Visual signals for race management

I have to disagree with ColPrice2002 regarding the use of Morse code for starting races. I have used it successfully for several years for cruiser and fast dinghy handicap races. The time at which each signal is displayed is accurate to the nearest 0.1 second, and the time at which the signal is removed is accurate to the nearest 0.6 second, that being the interval between single characters. People synchronise their watches when the signal is displayed rather than when it is removed, so there is no problem with judging when to start.

It is seldom necessary to decode a complete character, one or two pulses often being sufficient to resolve any doubts. There are some flags for which there is no standard Morse equivalent but special codes can easily be devised. The system only needs one lamp cluster if a preparatory signal is not required and the races start at 10 minute intervals, but two clusters would be required if starting at 5 minute or three minute intervals, each cluster being used for alternate races.

My system only requires the race officer to click a function key to initiate the sound and the visual signals, with automatic signal removal at the appropriate time and automatic rescheduling of races when there is a postponement or general recall. Races can be shortened, postponed to another day or abandoned either collectively or selectively by appending the warning signal of the selected race.

Finish times are recorded and the horn is sounded whenever a boat finishes, and each finish time is allocated to a boat whenever there is a lull, making it possible to deal with finishes in quick succession. Each boat in the list of starters can be found by typing the first few digits of the sail number or the letters forming the name of the boat into an edit box or by using the mouse. The starters in individual races or all races can be displayed, with the class, boat name, colour, helmsman and crew of each boat included in the list to aid recognition.

It is clear that there are several viable approaches to race management, each with their own merits so there is plenty of scope for good ideas. Although my system works very well and is much appreciated by those who have used it there are those on our sailing committee who still insist on using manually operated flags instead of lamps for all club races so the system has now been discontinued. 

Colin,

The only way to see the beginning of the display of the visual signal is by looking towards the signal station for a few seconds beforehand. This applies whether the lamp is transmitting Morse code or not, and applies just as much to flags. If you miss the moment the signal is first displayed you can use the sound signal, making an allowance of about one second for the delay due to the speed of sound, and then watch for the display of the preparatory signal to get a more accurate time check.

Although the use of Morse code does not affect the time check in any way, you may be interested to know that I use a dot duration of 0.2 seconds and a dash duration of 0.6 seconds. The interval between pulses is 0.2 seconds and the interval between letters or numerals is 0.6 seconds. Each letter or numeral has a duration of between 0.8 to 4 seconds and is repeated many times so there are plenty of opportunities to decode the signal if desired. Higher transmission speed is possible but at the expense of readability. I have designed the system to conform as closely as possible to the Racing Rules of Sailing, but appreciate that special starting sequences may be better for starting at 3 minute intervals and there are alternative methods of encoding the signals by using several clusters of lamps. Whatever signals are used it is important to include their description in the sailing instructions.

My system is intended for use in a starting box on shore where the computer is protected from the weather and power is readily available. A battery operated system using a microcontroller has been developed by a member of Whitstable Yacht Club for use on a committee boat. The visual signals use clusters of fog lamps which are colour coded using transparent lacquer and can log finish times for later analysis on a computer ashore. Unfortunately I have heard recently that it is out of action and the designer has died. My own system has been discontinued this year because our sailing committee insists on using flags because they are the only signals described in the Racing Rules of Sailing. 

The difficult parts of our system, ie the electronics and the programming were carried out by a local company on a commercial basis, so could be ordered virtually  'off the shelf' but on a custom basis to suit the indidvidual needs of a particular club.  I'm not sure how you could accomodate a 5,4,1,0 system with lights though, 3 minute intervals are relatively simple, so would be cheap (ish) in programming time as it has already been done.

We built the light array ourselves and it was just a simple diy job with the lights being mounted on a length of rectangular-section boom which was in turn mounted on the flag-pole.

The electronics work off 12 volts via a transformer, as does the horn which is a car air-horn but the relays control 240 volt lights because they are cheap, reliable and we have a 240 volt supply available in our race-box.

However, there is no reason why the whole system shouldn't run at 12 volts and the lights could be leds, which consume very little current.  Even then, I don't think I'd want to try and run it off the outboard motor battery of a Dory.  The box the electronics are mounted in is water resistant though, so I'm sure it could be adapted for use on a committee boat.  However, we run our racing all year round and our ROs do like to be warm and dry in the comfort of our race-box.