Default set or Alternate set?

Arguh! More changes for the Handicap boats.

We need to explain how to choose between spin and non-spin.

Here's the idea - You can use two sail configurations for racing on Wednesday night. Most people will choose a complete set of sails using the spinnaker as the default. That makes sense. Then you might want an alternate set of sails with no spinnaker. That's good for short-crew nights.

How will you tell us what you are using? We assume you are using the default set of sails and corresponding ratings. If you want to use the alternate set, hail us on the water or VHF 78. Easy, right?

Read the amendment here:

SI Amendment

Here is what you will ask us...

What if I don't have a spinnaker?

Tell us, and we will make that your default rating.

What if I want to use an unusual sail?

You can use any sail declared in your certificate and part of your rating.

Can my alternate ratings include an unusual sail?

Yes.

Can I have three (or 4 or 5) different ratings?

No, just the default and the alternate - two total.

When do we have to declare that we are using our alternate set?

Before the starting sequences. If there is a class flag up, it's too late.

Will the RC be handing out candy bars?

No, you will have to bring your own.

How many days until we can race?

Seven!

Sign up for mark boat

Did you get an award last year? You need to sign up for mark boat:

Mark Boat Signup

Did you participate in races for more than half the time? You need to sign up for mark boat:

Mark Boat Signup

Having competitors help by setting marks is how we keep Wednesday Night Racing simple and available to everyone. I know you have a boat. I see you in your boat on the course. That is your boat to use when it comes to setting marks. You don't need to be fast, you just need to be responsive.

Sailors are the best people to set marks. Why? You know the difference between a good course and a bad course. We will work with you on the Race Committee to help you. 

Are you a member of the Club? If so, you can use the Club-owned boats in the summer. Just sign up as a crew between 6/20 and 8/13, and you can use a club boat as the mark boat.

Sign Up Now - or I will assign you a week to do mark boat. You can pick a week that works for you by selecting it on your own. If you wait for me to assign you a week, then you don't get to choose.

Mark Boat Signup

When you serve as mark boat instead of racing, you will get an average of your races. That means the race will not count for or against you. You could get a friend to do mark boat for you. That's always nice, and it will count. When it's your week for mark boat, you need to organize it and be ready to go.

We have a guide on the website that you might find helpful. I can also help you get started if you need help.

Now is the time. Sign up now!

Mark Boat Signup

Competitor's Meeting recorded

For your enjoyment!

Couldn't make it to the meeting on Wednesday? Have no fear - the recording is here:

Zoom Recording

Times they are a changing

The number two complaint in Wednesday Night Racing concerns the old B class finishing so late. Everyone complained. The level of anger was crazy!

How do we fix it?

We're flipping the starting sequence around and starting earlier!

When do you start?

• Are you in the cruising class (formerly B class)? Your warning time will be about 5:55 pm.
• Are you in the racing class (formerly A class)? Your warning time will be about 6:00 pm.
• Are you in the Star class? Your warning time will stay the same - about 6:05 pm.

We will start our announcements on the radio at 5:25 pm. Remember that we start even earlier in September. We will adjust the times when the days get shorter.

Yes, I'm sure you feel the change in start times is a great travesty. It will be okay. Get it out of your system now. We'll see you on the course at about 5:30 pm starting May 3rd.

p.s. 

Yes, the number one complaint is about ratings. ORC should help there, but you were going to complain about ratings regardless.

Sailing Instructions

The sailing instructions are ready. You can vire them here:

Sailing Instructions

We also had one more amendment to the notice of race so that we fix all the issues with the changing handicap system. You can see that here:

NOR Amendment 2

Competitor's Meeting tomorrow

Remember that the Competitor's Meeting is tomorrow, Wednesday, April 19th, at 6 pm at Miles River Yacht Club. Join us in person or over Zoom:

Join Zoom Meeting

We'll talk ratings from 4 pm to 6 pm if you want to talk ratings.

See you there!

Competitors Meeting 4/19

 It's happening!

The Competitors Meeting is scheduled for April 19th at 6 pm at MRYC. We'll go over the Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions.

Can't make it in person? We'll also be on Zoom:

Join the Meeting 

What's your rating? Come as early as 4 pm to talk about your rating. When we get to 6 pm, we'll stop talking about ratings and talk about items interesting to everyone.

Time to Register

We're working on the new ratings for all the boats this year and making progress. 

Are you going to race? I hope so.

Help us out by registering early. Once you are registered, we will work on your rating.

You might notice that there are three classes. Which class should you choose? The one where all your friends are racing!

There is a "Racing" class for the boats that used to be in the A class and rating under 143; There is a "Cruising" class for the boats that used to be in the B class and rating over 143; And there is a Star class for people with a Star boat.

If you're a Star, choose that class. Otherwise, the option is up to you. Register where you feel comfortable racing. The cruising class will start first, so you can have more time on the course.

Don't freak out - we can move you if you find out you would prefer to be in the other class.

Register Here:    https://www.nextsailor.com/app/page/regatta/456

Ratings based on ORC

After all the fun with ORR-Ez telling us to go away, we've decided to provide ratings for everyone based on the ORC rating system. ORC is being used by many clubs on the Chesapeake, so using ORC should be more universal for all of us.

For this summer, we will work to assign you a rating based on similar or sister ships that currently have ORC certificates. It's not perfect, but we will be a lot closer to a fair rating based on wind and race configuration.

Using a sister ship is not ideal, though. If you want to have a more accurate rating for your boat, getting an ORC Club certificate will make sure your rating is accurate for your boat. If you get a certificate and you hope to sail non-spin on occasion, make sure to also get a non-spin certificate.

If you plan to do Bay races (not just Wednesday nights), having a real certificate could open up more regattas for you to participate. Be sure to check out the options, but ORC Club will get you far without lots of complicated measuring. Two sites of interest are:

https://orcches.org/

and, of course, https://orc.org/

We needed to amend the NOR, so here it is:

NOR Amendment 1