US Sailing Basic Race Management Course

US SAILING and Encinal Yacht Club are sponsoring a US SAILING Basic Race Management Seminar on January 16th, 2010 at Encinal YC in Alameda. The seminar is designed for sailors who have some race committee experience; however, newcomers are also welcome. It will be held in the club's (ground floor) Regatta Room from 0800-1730 hours. The principal instructor for the seminar will be Bill Gage of Richmond YC. Bill is the US SAILING Area G Race Officer and a certified National Race Officer who has taught several seminars and workshops. Jeff Zarwell of RegattaPRO will help with the teaching. Larry Westland of EYC's Race Committee will act as the club's host for the day.

Topics to be covered include Race Committee objectives, responsibilities and sailing instructions, RC jobs, equipment, setting the course, starting system, starting penalties, before the start, during the race, and, finishing and scoring. The changes in the Racing Rules of Sailing 2009-2012 ("RRS") that affect race management will also be discussed. Registration using the US SAILING ON_LINE REGISTRATION SYSTEM is encouraged. The seminar fee ($40 for US SAILING members and for non-members who don't take the test; $70 for non-members who take the test) includes: continental breakfast morning and afternoon breaks, lunch and workshop materials. The fee doesn't include required seminar publications from US SAILING.

Please be aware that advanced registration is encouraged and that the seminar is limited to 24 students in order to allow for greater interaction with the instructor and fellow participants. For further information contact the US SAILING seminar host, Larry Westland of EYC's Race Committee, at 510-459-5566 or larrywestland@yahoo.com.