No race officer sailing

Pretty sure more people enjoy being a race officer compared to being a data inputter.

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. 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 . Quite reliable, it does everything once you've got the pick list sorted and will export to sailwave. It runs on an andoid phone and will do pursuit and line starts. Instant corrected time results.

DSRC cons: Small screen (but manageable). Some screens difficult to see in sunshine. Need a waterproof phone if run from a small boat. 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.

The app is a freebee so it's worth trying out at home during the long winter months. 

Edited by Sussex Lad - 22 Dec 20 at 2:12pm

Search for beat racing on the app stores

Originally posted by Andymac Re; accuracy with different devices. Could there be an in built function on an app where, pre race, you go to a designated refererence point (marker bouy) and 'ping' it to zero calibrate?

Edited by Simon Lovesey - 23 Dec 20 at 9:00am

Simon's sailing differs from big standard club racinga in my opinion.

£50 per year... ...how many clubs can afford to increaw membership fees £50. Yes technically they don't need one per member.


There are clubs where that's 50% of membership fee. Where the boats being sailed cost £500. Others where is might cost that for a weekend membership and every sailor has spent that on a new block or rope in the hope of getting the edge on the line.

I've used Strava for non-sailing stuff. Strava, has a number of advantages:

- I can use any phone or a watch

- it's more for training than competing


- I can start with my phone and upgrade later to a watch.

But while a watch is "dedicated" it isn't just tracking. It is a watch. It is giving me pace, distance, time.

Strava doesn't need 0.1second resolution. 100m with 10 second resolution will be fine.

Lap time tags - user a RFID pad rather than GPS. I.e. you run or cycle over a sensor. Doesn't work for boats.


GPS was never designed to give accuracy of 3m or less... There are ways to do it to 0.1m but not. In a disposable device.