “Club Base”) of
movement times and consider postponing
harbour starts if scheduled movement is within
20 minutes of start times.
3.3 Setting the Course
See course boards and section 3 of the of the Race Officer’s
Information pack.
3.3.1
Things to Consider
 Time or distance/no of laps (governed by Wind
Speed).
 Check duration of race, as on page 5 of the Sailing
Instructions ‘Schedule of Race Series’. See section 9
of the Race Officer’s Information pack.
 Wind Speed – winds over 30 knots consider
abandoning the racing. Consult with Pofroc duty
member and fleet captains, Winds over 17 knots
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
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consider setting ‘in harbour’ courses for Troys, Fowey
Rivers & Dinghies.
Wind Direction - windward start if possible. However
if the wind is northerly, a north going ‘in harbour’ start
is to be avoided as it can cause major confusion in
the fleets.
Ensure that the course contains several beats to
windward
Sea State - remember in a Easterly wind with a swell
consider not sending Troys outside the harbour for
advice speak with a Safety Officer.
Allow for Tide
Safety Considerations o Keep the fleets apart and avoid conflicts at
marks. Liaise with Afloat Race Officer.
o Do you send Troys and Dinghies outside?
Set a course you can shorten. See section 13 of the
Race Officer’s Information pack.
Check that support boats are equipped with flags and
signals to shorten course.
Ensure that you are clear whether marks are
ROUNDING or PASSING marks. For more
information, See section 3 of the Race Officer’s
Information pack.
Ensure there are no ‘looping’ marks.
For Wednesday evening racing remember to liaise
with Afloat Race Officer to ensure there are no
conflicts on the course e.g. dinghies using ‘D’ to
starboard whilst the cruisers are using the mark to
port.
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3.3.2
Select courses and display them in the course
frames outside and under front windows at least 10
minutes prior to start of first race.
3.3.3
Instruct “ARTHUR E” to lay the marks for inside
harbour courses and if required collect Foxtrot from
Club Tender and lay for outside race. (When Club
Tender manned she can lay “F”)
3.3.4
With your recorder, start ticking off competitors on
their Recorder sheet as they appear on the scene.
3.3.5
if there is a boat, which is not on the RECORDER
SHEET but is obviously taking part in the race, add
them to the relevant RECORDER SHEET. This
can occur with the juniors in the dinghy fleets.
A boat must sign an entry form before any position
is given. No form no result!
3.3.6
3.3.7
ENTRY FORMS can be found in the small
set
of drawers on the right hand side as you go in the
door. Take the entry and the money and put on the
desk in the inner office. Also see section 4 of the
Race Officer’s Information pack.
Stand back and let it all happen.
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Section 4
THE START
You have already started the computer as per
‘Computer Start Operations’
The start line is defined as a line between the blue
window marks in line with the white arrowhead on the
Brazen Island wall.
4.1 Check off each boat as they cross the line on the
relevant recorder sheet.
4.2 Check whether any boats are over the line at the start,
if any boat is over instigate the INDIVIDUAL RECALL
procedure. When the guilty boat re-crosses the line and
correctly starts, mark the recorder sheet accordingly. If
the guilty boat fails to return note OCS on recording
sheet. For more detail see Appendix 3, Clause 3, of the
Sailing Instructions.
4.3 When a large number of boats are over the line at the
start or you cannot determine the individuals who are
over, signal GENERAL RECALL. For more detail see
Appendix 3, Clause 4, of the Sailing Instructions.
4.4 You may have to POSTPONE a start, for example
because of a shipping movement. This can be done
any time up to a start. All subsequent starts will be
delayed by a similar time. For more detail see Appendix
3, Clause 5, of the Sailing Instructions.
4.5 You may have to ABANDON a race that has already
started. It maybe easier to hoist Flags November (N)
over Alpha (A) with three sound signals to abandon all
racing than using the computer starting system. For
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more detail see Appendix 3, Clause 6, of the Sailing
Instructions.
4.6 For INDIVIDUAL RECALL, GENERAL RECALL,
POSTPONEMENT or ABANDONMENT follow the
instructions set out on ‘ COMPUTER START
OPERATIONS’ Help Sheet attached to the computer.
4.7 For CRUISER PURSUIT STARTS –
 You will find the list of ‘start times on the ‘Race Notice’
board and at the beginning of the Recorder Sheet File.
 You will see that some boats start before the published
start time, this is because the calculation is based on
1000 and there are some boats in the fleet whose
Byron number is higher. SO BE PREPARED.
 All you need to do is to check that no boat crosses the
line ahead of their published start time.
 Tick the recorder sheet that the boat has started
correctly.
 If a boat crosses the line early record the actual start
time on the recorder sheet as the boat will incur a
penalty as stated in the Sailing Instructions clause 8.4.
Sailing Instructions are in section 9 of the of the Race
Officer’s Information pack.
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Section 5
DURING THE RACE
5.1 Keep in touch with support boats so that you are aware
of the positions of the fleets.
5.2 If racing inside, keep a close eye with your recorder of
the number of laps each boat has done. (K class
dinghies can be difficult with a widely spread fleet
depending on helm experience).
5.3 If racing outside, liaise with Safety boats as to where
the leaders and stragglers are.
5.4 You may wish to consider shortening the course for
example because:
 Of foul weather
 Of insufficient wind making it unlikely that any boat will
finish within the time limit.
 A mark is missing or out of position etc
See below.
5.5 Shortening Course.
5.5.1
Your options for shortening a course are
Governed by the Racing Rules of Sailing
Clause 32 and POFROC Sailing Instructions
Clause 9 and these should not be read in
Isolation to each other.
Clause 9 of the Sailing Instructions.
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9. Shortening/Changing the Course
9.1 If a committee boat displays flag C with a repetitive
sound signal the course shall be changed and boats
shall round the adjacent mark of the course and
proceed directly to the designated finishing line. This is
additional to rule 32.2 and 33 and alters the meaning of
Race Signal flag C as defined in rule 33.
9.2 For all Cruiser series a race may be changed and
shortened by an announcement on VHF Channel M2
stating the mark of the course to be rounded before
boats proceed directly to finish on Line One. This is
additional to rule 32.2 and Sailing Instruction 9.1.
5.5.2
Check that ‘Arthur E’ and Club Tender have a C
flag, an ‘S’ flag and hooter.
5.5.3
For further detail see section 13 of the of the Race
Officer’s Information pack.
Section 6
THE FINISH
6.1 The finish line is the blue window mark in line with the
seaward side of the Silver Buoy.
6.2 A boat has finished when any part of the boat/crew and
or equipment [in its normal racing position] crosses the
finish line.
6.3 Finish using Hooter Button on right of Race Office shelf.
See page 21.
6.4 Take clock radio time [hour:mins:secs] of all
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Cruisers, dinghies and Troys (only positions required
for Fowey Rivers) and record on the recorder sheet.
Record the positions for all boats.
6.5 Although you only require positions of the Fowey River
fleet, take the time of the first and the last boat so you
can go back and check the time limits.
6.6 If there are a large number of boats finishing
Together you may find it helpful to record the positions
of the boat on a TALLY SHEET available from section 5
of the Race Officer’s Information pack.
.
6.7 For cruisers finishing outside the harbour take
down the times from the Club Tender over VHF.
6.8 Check that you have a record for every boat that you
have down as started. Chase up with the support boats
any missing boats.
6.9 Note any Protest Flags and await for competitors to
request Protest Forms and ask them whether or not
they would like an arbitration hearing. PROTEST
FORMS can be found in the small set of drawers on the
right hand side as you go in the door. Also See section
7 of the Race Officer’s Information pack.
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Section 7
AFTER RACING ACTIVITIES
 Thank the safety boats and let Arthur E pick up the race
marks as necessary.
 Log out off the start computer, if not already done so.
Power off.
 Glasses and cups etc back to bar.
 Return radio clocks to inner race office.
 Stow binoculars in safe. Return keys.
 Switch off the master switch 240V action 1.
 Switch off red 12V master switch action 2.
 Do not touch any other switches!!
 Fill in and complete Race Officer’s Log.
 Put race-recording sheets in Race Folder, or give to
John if present.
 Go outside and close hooter box.
 Return Course Boards and remove any flags.
 Lock office and return door key to key safe.
THANK YOU
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