RACE OFFICER PLATFORM INFO

Display the YELLOW RC Flag (yellow with RC on it) from atop and POSTPONEMENT Flag before

leaving marina.

Leave dock in time to get to JB no later than 1630. Note that time will be required to do step 3 prior to rendezvous.

Go to the mouth of the creek and using the Wind Speed Meter, determine the wind speed and direction. Pick a suitable course length for the wind speed and to get a windward leg.

Anchor such that the start line is approximately perpendicular to the course to the next mark. A longer starting line is better than a short one.

Display the pure ORANGE flag for Starting Line on race officer platform. Sight the start and finish line from this flag. Ensure that the start line is at least 1 boat length (approximately 25 feet) long for the total number of starters in the largest fleet for the race; longer is better. Display the course designation for the racers.

Provide instructions and info to hailing yachts, log each as they check in. Announce course and approximate starting time of race on VHF 68.

Select a time that will be 1minute prior to the desired start ing sequence and call this time BEGIN. Lower the POSTPONEMENT Flag and sound the horn once at BEGIN. Announce "Start of sequence in one minute" on radio.

Do the starting sequence shown on the next page. It is suggested to use the countup timer to minimize the math and potential for errors. However, record the time of day of the start of the sequence in case the count up timer fails or is accidentally reset.

Flag any over early yachts by raising the Individual Recall (Code "X" flag) and sound the horn once. Continue to raise the Individual Recall until the yacht crosses the start line or the next start, whichever comes first. Announce yacht name(s)/sail number(s) on VHF 68.

X Code Flag

10.

In the event that the Race Officer cannot determine who is over early or there is an error in the starting procedure, display the General Recall Flag (First Substitute Flag - yellow triangle in blue triangle) and sound the horn twice. The prep signal for a new start for the recalled fleet shall be made one minute after General Recall Flag is lowered, and starts for any succeeding classes shall follow the new start.

First Substitute Flag

11.

Once all yachts have started, move to the finish mark to set a proper finish line as indicated on the course diagram. The finish line is a line between the finish mark and the ORANGE flag on the RO platform. The finish line should be perpendicular to the course from the prior mark.

12.

Continuously monitor the conditions and take appropriate action if warranted. These actions include shortening the course or abandoning the race. The appropriate signals are provided below. The intent is to have a fair and safe race. Abandon the race if no boat has finished prior to 19:00 during April, May, September, October or 19:30 during June, July, August.

13.

In the event there are any Portsmouth starters, record the wind speed every 20-30 minutes.

14.

If conditions deteriorate, consider the following options in order presented. The intent is to have a fair and safe race.

a. Shorten Course - If the lead yacht has not reached a mark, the race can be shortened to that mark as follows:
	When appropriate, the race officer may shorten the course by flying flag "S" (a white flag with a blue square in the center). In this event, the race officer shall make every effort to inform all competitors by using VHF CH68, a single sound signal and hailing. The finish line shall be a line from the finishing mark perpendicular to the course from the prior mark. The race officer platform shall be placed so that finishing yachts will pass the mark on the original course side of the mark.
b. Reduce Number of Laps in a Multi-Lap Course - If the lead yacht has rounded the lap finish mark, the number of laps for a multi-lap course can be reduced as follows:
	When appropriate and prior to any yacht completing the original course, the race officer may reduce the number of laps in a multi-lap course to the last lap completed by the lead yacht by flying the pure GREEN flag. In this event, the race officer shall make every effort to inform all competitors by using VHF CH68, two sound signal and hailing. The finish line shall be a line from the finishing mark perpendicular to the course from the prior mark. The latest lap times will be used as the official finish times. Yachts that have not completed the lap within one hour after the 1st yacht will be scored "DNF".
c. Abandon Race - If the conditions create a safety hazard or if no yacht has finished prior to 19:00 during April, May, September, October or 19:30 during June, July, August, abandon the race as indicated below:
	When appropriate, the race officer may abandon the race by flying flag "N" (a blue and white checkerboard flag). In this event, the race officer shall make every effort to inform all competitors by using VHF CH68, three sound signal and hailing. When the race is abandoned, there will be no score for any yacht regardless of finish.

15.

Record any lap times and finish times. The yacht completes the lap or finishes when any part of yacht or crew in normal position crosses the finish line.

16.

Remain on station at the finish until all yachts have finished or are accounted for.

17.

Give the score sheet to the Chief Scorer if available. Note: There is a container on the outside of the Race Committee Equipment Locker to place the score sheet if the Chief Scorer is not available.

18.

Cleanup as follows:

Put Clock and Windmeter back in protective box
Put Course Letters back in their bag
Put Clock, Windmeter, Course Letters in Duffel Bag
Put Flags back in their bag
Put Duffel Bag, Horn, Radio, Flags back in Race Committee Locker
1. Connect Horn and Radio to Battery Chargers
Put Score Sheet in Rack on Locker Door

FLAGS AND SIGNALS

Postponement Of Start (all fleets)-"Answering Pennant" (red & white stripes), 2 sounds
Individual Recall (early yachts) - Code "X" flag (blue cross on white square), 1 sound
General Recall Of Last Fleet Started - "First Substitute" (yellow triangle in blue triangle), 2 sounds move this fleet to follow last scheduled start
Shortened Course - Code "S" flag (blue square on white square), 2 sounds
Reducing Laps in Multi-Lap Course - Pure Green Flag, 2 sounds
Abandonment or Cancellation (all fleets) - Code "N" flag (blue/white checkered), 3 sounds
Time Limit - See race instructions.

PHRF STARTING SEQUENCE

Starting Sequence starting times should be around 1654 for Monday. In no event shall a Monday night race start prior to 1700 unless otherwise scheduled. Do not rush the start sequence. It there are problems, continue to fly the postponement flag until you are ready to continue the sequence. Assume that you want to begin the sequence in 1 minute. Call the current time BEGIN. Call the delay to begin the start sequence for the the second fleet DELAY. The delay time between the actual start of the first fleet and the starting sequence of the second fleet is not specified and can be zero, but must be a multiple of 1 minute. Use of the countup timer reduces the math and potential for errors.

PHRF Starting Sequence

Time	Action	Flags Flying
	Postponement Flag Flying
Begin	Lower Postponement Flag, start the countup clock, record the current time of day, and sound horn 1 time.
Begin + 1	Hoist pure Blue flag, sound horn. 1st Fleet Warning Signal
Begin + 2	Raise "P" Flag, sound horn 1st Fleet Prep Signal
Begin + 5	Lower "P" flag, long sound horn 1st Fleet One-Minute Signal
Begin + 6	Lower Blue flag, sound horn 1st Fleet Start Signal
Delay to Next starting Sequence if desired, record DELAY minutes
Begin + DELAY + 6	Hoist pure Red flag, sound horn 2nd Fleet Warning Signal
Begin + DELAY + 7	Raise "P" Flag, sound horn 2nd Fleet Fleet Prep Signal
Begin + DELAY + 10	Lower "P" flag, long sound horn
Begin + DELAY + 11	Lower Red flag 2nd Fleet Start Signal

S Code Flag Over Early-- If any yacht has crossed the starting line prior to their start, hoist the "X" flag, hail the early starters, and give one horn blast. The "X" flag is not lowered until all early starters have returned or after 4 minutes. Announce yacht name/sail number over the radio.

General Recall - In the event that the Race Officer cannot determine who is over early or there is an error in the starting procedure, display the General Recall Flag (First Substitute Flag - yellow triangle in blue triangle) and sound the horn twice. Announce General Recall over radio. The prep signal for a new start for the recalled fleet shall be made one minute after General Recall Flag is lowered, and starts for any succeeding classes shall follow the new start.

Page Last Updated April 26, 2006

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