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5 October 2006
Understanding the Course Card
Anyone intending to enter club races will need to understand the Course Card, as well as the Sailing Instructions and Sailing Programme.
Fortunately, it is really simple.
Take a Course Card with you. Laminated copies are available from the Bar.
The Course Number will be displayed on the committee boat, per the Race Officer's Guide, which is an excellent read if you want to know what will be happening in the run up to the race itself.
When you look up the course number on the card, you will see a string of numbers and letters in red and green.
The numbers and letters relate to the club marks as shown on the map (also on the course card). These are 1 to 8, A, B and C. ARK refers to the Committee Boat. LINE is the "line" between ARK and the pin end of the line - this being the blue, green or orange buoy just offshore from the Ark (the colour to be used is indicated on the race board on the Ark prior to the race start).
ODM refers to the orange buoy just offshore from the Ark - this is often, but not always, the pin end of the Start Line.
When your start is signalled, sail from the Start line to the first mark listed for that course.
Anything printed in Green is to be taken to Starboard - i.e. leave it to your right hand side as you pass / round it. Anything printed in Red is taken to Port.
Sail to the next mark listed, and so on, until you reach the end of the list.
If the S flag is flying for your fleet (i.e. with no other flags, or with your fleet's flag), then you have just finished the race (usually indicated by a horn sounded aboard the Ark, accompanied by wild cheers if you have taken a particularly long time on a windy / chilly day). If it is not flying, do another lap. The maximum number of laps is shown for each course in the last column on the card.
Handy tips for forgetful people:
- Secure a course card (or several) where you can see it at all times.
- Wrap some white electrical tape around a wrist before the races. Take a pen with you. When you know what the course will be, write it on your wrist (e.g. 7, 6 if both are taken to Port, or 7S, 8S if taken to Starboard). You'll be amazed how much time this can save you!
Simon Stannard
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