Race Officer Information

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Sailing Race Officers are required to have a lot of knowledge and experience at running races and setting courses. This site provides some online tools and knowledge that will assist the Race Officer in recording and following the steps required to run a succesful regatta.

Available Tools:

  1. Entrant and Mark Monitoring Sheet
  2. Recording Sheet
  3. Race Officer Report

Supporting Documents:

  1. Flags
  2. Race Day Equipment Required

In the Sailing World a Race Officer is the equivalent of a Referee in a Rugby Match – only that his/her level of skills and peripheral knowledge required is just that little bit more.

The controlling body for sailing in South Africa – South African Sailing (SAS) – certifies Race Officers according to the following scale:

  1. Club
  2. Regional
  3. National

The knowledge required is freely available and certification is mainly on a practical basis – aspirant Race Officers will typically begin their calling by serving on a mark laying boat first and then ‘graduate’ to finsh and start boats doing each of the required tasks on each boat – recorder, flags etc.

World Sailing has published a Race Officer Code of Conduct that all Race Officers are expected to adhere to:

  • Maintain a high level of understanding and application of the world sailing racing rules of sailing (RRS), regulations to prevent collisions at sea (IRPCS), SA sailing policies and procedures;
  • Ensure that each decision or action taken is based upon the RRS and principles of fairness and objectivity, and is made with care and without prejudice;
  • Be responsible for their actions concerning the safety and welfare of competitors, race officials, support personnel and volunteers
  • Uphold the confidentially of race committee and jury deliberations during and after the regatta;
  • Be polite, courteous, open-minded, and patient with colleagues, competitors, race officials, team officials, support personnel, volunteers and hosts, and to respect cultural differences;
  • Declare, without delay, any apparent conflict of interest which may arise;
  • Arrive at the event in adequate time and remain until after all duties are completed;
  • Incur only expenses that are necessary, and when expenses are reimbursed, to claim only legitimate and essential out-of-pocket costs;
  • Maintain high standards of behaviour and good manners