ASSISTANT RACE CHAIRMAN

It's recommended that you ask someone to be "assistant race chairman" to assist you in setting a race schedule and fill in for you in case you are unable to attend a race. This person would be the logical choice to be race chairman in the following year, thereby giving some continuity to the office.

You also need to make provision in the schedule for the Commodore's Fun Race midsummer, and for the Manifest Destiny Race at season's end. Try to spread the races out during the summer. Usually have the first race not before the 3rd week in June to give everybody a chance to get their boats launched for the season. If possible, try not to schedule races on the weekends when there are music-fests at Winter Park. Consult with the commodore on proposed schedule to get input from him. You should have the race schedule ready to publish in either a newsletter on the web site by early May at the latest. Be sure to notify membership where skipper's meetings will be held. The Skippers meeting is usually held at 11:00 and first race at 12:30.

The following are some observations I have made as race chairman for LGYC for the year 2001. These are not intended to be hard and fast rules, only a guideline to assist future chairmen. I am preparing these notes in hopes they will become a permanent part of the club's records to assist future race chairmen in the administering club races.

-- Sid Brugger

RACE FEES

The normal entry fee has been $10.00 per day. Collect and remit to the club treasurer (currently Terry Pratt.)

RELEASE FORMS

Make sure you have a signed liability release form from all participants.

RACE RESULTS

There is a floppy disk in the race bag with a template for calculating race results on Microsoft Excel. (it's also here) Dave Jensen is a good resource of knowledge if you need help in this area. Follow the instructions for using the hand-held RadioShack computer's race handicapping program. As soon as possible, email the results to the club webmaster/secretary (currently the Baldwins) and they will be posted on the web site.

RACE SCHEDULE

Give some thought to how many races to schedule for the year. Whether you want to have one series or two. If you want to have races on Saturdays or Sundays. If you want to have any throw-out races. In 2001 we had a Saturday series with 2 days of racing with no throw-out races and a Sunday series with 2 days of racing with no throw-outs with 2 races each

day with trophies for each series. Participation was the same for both series at 15 boats. General consensus was Saturdays were preferred due to heavy traffic for sailors returning to Denver on Sunday p.m.

TROPHIES

Determine the number of trophies needed depending on the number of series and number of participants and discuss a budget with the Commodore for the purchase and engraving as needed. Awards are usually done at the Manifest barbecue.

WEEKLY RACE COMMITTEES

Try to secure volunteers for running the races early in the season with a notice in the newsletter. If that fails make a few phone calls. Try to get people who haven't been committee in the last year or two. On race day get the race bag and the combination to the locker to the volunteer and acquaint them with the forms they will be using. Give them the instructions they'll need to become familiar with the start sequence and other details of running a race successfully. Periodically check the bag to see if more forms or maps are needed. Also check status of air horn and flags.

HANDICAPS

Get a membership roster and make sure you have a handicap for every member and mount the list of the race clipboard. If you need handicaps for some boats not on the list check the PHRF book in the race bag. Another good source is go to the internet and enter PHRF and search. Try more than one browser such as Internet Explorer, Yahoo, Goggle or etc. We use the PHRF Time on Time handicapping method.