Race Fleet Captain-Shelley Conti
Assistant Race Fleet Captain-
Gordon Kells-Murphy
Race Fleet Scorer-
Race Fleet Registrar- Bob Post
Fleet Handicapper- Pat Waters |
TTPYC conducts an active sailboat race program and members participate in all major areas races. The Club is a member of the United States Sailing Association, the U.S. National Sailing Authority and PHRF-NW, the local performance handicapping association. There is plenty of racing opportunity at all levels of experience, for both skipper and crew, on local races and in larger area racing on the Puget Sound and British Columbia. The major local race is the Duwamish Head Race, part of a four race series conducted by Southern Sound Yacht Clubs. There is also a three-race Windjammer Series. Single-handed and couples races, five "around the can" series from early Spring to late Fall are available to participate in. The Spring Regatta, is an April event. The Mid-Sound Summer Social is sponsored by Three Tree Point Yacht Club and the Des Moines Marina.
Entry at any level of experience is invited, and friendly competition is fostered to encourage all to participate, from novice to "Old Salt"! View our bulletin board and trophy case while at Anthony's Home Port in
Des Moines, WA
Shelley Conti, Race
Fleet Captain
Gordon Kells-Murphy, Assistant Race
Fleet Captain
We are nearing the end of our 2011 race season with the completion of the Fall Series last Saturday and The Commodore’s Trophy Race this Saturday. The Fall Series had amazing weather, although the wind was lacking for the first race. That didn’t matter, as the weather was warm and there was a beautiful sunset. With the completion of the Commodore’s Trophy Race my term as your Race Fleet Captain will be complete. I would like to thank all of you for your participation and support. It has been a pleasure serving under Commodore Dave Garmond.
With that said I would like to welcome our new Race Fleet Captain, Gordon Kells-Murphy. Gordon has been a long time sailor and I am sure will do a great job in this next year.
Looking forward, next up is the Winter Series scheduled for Saturday, November 5th and 19th. Get your winter gear out of the closet and come on out and race.
This year we are going to present the racing trophies at the Change of Watch. The Race Boat of the year will be calculated from last year’s Winter Series along with this year’s Spring, Summer, Fall Series, Windjammer Series and Commodore’s Trophy Race. I have been busy getting all the trophies updated, so if you stop by the trophy case in Anthony’s this next week, you will find it very bare. So come to Change of Watch and cheer on all the winners. Who knows, you may be on one of those trophies!
PHRF Meeting
I went to the PHRF Directors meeting for Tom Schacht, as he had to be in Hawaii (poor boy!)
The important information that I wanted to relay to the club is the Guest Membership. PHRF has a guest membership that you can get if you are not already a member. It is kind of like a one day trial membership. It is good for 30 hrs, and must be approved by the local handicapper, who would give you a temporary rating. The cost will be around $15.00 and limiting it to 2 guest memberships per boat per year. Since all the “big boy” races require that you have a PHRF rating, this is a good way to get your feet wet. For example, if you would like to compete in Duwamish Head in a regular class (not a cruising class) you can get a guest membership for just that race. Keep an eye out for a letter/article in 48° North explaining it some more.
Pat Nelson is to be the new chief handicapper, to be voted in, in January. He has been working with the previous chief handicapper for a couple of years now. The next meeting of the board and all the handicappers with PHRF will be January 29th at SYC.
Shelley Conti
Special Note:
A nifty handout has been put together for beginning racers. It has flag illustrations with explanations to
help you understand what the signal means. An explanation of the horn sounding prior to the start of
the race- will be added soon.
Shelley Conti
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Racing For Newbies
| CLASS FLAG A |
 |
| CLASS FLAG B |
| CLASS FLAG C |
| PREPATORY FLAG P |
Conduct of a Race
(Taken from THE RACING RULES OF SAILING for 2009–2012) pdf version here
25 NOTICE OF RACE, SAILING INSTRUCTIONS AND SIGNALS
The notice of race and sailing instructions shall be made available to each boat before a race begins. The meanings of the visual and sound signals stated in Race Signals shall not be changed except under rule 86.1(b). The meanings of any other signals that may be used shall be stated in the sailing instructions.
26 STARTING RACES
Races shall be started by using the following signals. Times shall be taken from the visual signals: the absence of a sound signal shall be disregarded.
| Signal |
Flag and Sound |
Minutes Before
Starting Signal |
| Warning |
Class flag; 1 sound |
5 minutes |
| Preparatory |
P flag; 1 sound |
4 minutes |
| One-minute |
Preparatory flag removed;
1 sound |
1 minute |
| Starting |
Class flag removed; 1 sound |
0 minutes |
| |
Attention Signal
FOUR OR MORE SHORT REPETITIVE SOUNDS, NO FLAG -
ATTENTION SIGNAL MADE PRIOR TO THE START
CONDITIONS:
1. To alert all competitors of a signal in one minute.
SEQUENCE:
1. 4 OR MORE SHORT SOUND SIGNALS
2. Wait ONE MINUTE
3. Start the Starting Sequence
COMMENTS:
At any time during the race the attention signal may be sounded with a flag.
With “C”, means ‘The position of the next mark has been changed.’
With “M” means ‘The object displaying this signal replaces a missing mark.’
General Recall Procedure
Description of flag: 1st. Repeater -
Blue and Yellow Triangle
GENERAL RECALL SHALL BE MADE AFTER THE START
CONDITIONS:
1. When at the starting signal the race committee is unable to identify the boats that are on the course side of the starting line.
2. When at the starting signal the race committee is unable to identify the boats to which rule 30 applies.
3. There has been an error in the starting procedure.
SEQUENCE:
1. Display the First Substitute with TWO SOUND SIGNALS.
2. When it is decided to resume the sequence:
3. 1st Repeater Down with ONE GUN OR SOUND SIGNAL.
4. Wait ONE MINUTE.
5. Resume the Starting Sequence.
COMMENTS:
The starts for any succeeding classes shall follow the next start. |
 |
Individual Recall Procedure (Over Early)
Description of Flag:
X Flag
White Background with Blue Cross
CONDITIONS:
1. When boat or boats starting are over early and the Committee Boat is able to identify them all.
SEQUENCE:
1. “X” Flag Up with ONE SOUND SIGNAL.
2. Hail sail numbers of over early boats with Bull Horn.
3. Advise boats when they have returned to the pre-start side of starting line.
4. Lower “X” flag after all over early boats have cleared the pre-start side of the starting line (no sound signal) or four minutes after their start, whichever is shorter.
COMMENTS:
DO NOT interrupt the normal starting sequence already in progress.
If unable to identify all the boats over early, do a General Recall. |
 |
Postponement Procedure
Description of Flag:
AP Answering Pennant-
Red and White Vertical Stripes
POSTPONEMENT SHALL BE MADE PRIOR TO THE START
CONDITIONS:
1. Lack of wind.
2. Inability to notify VTS.
3. Significant error in timing sequence.
SEQUENCE:
1.
Postponement Flag Up with TWO GUNS OR SOUND SIGNALS.
2.
When it is decided to resume the sequence:
3.
Postponement Flag Down with ONE GUN OR SOUND SIGNAL.
4.
Wait ONE MINUTE.
5.
Resume the Starting Sequence.
COMMENTS:
This signal ONLY affects those classes which HAVE NOT started.
"AP" over "H" means 'All races not started are postponed. Further signals ashore.’
"AP" over "A" means 'All races not started are postponed to a later day.' |
 |
Shortened Course Procedure:
Description of flag:
S flag -
White Background with Blue Square
SHORTENED COURSE SHALL BE MADE AFTER THE START
CONDITIONS:
1.
Because of foul weather.
2.
Because of insufficient wind making it unlikely that any boat will finish within the time limit.
3.
Because a mark is missing or out of position.
4.
For any other reason directly affecting the safety or fairness of the competition.
SEQUENCE:
1.
Display the S Flag with TWO SOUND SIGNALS.
2.
The shortened course shall be signaled before the first boat crosses the finishing line
.
COMMENTS:
The finishing line shall be:
1.
At a rounding mark, between the mark and a staff displaying the S flag OR
2.
At a line boats are required to cross at the end of each lap. |
 |
Don Waterhouse, Race Chair for the 2012 Toliva Shoal Race, has announced that the date will be 11 February 2012. This not the 'traditional date' of Presidents' Day weekend, but the week before. Rational for this change: This allows families to enjoy the three day weekend (Presidents' day); the race is now shortened at a 'sensible hour' if there is no or little wind; the boats from up north most often return on Sunday and do not need the extra day (Monday) for their return.
If there is a conflict with this date, please let Don (or me) know soonest!
Southern Sound Series January 9, February 13, March 20, December 4
for detail regarding the race- please go to Racing-Duwamish Head page
Please note that our series races will be PIYA Catagory III. You can obtain a copy of this by going to their web site www.ussailing.net/piya/ or linking here. This is a check list of the minimum equipment a boat should have for safe racing on Puget Sound. Basically for Catagory III it is very close to what the Coast Guard requirements are.
We hope to see more newcomers come out and race in the Performance Class which means Cruising Boats. You don’t need new high tech sails, a perfect bottom
or remove all that spare gear. Race NFS (No Spinnaker so crew size is small). Come out and meet your fellow sailors and have fun.
Please review the 2012 Race Book for Updated and New Details, Rules and Information. For a TPPYC Race Book, Click here
Entry fee: $30.00 for the series
Send the registration form and race fee to:
TTPYC Race Fleet
Attn:Registrar
P.O. Box 98700
Des Moines, WA 98198
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Rejuvenating the Race Fleet
Pat Waters, Chairman
VISION: TTPYC has a vibrant sailboat racing program.
MISSION: TTPYC Racing seeking a means to come together socially before and after racing, to enhance and grow our yacht club experience.
GOALS:
1. After race dock parties
2. Give out small awards after last race of series.
3. Invite new people.
4. Education of new sailors/get involved in existing educational sailing programs.
5. Make boats available to new sailors/make experienced sailors available to new boats.
For each goal above:
Goal 1. After Race dock parties: Plan:
A. Start with Commodore's Trophy Race
B. Fuel dock or hosted parties on designated docks
C. After last race of series or after a major race
D. BYOB/TTPYC to provide something grilled
E. Plan owner: Tom Davis
F. First implementation: Commodores Trophy Race, 08
G. Assign to race committee to have after every series and major race.
Goal 2. Give out small awards after last race of series: Plan:
A. Give away at race dock parties.
B. Decided on stickers for boom. Yacht Club has vinyl burgees we can use!!! Stickers for 1st, 2nd and 3rd, each SP class and performance.
D. Plan owner; Steve Foss.
E. First implementation: Commodores Trophy Race, 08
Goal 3. Invite new people: Plan:
A. Invite list of people from Mid Sound Social to participate using their E-mail address
B. Use marina mailing in Spring to advertise our racing program.
C. Solicit people on docks.
D. Advertise- 48˚ North, Northwest Yachting magazine, Local Des Moines, newsletter, recreation news, etc., & advertise our website on our bulletin board!
E. Merge our racing with Windseekers and/or CYC of Tacoma.
F. Plan owner: Tom Spohn – needs additional help
Goal 4. Education of our Sailors - Plan:
A. Get involved in existing educational sailing programs, Tacoma Mountaineers
B. Classes/Meetings, Teach ourselves, bring in sailmakers, etc., videos/CDs
C. Provide educational links on internet
D. Plan owner: TBD
Goal 5. Boats available to new sailors -experienced sailors available to new boats- Plan:
A. Create internet blog that provides: Crew List (experienced racers), Crew List (novice racers), Boat owners wanting crew for- social racing & serious racing, Experienced sailors willing to sail on boats.
B. Plan owner: Pat and Sue Waters This is now available. See directions below to add your name to the appropriate list/s.
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How to go to and edit the racers crew/boat listing
- Go to http://ttpycracing.blogspot.com/
- Click on Sign In to edit = (adding your name to the appropriate list/s.)
- Next screen> enter (ttpycracing@gmail.com) for user’s name and (emphasis) as password
- Next screen select Posting tab, (upper left corner)
Click on Return to list of posts
Click on Edit the 2nd listing, “Crew/Boat Availability”
- Enter your name, phone number and email address under the appropriate heading
- Click on Publish Post
- Click on View Blog
- Click on SIGN OUT upon completion
