Building Race Management Resources

By Jenn Lancaster - Race Director, Newport Harbor Yacht Club / Lynn M. Lynch - On-the-Water Director, Chicago Yacht Club / Taran Teague - Annapolis Yacht Club

Building race management resources at your club or sailing center requires a significant commitment. Investing time, effort and money in these resources can go a long way in positively impacting sailors' experience on and off the water at your racing events and programs.

Consider these questions when recruiting personnel to join the race committee: 

What challenges do you face trying to get people to join the race committee?

• Time commitments
• Lack of skills or knowledge
• Fear of being judged by their peers

What motivates people to join the race committee?

• Learn something new
• Social opportunity. Have fun.
• Reward / Recognition
• Obligation

Learn more about other factors for consideration in building race management resources , including information on equipment and boats, outside support, and more.

Advantages of US Powerboating’s Safe Powerboat Handling Courses

By Rob Crafa and Lynn Lynch


There are so many benefits for hosting and taking US Powerboating's Safe Powerboat Handling Course. Find out how this course can improve the quality of your club's programming:

• Hands-on, on-the-water–, practical application of all skills
• Professional textbook & online / digital teaching aids
• Boaters with no experience quickly gain confidence
• Experienced boaters correct bad habits & learn new skills
• Nationally and state recognized (National Association of State Boating Law Administrators Approved; State Certificates in many states)

Benefits For Host Facilities:

• Be a leader
• Improve safety
• Better trained staff - increase confidence
• Better maintained boats
• New program for existing members / customers or attract new ones
• Generate revenue

Benefits For Adult Participants:

• Emphasize skills most relevant to their needs
• Achieve state boating certificates
• Insurance discounts
• Operate club-owned boats
• Additional member value
• Race Committee support!

For Younger Participants:

• Keep younger club members involved
• Satisfy the safety boat knowledge & skills to become a US Sailing Certified Sailing Instructor
• Achieve the skills to become a member of the race support team
• Part of the development system for future instructors
• They love driving the coach boats

Learn more about creating a powerboat program for all ages.

Daily Lift

The race committee’s action to score Boat X OCS is upheld. Rule 28.1, Sailing the Course, requires boats to “start”. The definition of Start states that “A boat starts when, having been entirely on the pre-start side of the starting line at or after her starting signal, and having complied with rule 30.1 if it applies, any part of her hull, crew or equipment crosses the starting line in the direction of the first mark.”No mention is made of “normal position.” Because X did not have her hull, crew and equipment entirely on the pre-start side of the line at or after the starting signal, she failed to start. Under the rule A5, Scores Determined by the Race Committee, the race committee has the authority to score X OCS without giving her a hearing.