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Race Committee

FAQs, Standard Operating Procedures, and service expectations


Where Do I Sign Up for Race Committee?

Click here to  sign up

Who is Race Committee?

Race Committee are the people responsible for running a sailing race. Their duties include:

  • Choosing the race courses to give competitors the best possible races
  • Adjusting the course in response to changing conditions
  • Starting and finishing the fleet
  • Scoring the event
  • Ensuring the safety of competitors and the race committee

Who Serves on Race Committee?

All active racers are expected to participate as Race Committee. Skippers must participate in no less than one day of Race Committee over the course of a season (floats in to floats out) for their scores to be counted at the end of that season.

Non-racing MBC members are welcome, nay encouraged, to participate as well. If you don't know anything about running a sailboat race, it's not a problem. You're welcome to come along on the Race Committee boat, watch some racing, and learn. Reach out to racing@monmouthboatclub.org and we'll get back to you.

Thanks in advance for your service!!!

Conditions for running a race

  • The race committee shall make every effort to ensure that the course is set up to allow for safe, fair, and competitive racing.
  • Start a race only when the following conditions are met.
    • The starting line can reasonably be said to be perpendicular to the wind.
    • The wind speed can be reasonably described as within the limits set by the sailing instructions.
      • Enough wind to fill sails and not so much that it’s dangerous.
      • Competitors can be expected to complete the race within the time limits set by the sailing instructions.
  • The race committee shall welcome the advice of the veteran sailors in the fleet with regards course set up and race operations, while being capable of making the final decisions.

Scoring forms

  • Race Scoring forms are kept in the RC locker. There are different forms for handicap racing and for one design racing. One design Race Scoring form can be downloaded here. Handicap Forms are here.  Please do not use forms as cocktail napkins, etc… the job of the scorer is difficult and made easier with a properly filled out, legible form.
  • The race committee is expected to fill out the appropriate form as much as possible.
  • If you don’t have the information needed to record a participant (skipper name, boat type, etc…), ask them.
    • Please take a picture of the score sheet and email it to racing@monmouthboatclub.org and leave the originals in the RC locker.

    Committee make up

    • The Principle RC boat shall be manned by the Principle Race Officer (PRO). 
    • At a minimum, one person on the RC boat & chase/support boat must be able and willing to assist with the race course, racers or any boat which needs assistance on the river.
    • RC members shall review how they would retrieve people from the water every time they get on a Race Committee boat. If you don’t think you can do it, get help.
      • The chase/support boat shall have one or more qualified people, who are willing and able to drop & pick up marks. Additionally, this will include assisting racing boats/sailors, moving course marks and generally coordinating with the RC boat/PRO all race needs.
      • Both boats must have working radios and be in constant contact with each other.
      • Club owned RC boats must have a club member on board who will be responsible for the boat’s operations.

      Competitor Responsibilities

      • Boats beginning racing for the day must hail the principle RC boat with their sail number and the name of the skipper who shall be scored. If the boat wishes to alternate skippers over the course of a multi-race event/day they shall hail for each change of skipper. The race committee shall acknowledge the hail. If there is no acknowledgement, it didn’t happen.
      • When a skipper and crew are conducting RC and they miss racing, they will be awarded an average score for the race they missed, in the current series. (This will not be true for regattas).

       Please contact the 1st Rear Commodore at racing@monmouthboatclub.org with any questions.