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Introduction Organisation of races The race course The start The race Duration of a race And finally
Racing in progress on our water To view, click on the thumbnail. Return
to this page by clicking This article tries to explain in simple terms what the sport of model yacht racing is all about for the beginner. Model racing yacht sailing comes under the control of the national association, in the UK this is the Model Yacht Association (MYA), and is held under the rules of the International Sailing Federation - Radio Sailing Division (ISAF RSD). The ISAF is the organisation which controls the racing rules of sailing and the Internationally recognised class rules for all types of yachts, full sized and model. The ISAF recognises the International Marblehead (M), International One Meter (IOM), International Ten Rater (10R) and International A (A) model racing yacht classes. In addition to these, the MYA recognises and maintains rules for the 36 Restricted (36R) and Six Metre (6M) model racing yacht classes. For more details on these classes see Racing Yacht Classes. Races are generally organised as a series. Points are scored according to the placing in each race (1 for first, 2 second, 3 third, etc.) with the final positions being determined by the sum of the scores. If you fail to start, do not finish, retire or whatever then you are awarded fixed penalty points for that race. Discards are allowed at certain points in the series (i.e. you discard your worst score(s) and these do not contribute to your overall score). Thus after 4 races you are allowed 1 discard, after 10 races 2 discards, after 19 races 3 discards, after 28 races 4 discards and after 37 a total of 5 discards. Generally, the maximum number of boats permitted to race at any one time is limited to 18. Where more than this number of boats are competing in a series the fleet is divided into two or more heats of (as near as possible) equal sizes. When this happens the boats are divided in to heats arbitrarily for the first race. The position scores in this race are equal for each heat (i.e. each heat winner scores 1, second scores 2, etc.). After all heats are competed the boats are re-allocated in to heats based on their positions in the first race. All the higher finishing boats go to heat A, all the lowest to the lowest heat, etc. From now on the finishing points score are allocated for the whole fleet with heat A starting at the top, e.g. if there are 15 boats in heat A the fist place allocated from heat B scores 16, the second 17, etc. all the way down the heats. The top four finishers in each heat (other than heat A) are allowed to sail in the next highest heat in the same race and their position score for that race is given based on their finish in that higher heat (i.e. their position in the lower heat does not count). The bottom four finishers in each heat (other than in the lowest heat) are relegated to the next lowest heat for the next race. And yes, it is perfectly possible for someone to be relegated from heat A to heat B for a race, to win back up to heat A during that race, end up winning heat A and as a result score 1 for that race! To make this work of course each race commences with the lowest heat racing first and finishes with heat A racing. To control the heats the race officer will normally maintain heat boards of some sort throughout the racing. These list the skippers and/or sail numbers of the boats in each heat and are updated as necessary as each heat finishes. As each race commences make sure you know which heat you are in and listen out for that heat being called out on the water. Responsibility for getting on the water for the correct heat is the skippers, so if you miss out you will get a penalty score allocated. The course will be marked by a series of buoys, known technically as marks. Usually these are uniquely identified by a number, letter or colour. The correct course round these buoys will be shown on the course board maintained by the race officer. Again its your job to know the way round. Strictly according to the rules other skippers are not allowed to coach you during a race so they should not answer you when you cry where to now. Nor should the race officials, observers, etc. If you take the wrong route you risk disqualification from that race and penalty points. Make sure you know the course! The classic course will comprise a triangle and sausage layout (see diagram) with a beat from the start line to the windward mark, a reach to the wing mark, a gibe round the wing mark, a reach back to the leeward mark, a beat up to the windward mark, a run before the wind back down to the leeward mark and a final beat up to the finish. However, there are many variations due to limitations of the water used, the state of the wind, etc.
The most important part of the race. A warning will be given at one minute before starting. From now on the normal Rules of Racing apply to all boats and penalty turns can be awarded accordingly, which can not be exonerated until after the offender has correctly crossed the start line, something to avoided. The count down will be announced throughout the one minute and your aim is to cross the line immediately the minute is up. Anyone crossing the line before this has to go back and start again, and the race officer will be checking! Any delay in starting on your part and you are already playing catch up. Now its up to you. Skill, a good boat, knowledge of the Racing Rules of Sailing and luck are all needed in varying quantities to do well in model yacht racing. Skills you will only learn by talking to others, watching and practising both the set-up of your boat and your sailing. A good boat is largely in your hands, although in some classes a deep pocket helps! Knowledge of the rules is down to you (see our sister article on the Racing Rules of Sailing) and we all know how fickle lady luck can be! However, there are certain things you must bear in mind whilst racing as they work to your advantage.
In light airs the competitors can get well dispersed and as a consequence races would take a long time to finish. To help speed things up the finish may be timed outwith the length of time allowed for the remainder of the boats to finish depending on how long the first home took to get round. If you fail to finish in this time you will be judged did not finish and pay the penalty. Sometimes positions on the water will be given at the end of time so that you are allocated points as if you had finished in the order of nearest to the finish line (a much preferred arrangement in our Club). This should be clearly stated at the skippers briefing before the start of racing.A lso beware of something called DIRBOS (delayed infringement reporting by observer system). This is a ISAF system designed to reduce the number of protests. Basically, if at an incident the infringing boat immediately sails clear and takes a penalty turn, or shouts out that they accept fault and intend to take a turn, or if one of the involved boats calls out protest then nothing further happens. But if this has not happened after ten seconds then an observer will call out the offending boats sail number and what the infringement was, in which case that boat must now make two complete turns instead of one. The intent is to force skippers to be a good sport and take their penalty whenever there is an incident by penalising them an extra turn if they do not. Again, if this is being applied then you will be told at the skippers briefing. However, this has proved a particularly unpopular system amongst radio sailors, and the system is currently under official suspension whilst alternatives are examined. Incidentally, if you are judged to be at fault at an incident and you have not taken your penalty turn(s) you will be disqualified from that race and penalty points added to your score. All in all, best be a good sport and take your turns! Don't expect to just turn up to your first race and win. You will need time to gain that essential experience and skill, but it can be great fun getting there! May all your protests be good uns! |
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Copyright © South Manchester Model Boat Club 2002 This site created and maintained by Steve Booty Or address snail mail to our Secretary: Mrs J Booty, 26 Amberwood Drive, Baguley, Manchester M23 9ND Or telephone 0 161 998 1204
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SOUTH
MANCHESTER MODEL BOAT CLUB
