Page 13 - Race

Class racing – All boats of the same class race
together. First across the line is the winner

Flight racing – This is normally used in class
racing when the fleet is large. It is an attempt to
reduce the number of boats on the start line by
dividing the total fleet into smaller groups and
racing is continued in those groups for several
days. Each group races against every other
group in a 'round robin' before the scores are
merged. This produces overall positions. In
some events this is when the winner is declared;
in other events ‘Gold, Silver, Bronze and maybe
Emerald’ fleets are created for a final series.

Group Racing – Used when the fleet is large but is manageable, usually in 2 Groups (yellow and
st
blue). Based on a seeding list from previous events the 1 boat on that list is allocated to Group 1
th
th
rd
(yellow), 2 nd and 3 go to Group 2 (blue), 4 and 5 go to Group 1 (yellow) and so on. After the first
day’s completed racing series scores are calculated and the Groups are re-formed with the
assignment based on the series score rather than the pre-event seeding list. Groups are re-formed
after each day’s racing until Gold and Silver Groups are established after a predetermined number
of races. An advantage of this system is that a group does not need to wait for another group to
finish before getting on with the next race, as is the case with Flight racing above.

It is important to appreciate that the terms ‘fleet’, ‘flight’ and ‘group’ are interchangeable by many!

The Medal Race
Under rule 86.2 World Sailing has approved the use of Addendum Q as an addendum to the SIs in
World Championship Grade, Grade 1 and Grade C1 events, World Sailing World Cup events and
the Olympics (and Test Event) for umpired fleet racing in the last race of each series for the Olympic
classes. Similar events are also encouraged to use the addendum. This can be done under rule 86.3
if the national authority prescribes that rule changes are allowed for the purpose of development and
testing. The approval of the RYA is required in order to do this in the UK.

Races may be sailed under the rules in this addendum only if the NoR so states and the addendum
is included in the SIs. Each discipline will have traditional fleet racing until the last race. It is usual
for the SIs to stipulate that the top ten boats in the fleet racing are to sail in the medal race which is
scored double points and that on-the-water judging shall apply. There should be one umpire boat for
every three or four boats in the fleet.

5.7 Race Office
The race office is the administrative centre of the regatta. It should be well equipped to deal with any
necessary administration. The race office should have all the necessary items found in any efficient
office. The race office is best split into the 'front’ office and the 'back’ office.

Front Office
The ‘Front’ Office will be the point of contact between the competitors and the organisation. It will
deal with SIs, tickets for social events, first aid, etc. This will also be the point of contact for the press
and media from where they will receive all the information they require. For very large events a
separate Media and Press centre will be provided. The front office should also have instant access
to the emergency services.

Version March 2018 11