April 2024
Reports in Irish Sailing media channels and Afloat reflect that clubs and classes have commenced their summer activities with the Fireballs in Monkstown this past weekend for a Munster’s, while the ILCAs already embarked on their regatta circuit with their season opener in Baltimore. A truncated Youth Nationals, due to storm Kathleen crossing over the Country in early April, was also hosted by the Royal Cork Yacht Club. In Dublin Bay, the summer season started last weekend with the successful completion of the inaugural Irish Sailing League inter club competition, followed closely on Tuesday 23rd April with the dinghies opening the Dublin Bay Sailing Club (DBSC) calendar. The Water Wags took to sea on Wednesday and the balance of the DBSC fleets on Thursday evening.
The Race Officials Policy Group (ROPG) met on April 9th and had the opportunity to reflect on winter activities and plans for the forthcoming season.
Composition of the Race Officials’ Policy Group
A number of changes to the ROPG came into effect at the April meeting. David Lovegrove stood down as the Group Chairman after a sustained period of sterling service, but he remains on the Policy Group.
Liam Maloney also stood down and we thank Liam for all his input to the policy group.
Mal Nowlan, as Irish Sailing Board appointee, assumes the Chair of the Group.
Gordon Davies stands down as the Racing Rules Committee Chairman and is succeeded by Cxema Pico. Gordon remains on the Group as an ordinary member.
Phillip Scallan embarks on his second term as the Safety Representative, while Ciaran McSweeney & Suzanne McGarry remain on as a voice for Race Officers.
Dara Totterdell represents all aspects of results recording across competition, while Olive Parker covers the brief of measurement requirements.
Cormac Bradley represents active racing sailors.
In terms of re-election, the Group stands down automatically at an AGM but are then eligible to be re-appointed subject to the number of terms served.
However, this is not to suggest that new members are not welcome, so if you have a specific interest that can and should be represented at the Group then please let us here from you – just email Irish Sailing Racing Manager, Stephen O’Shaughnessy @ stephen.oshaughnessy@sailing.ie
Race Officials Conference
There has been an abnormally long break since the last Race Officials’ Conference due to a number of factors, but the ROPG are now committed to a conference in November 2024. The date is set for 9th November and the venue is Galway Bay Sailing Club. Other dates in November were considered but with two Friday night Irish rugby games scheduled for November, the decision was made to have the conference on a “rugby-free” day. All Race Officials are reminded that they must attend at least one conference during the four-year appointment cycle and conferences are typically held every two years.
The Group considered a number of topics for discussion at the conference. A potential theme for the conference will be “Bringing forward new Knowledge”. Although not set yet, likely topics will be:
- New RRS will be in effect from 1st January 2025 so a November discussion on the changes would be of practical interest – the expectation is that there won’t be wholesale rule changes, more likely there will be “tweaking” of rules. The focus will be on changes relevant to Race Officials.
- By November, the Olympic Games will have come and gone so a review of the Olympic cycle that terminates with the Olympic regatta should also be of interest.
- Robotic Marks are in vogue at present, making their debut in Ireland this past weekend at the IS/INSS Irish Sailing League and DBSC has also communicated to its members that they will have a trial period of using robotic marks. Feedback from their deployment in race management will be discussed.
- Match Racing and Team Racing have seen growth in participation on the Irish scene and they are therefore considered to be potential subjects for the conference.
For Race Officials who have an aspiration (and the qualifications) to officiate outside Ireland an explanation of the EUROSAF structure is proposed – explaining how Irish Race Officials can get appointments overseas and how we can reciprocate by allowing non-Irish officials to get involved in regattas here. Additionally, a session on the means by which race officials can advance through the ranks of the domestic scene (National Race Officer/National Judge/National Umpire) to stand on the threshold of contemplating an international appointment will be provided.
Diversity and Inclusion are critical aspects to broadening the pool of volunteers to all sports, not just sailing, and it is expected that Irish Sailing’s policies on this aspect of volunteer training and recruitment will come under the spotlight in November.
On the technical side – suggestions have included a session on class rules and measurement - how to promote awareness of these key aspects of rule compliance.
All of the above are suggestions from the ROPG but the final agenda for November will also be influenced by events and learnings over the summer.
Race Officials’ Training Events
Training weekends were hosted by Galway Bay Sailing Club and the Royal St. George Yacht Club since the beginning of March this year. These training weekends spanned both days and delegates were able to “mix and match” what they attended. The two weekends accommodated approximately 60 people. It was suggested that a follow-up exercise would add value by way of contacting attendees to see how they have been able to take their training to the water.
More recently, Kinsale hosted a Local Race Officers’ course on 13th April, while the National Yacht Club hosted a Local Umpire Course a week later. Both courses had a combined number of 24 attendees which sends out a very positive message.
The Group agreed that there is a need to review the course content of all the courses to make sure there is a consistency in the material being used, with an initial subgroup established within the policy group to review the Local Race Officer module.
Youth Nationals
As mentioned above, the Irish Sailing Youth Nationals was curtailed to a single day of sailing due to adverse weather. This one day of racing however did secure four races for four of the six competing dinghy fleets, which was sufficient to constitute a series. Some of the “findings” from the regatta were discussed by the Group.
- The Risk and Safety Assessments that were first used for the Howth-hosted 2023 Youth Nationals were implemented and found to be very effective.
- The template documents need an additional feature to allow for local conditions, specific to the venue to be incorporated into the Assessment.
- Port of Cork and Coastguard were impressed with the organisation and measures put in place for the regatta.
- There was a favourable response to Irish Sailing’s involvement and support in the regatta.
- The numbers in attendance (boats and competitors) necessitates a discussion on the format of the regatta into 2025 and beyond.
Umpire Pathway Reform Proposal.
The current system requires Local Umpires to complete 8 events which is deemed to be too onerous. Given that the current trend is for younger people to get involved, a new proposal is that aspirant Local Umpires will have to have 8 days experience, to include 1 full event (i.e. must be involved in umpiring at both round robin and knockout stages). There will also be a requirement to certify that they have an appropriate awareness of Team Racing and/or Match Racing rules and they will be subject to a practical demonstration. Candidates for Local Umpire would also be subject to an assessment by a qualified Umpire who has the option to ‘fast track’ clearly competent individuals.
The group meets again during this coming June.