No race officer sailing

Paper and pencil not going to crash, flags not going to be 'someone forgot to put them on charge', far less to go wrong. Mobile signal crap at my club, WiFi long way from water.

I was trying to flick a 'paper drawing' at work the other day, was thinking of turning it off and on

Originally posted by 423zero Paper and pencil not going to crash, flags not going to be 'someone forgot to put them on charge', far less to go wrong. Mobile signal crap at my club, WiFi long way from water.

Although if you use a stop watch - it wouldn't be the first time someone accidentally stopped it.

And I've certainly had more than a couple of occasions where the results sheet for a handicap race has been submitted for me to do results with places and no times.

I've also had the situation where the same boat finished twice... Did it go back through the line? Was it 252 and 525 with those annoying digital sail numbers. And if it was which one was which...

I don't think lack of signal is a major problem. You can have a race must be uploaded by X hours after a club race.

Originally posted by Sussex Lad Been using Elec system for at least the last 16yrs. Lights/ hooters, starts/finishes and positions done on a box of tricks. Having done it numerous times I'm in 2 minds about it being easier or more reliable than a pencil and paper. The electronic system needs backing up with pencil and paper for lap times anyway.

What do you back up the paper system with. 2 people. 3 people. Dictaphone.

We have had occasions when the RO didn't back up with hand written time sheets and the electronics system failed....disaster.The only electronic aid that could be run from the beach or boat that I reckon works is DSRC

I agree DSRC is decent. Takes a bit of getting to know. I've had the results sheet blew away in the wind, dropped in water.. so even paper isn't perfect.

Although the app hoots and shows which flag to wave this does need supplementing with the real thing, so although one person could do it if only sound signals needed, two would be easier if you want flags as well.

You are doing it wrong ;-)

So firstly - hoot through Bluetooth speaker or wifi relay. So the only job left would be pulling up a flag. That's 1 man work.

Even without DSRC we can 1 man run a race start as long as calling the line is not too stressful.

Use a clock with seconds on it rather than a stop watch. (Or set watch going 1 minute early). I prefer a radio controlled clock... Worst case scenario if the clock dies the time is still a known time. (Start on the minute)

With a manual horn, we can hoist a flag either with a slip not keeping it rolled so horn with left hand, tug slip knot with right. Or if the flag gantry is low, just hold it with hand... Sailors quite like the hand being up holding it rolled, as it signals that a signal is about to happen...

Flag drop by gravity. Undo the cleat. Hold halyard in hand. Release when hoot

Originally posted by polc1410 Can't help but think there could be an improved PY method here too... Gather data that could pull in wind speed, sea state data etc, can probably work out if capsized etc.