Top white facebook2x Top white instagram2x Top white email2x Email us Top white search2x Basket Login
Home > Dinghies > Race Team Duties
☰ More
Home > Dinghies > Race Team Duties

Race Team Duties

MRSC is a member's club run by members for the benefit of all. There are no employed staff at MRSC. Each year, the General Committee agrees a Programme of events both on and off the water, which require support from the members this support is known as 'Club Duties'.

Race team duties: Typically you will need some experience and/or qualifications so we encourage members to actively select water-based duties to build or refresh their experience and to use their qualifications. The Club arranges training throughout the year at a very competitive price to support this demand and to build a strong cohort of capable and qualified members in water-based skills. It's a great way of acquiring new skills!

Principle Race Officer (PRO)
The PRO is in overall control and leads the race team. They are responsible for the safety of the race and expected to hold a briefing with the other members of the race team, brief the competitors about the course, check the weather forecast, set the racecourses, start and finish the races, make sure the entrants and finishers sign on and off and that results are recorded. During the race they will use a VHF radio to liaise with the Safety Boats. The role is afloat in Tarka, our club committee boat, or a RIB or shore based when the event is run from the Club start line.
Is it for you? To volunteer for this duty, you should ideally be a fairly experienced racer or have been as Assistant Race Officer a few times. The Club can run training courses for members who wish to learn how be a Race Officer.

Assistant to Principle Race Officer (APRO)
The APRO assists the PRO. They will help with flag signals, record the sail numbers of boats arriving at the start line and also record the finishing times for each boat.
Is it for you? There are no particular skills or experience necessary to be able to carry out this duty and it is a great way to get involved in Club racing.

The Principal Race Officer and their assistant arrive in advance to prepare the flags, committee boat and course. For a Harbour start please arrive 120 mins before race start time, and for club start 90 mins before race start time.

RIB Helm: drives one of the Club RIBs to support a race, training, or other water-based event. This involves laying marks, providing support to sailors experiencing problems, and carrying out rescues, as required. On very rare occasions, it may be necessary to enter the water and the Helm is responsible to ensure that their crew is dressed to be able to do this. To ensure the safety of the fleet, the RIB Helm and Crew should stay afloat until stood down by the PRO.
Is it for you? All RIB Helms must hold a valid RYA Powerboat Level 2 licence (PB2). To volunteer for this duty you must have selected RIB Helm in your Profile. You can upload your certificate to your MRSC portal.

Junior Sailing RIB Helm: Young sailors often require additional confidence building and support when out on the water and as a Junior Sailing RIB Helm you will be very much part of the coaching team. If you are a parent/guardian with a PB2 or have experience of Junior rescue/support, then these are the duties that you should select if in doubt, please talk to our Junior Secretary.

RIB Crew and Junior RIB Crew: assists the RIB Helm.
Is it for you? There are no particular skills or qualifications necessary to be a RIB Crew, but it helps if you have experience of dinghy sailing and you are fit and healthy and dressed appropriately for the conditions, including potentially being prepared to enter the water. It is a great way to support Club racing and get out on the water.

Patrol Boat Helm: drives our Club launches (called Marjorie and Patsy) to support a race or training event.Is it for you? Ideally, all Patrol Boat helms should either: hold a valid RYA Powerboat Level 2 certificate endorsed for displacement craft or have similar experience with a displacement boat; it also helps if you have a basic understanding of dinghy racing.

Patrol Boat Crew: assists the Helm including laying and retrieving the anchor. Is it for you? There are no particular skills or qualifications necessary to be a Patrol Boat Crew, but you should be fit and healthy and dressed appropriately for the conditions. It is a great way to support Club racing and get out on the water

Rescue teams: Please arrive at the club to help prepare and launch the rescue boats and lay the course marks.

For Harbour Start please arrive 90 minutes for the advertised race start time; For Club starts arrive 60 mins before; For Bay Races, please arrives 120 mins before.

Instructions for pre-launch checks and starting procedures are in the boat-specific support bags stored in the Race Store.

KILL CORDS MUST BE WORN AT ALL TIMES WHEN ON THE WATER

© 2024 Mengeham Rythe Sailing Club powered by Sailing Club Manager