DUTIES OF THE OFFICER OF THE DAY

( AND DUTY OFFICERS )

  1. Arrive at the Club at least one hour before racing starts.
  2. Read the O.O.D. INSTRUCTIONS in the Starting Box. Prepare the Starting Box ( Club Flag, Timer, Race Sheets, Class Flags, Course Indicator Boards, etc ).
  3. Set a course giving thought to wind direction and force, and to the strength of the current, and sympathetic to the activities of other water users. Please check advice in the Race Box relating to different wind directions and consider advice from Members who race regularly. Avoid gybes far downstream in heavy weather and keep marks at a safe distance from the sluice gates. The numbering of marks should follow the direction of the current. Courses must be 21' clear of anglers at all times.
  4. Organise races as per this Programme and the Sailing Instructions. Three starters are the minimum for any race.
  5. Organise the launch of the Rescue Boat(s) and check all gear and fuel supply. Nominate a rescue crew ( normally two competent persons ) and brief them having regard for the conditions of the day. Ensure that the crew fully appreciates the priorities of their duties and that emergency procedures and flag communications with the Starting Box are fully understood before racing commences.
    6. No person under the age of 16 should be in a Rescue Boat without an adult.
    RESCUE BOATS RESCUE PEOPLE, NOT BOATS
  6. Start races promptly, but never earlier than the published time. Each course should be as long as possible. Normal minimum time for a race should be 1 hour for the first boat to finish. Record the time at which the first boat in any race rounds the first mark.
  7. SPLIT THE FLEET INTO TWO FLIGHTS IF MORE THAN 15 BOATS ENTER. Fly the blue or red broad pennant.
  8. Leave dated and completed Results Sheets in the box provided in the Race Box. Helmsmen who do not sign the Race Results Sheets should be scored as DISQUALIFIED.
  9. The Officer of the Day is in charge and Duty Officers should give every assistance.
Please search carefully through the Racing Programme, and note in your diary when you are scheduled to assist in the Race Box. Part of Club Membership is an undertaking to assist each year in the running of the Club. For most Members this is a requirement to help in the Race Box once or twice during the year. In many clubs, the burden on the Membership is much greater than this.
Any member unable to attend must arrange his/her own substitute personally.If you find that you will be unable to attend a scheduled it is important that you arrange your own substitute personally. This is normally achieved quite easily by contacting in good time other members who are alloted to similar sessions about the same time of year. It is impracticable for the Sailing Secretary to do this for you.
Please note that there could be serious safety implications for the Club if there are insufficient people on duty.

Any protest should be referred by the OOD direct to a member of the Sailing Committee who will, whenever possible, arrange for it to be heard THAT DAY.