Simplified guidelines for Clubs developing Match Racing
The ISA is seeking Clubs to commence Match Racing to train sailors and run Qualifiers for the ISA keelboat Match Racing Championships in Cork April 29/20 2006. This will be an ISAF Grade 3 event and the results will count towards ISAF ranking points and a position on the World Ranking Series. There are two categories – Open (for mixed teams) and Women’s for solely female teams for the title Irish Match Racing Champion 2006. The winning teams will automatically be entitled to represent Ireland in the ISAF Nations Cup Grand Final in Cork in September 2006. This will be an ISAF Grade 1 event and also a World Championship. They will also be eligible to represent Ireland in the ISAF Nations Cup Regional Finals in London or Finland in May/June 2006.
This document is to outline how to get match racing going in a simplified (and sometimes purest form) at a Club level to organise one or more Qualifiers or development sessions. This would build up sufficient match racing skills for a Club team or team(s) to compete and possibly win the Nationals in Cork next April.
Background
• A Match Race is a one-on-one duel between two identical sailboats, testing the skill and mental acuity of the skipper and crew. While history is vague about when the sport began, it is fair to say that the first match race probably occurred when two sailors met on the same expanse of water and tested the speed of each other's craft. This type of informal racing continues among sailboat owners today throughout the world.
• In modern organized racing, the most renowned match race is the America's Cup in which one yacht challenges the defender for the Cup, but in that event, the yachts and the equipment are not exactly the same. The first match race in the America's Cup occurred in 1870 between the U.S. defender Magic and the English challenger Cambria . Since then every race in the 31 events which have followed, as well as all of the defender and challenger trial races, have been match races.
• The sport of match race sailing has enjoyed spectacular growth during the past decade. Just ten years ago, there were only a handful of match race regattas being held around the world, and a ranking system had not yet been established. In 1989, a ranking system began to be implemented and has been administered ever since by the International Yacht Racing Union (IYRU) in London (now ISAF). Points are awarded to skippers for first through tenth place finishes in match racing events. The events are ranked as well, giving added weight or points to major regattas and less emphasis to local or regional events.
• The Nations Cup, which was first introduced to the world in 1990, is based on a series of Regional Finals with the top crews meeting at a Grand Final. The aim of the event is to broaden the availability of match racing and provide international match racing competition for national authorities and sailors at reasonable cost, whilst acting as an incentive for national match racing programmes.
Typical Race Formats
• The minimum event format is two teams and two boats. Each win for a team is a point and the first to either 2 or 3 points is the winner. The teams have a draw as to who will have the entry on starboard (explained later) and then after the first race or match they swap sides and the boat that entered on starboard now enters on port for match 2, then back to starboard for match 3 etc. Boat swaps can be added at the same time if either team feels they have a ‘slow’ boat. With more teams boat swaps are minimised.
• The next stage of up is 4 teams and 2 boats and a pairing list is worked out to ensure that each team has a match against each other team. 6 matches or races are required before what is termed a ‘round robin’ is complete. The winners of each match get 1 point and the loser zero. As a result there is an event score in points with the event winner having the most points. In the event of a tie the tie is broken in favour of the team with the highest score in the matches between the tied competitors etc (RRS appendix C11.1).
• To select their top teams clubs can establish Qualifying Events and/or a ‘Ladder’ or ranking list based on the points scored by competitors against each other. There are various creative ways of doing this to ensure that teams that sail are recognised and that new entrants can move up the ladder quickly.
• Typically good sailors that start match racing do not do well initially however if they practice with their team they learn fast, have fun and get onto the ISAF World ranking list which determines seeding at events and invitations and sometimes sponsorship.
• A simple 2 team/ 2 boat event can take 1-1.5 hours to give a result and a 4 team/ 2 boat event will take about 3 hours to give a result. The windward leg is only 4-6minutes the course can be close to the shore or inside a harbour or river.
Equipment
• Two loaned boats preferably keelboats (eg J24’s, 1720’s, Impalas, Squibs, Ruffians etc) that are equal or regarded as equal, with preferably symmetric spinnakers (asymmetric will suffice if symmetric is not available). Dinghies (eg Fireflies, 420’s etc) will suffice so long as there is a crew, spinnaker and preferably no trapeze. It is quite normal to detune boats so long as it is applied to both boats
• Issues of equalisation are underwater hull condition, mast location, forestay length, shroud tension, condition of sails, deck layout, weight and weight distribution etc. Often equalisation is as simple as strapping travellers for example and disconnecting any electronics.
• Owners reps and observers on each boat are fine so long as they are equal and their degree of involvement in the racing is equal on both sides (and agreed by the skippers).
• One small committee boat (CV) which could be a rib with its flags on poles rather than on halyards.
• Three marks (a windward mark, leeward mark and ODM) and ground tackle.
• One rib for an umpire(s) or judges to follow the boats. One umpire rib with 1 or 2 umpires/judges is required for each match. This rib can also lay the three marks.
• Flags for the competitors, umpire boats and CV. These are easy to make up from old sailcloth, tape and 20mm plastic water pipe or broom handles from a hardware store. Bigger the flags the better and details are found in Part J Edition 6/05 of the Umpires and Match Racing Manual http://www.sailing.org/publications/iu_manual_6_2005.pdf
• It is better to use flags rather than shapes to show an outstanding penalty – the flag after being flown to give a penalty is put in to a holster (another bigger piece of plastic pipe) until the penalty is discharged.
• Operating costs are the costs of fuel for the rib.
Organisation
• A race or a match should be 15-20 minutes duration and is a double windward leeward course, starboard roundings with the finish on the run. The leeward mark should be positioned 50-100m to windward of the start line and the start line (same as the finish line) should be short –about 20-30sec sailing time.
• The purpose of the course set up is to not disadvantage the trailing boat. Therefore it is more important to have a true downwind run than a true windward leg. Likewise bias on the start line is less important than setting up the downwind leg.
• Windshifts and wind strengths are not as important as in class fleet racing so long as they are within the capacity of the boats. The RC should specify the sail configuration of both boats (eg no spinnakers) prior to the attention signal.
• The RC and Umpire(s) should agree conditions to abandon a race (’ICF ‘N’) after the start or postpone (ICF’AP’) prior to the start in advance. These are are normally if either boat can lay the weather mark on the first windward leg without a tacking or if neither boat moves through the water for two consecutive minutes on any leg. Breakdowns after the attention signal are not normally conditions to postpone or abandon a race; however a boat may seek redress (however this is not normally granted). This differs from Team Racing.
• It is important to allow equal familiarisation time for each crew prior to the attention signal
• Standard entry form (waivers/hold harmless etc) in use and approved by Clubs should continue to be used. Boats and helms should be insured for third party liability and racing risks as per Club rules. In deemed necessary a refundable damage deposit should be taken –normally at least the insurance excess.
• Racing commences with the preparatory (ICF ‘P’) signal at 4 minutes to the start. Both boats have to enter the starting box (see RRS appendix C) after the ‘P’ and before 2 minutes to the start, one from the pin end on port tack (‘Blue’ flagged boat) and the other from the CV end on starboard (’Yellow’) flagged boat. Boats should enter immediately after ‘P’ signal to avoid getting held out the course side.
• A simple starting sequence for one match is contained in RRS appendix C3
Umpiring and rules
• On the water judging is provided by umpire(s) in a rib following the boats from the pin end from the ‘P’ signal. An umpire is typically an experienced racing sailor who can apply RRS rules quickly and anticipate the next move of the boats to place the umpire rib in the right place. Qualities of an umpire are good rules knowledge, observation and anticipation and rib driving skills.
• A ‘protest’ is usually initiated by either or both crews displaying a ‘Y’ flag. RRS C 6.1(a). The umpire(s) will give a decision whether to give a penalty (blue or yellow flag or both indicating the boat) or no penalty (green and white flag) with a blast of a whistle–RRS C5. The techniques of umpiring would be if there were two umpires in the rib one would call the rights and obligations of the ‘blue’ boat and the other would call the ‘yellow’ boat. If they both agree then the penalty(s) are awarded and if they disagree or are in doubt it is green and white flagged. Decisions need to be made within 5-10 secs from the ‘Y’ flag and if it takes longer there is usually some doubt as to whether a boat broke a rule. All umpire decisions are final even if incorrect (eg awarding a penalty to the wrong boat) and there is no redress.
• The traditional red flag protests from a boat therefore only apply to redress type situations eg errors of the RC (SI’s or flags being late etc) and damage under R14. All Part 2 rules and interfering with boats taking penalties etc are covered under the ‘Y’ flag above where the umpires decision is final.
• A penalty can be imposed as above by umpires without a ‘Y’ flag for touching a mark (RRS 31), propulsion (RRS 42), incorrect pre-start entry C4.1 and 4.2) and not taking a penalty.
• However if the umpires see a Part 2 rule infringement (eg windward boat not keeping clear) then unless there is a ‘Y’ flag from a boat they cannot give a penalty. Conversely if a boat displays a ‘Y’ flag it needs to be sure as the penalty could be imposed on the protesting boat with the ‘Y’ flag if the umpires agree that boat has infringed a rule (eg a boat clear astern establishing a leeward overlap too close to a windward boat such that the windward boat
• Penalties can be delayed unless there is a 2nd penalty imposed when it must be taken immediately. Discharging a penalty is effectively one 270 deg turn and involves completing a jibe and returning to close-hauled when on a leg to windward OR completing a tack and returning to a downwind course when on a leg to a leeward mark/finish.
This is a guide to starting match racing -for full unabridged coverage consult the ISAF website www.sailing.org for downloads of
- Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) 2005-2008 in particular Appendix C
- Call Book for Match Racing – noting that the UMP calls relate to the standard RRS and the MR calls relate to Appendix C specific to match racing.
- Any Rapid Response calls
- The Umpires and Match Racing Manual (ver 6/05)
“Organising of events and race formats is easier than fleet racing and requires less resources on the water. It will test sailing ability and rules knowledge and in turn bring on better sailors and club members”.
- Michael O’Connor- Royal Cork Yacht Club
- PDF Format
- PDF | 145KB | 051021 Guidelines MR for Clubs _2_.pdf