Race Committee Training on Saturday

[jsimo...@aol.com]

Work Parties, Race Committee Training, Foster/Practice Races, and the Frostbite Regatta are the annual events to start the new year on the right foot.  Each event brings members together so that their sailing year at DSC will be successful and enjoyable.   

Our Race Committee Training is a valuable opportunity for new members to learn, and old members to refresh their knowledge of race committee operations.  This session is a unique opportunity for members to discuss, clarify, and thus improve our processes.  If you know an improvement, let's talk.

Racing is a key activity for a SAILING club.  If you are not a great sailor, racing is a pathway to improving your skill and knowledge.  When two boats are within sight of each other, they are racing, because they cannot resist checking the trim of the other boat's sails to see if they can improve their trim.  Racing simply  concentrates the learning experience.

Racing would not be fun; in fact, it would be frustrating if it were not conducted following a structure.  Racers expect the races to be run is a predictable manner.  At DSC we conduct races using the best practices that are used around the country and around the world.  Those of us who have raced at other clubs, here and abroad, are comfortable knowing that we can enjoy that racing and perhaps be competitive.  After all, look at all the national and regional championships that continue to be won by DSC sailors.  If we didn't run races correctly, they would not be successful.  

The training/refreshing session starting at 0930 on Saturday will review the DSC Race Committee Handbook, explain nuances and answer questions.  The more you know, the more effective you can be when it's your turn to be on race committee.  

The competitors expect the races to run exactly and efficiently.  When the Race Committee is confused, incorrect, or slow, the racing fleet suffers.  Let's make racing fun and have more sails on the water.

Keith Bennett is recovering from back surgery, so you'll have me, and a few others, on Saturday.

Fair winds and following seas,

 

Jim Simons

Harbormaster

334-546-0224

Jsimo...@aol.com