Welcome to Royal Thames Yacht Club RYA Racing

Welcome to Royal Thames Yacht Club RYA Racing Conference 2006 Chris Atkins Chairman, RYA Racing Committee 1

Purposes of Today • To enjoy yourselves, and help us! – be informal, be creative! • To update you on RYA Racing’s 2006 initiatives – and highlight the work of specialist committees • To establish RYA Racing priorities for 2007 – to set the agenda and identify issues & initiatives – how can we best help clubs and classes? – how can we serve sailors & support & reward volunteers? • To widen the net for new members of RYA Racing Committees 2

Today’s Agenda 11. 45 11. 55 12. 20 12. 40 Introduction Audience Introductions Racing Committee Report & Policy Discussion Presentations and Q&A for Specialist Groups – Race Management Group – Judges & Umpires Group 13. 20 13. 55 Lunch Discussion Groups – Club Racing: Class & Handicap volunteers better – Open meeting & champs racing – UK Racing: current strengths ideas & weaknesses 15. 00 15. 30 - Youth Steering - Supporting - “Club Pro” - Free thinking good Tea Presentations and Q&A for Specialist Groups – Racing Rules Committee Group - Match Racing 3

RYA Racing Department Committee Operation Olympic & Paralympic Internationa l Volunteers Youth Team Racing Match Racing Classes Offshore Clubs Rules Race Managemen t Specialist Groups Judges & Umpires Sailors RYA Racing • Make racing “better” Committee • Attract more people into racing • Retain people longer; increase participation 4

RYA Racing Department Committee Alignment 5

Today’s Agenda 11. 45 11. 55 12. 20 12. 40 Introduction Audience Introductions Racing Committee Report & Policy Discussion Presentations and Q&A for Specialist Groups – Race Management Group – Judges & Umpires Group 13. 20 13. 55 Lunch Discussion Groups – Club Racing: Class & Handicap volunteers better – Open meeting & champs racing – UK Racing: current strengths ideas & weaknesses 15. 00 15. 30 - Youth Steering - Supporting - “Club Pro” - Free thinking good Tea Presentations and Q&A for Specialist Groups – Racing Rules Committee Group - Match Racing 6

Racing Committee 2006 Review 2007 Plans 7

2006 Initiative Handicap Racing • • • Club racing and major open events Fairness, enjoyment and encouragement Boat and personal Standard, average lap, pursuit Portsmouth Yardstick – empirical system: how average sailor sailing boat at average club performs – encourages localisation; guidance on all types – need simpler & wider communication – encourage and empower local variation – fairer initial handicap: pro-active RYA process? – major event returns 8

2006 Initiative Club Professionals • Improving quality of service to club members – Training power boat drivers – Running basic sailing courses – Training race officers – Co-ordinating club sailing events – Race management – Sailing instructions – Coaching: youth sailors; club members – Managing club fleets and support boats – Managing other club facilities / resources – Chandlery / boat repair service 9

2006 Initiatives RYA Racing Charter • Well received but needs more promotion • Single protest form for all types of hearing • Training of judges in new hearings • Major event adoption • Umpired fleet racing? ? ? 10

2006 Initiative Race Officials Conference • Combined conference for all Race Officials (March) • Safety • Serving competitors • Becoming a better Race Official • Major events and 2012 – opportunities & obligations – Race Official appointment system 11

2006 Initiative Towards 2012 • Rob Andrews, Events Manager – Attracting major events to UK • David Campbell-James, Race Officials Education – Training & education 12

2007 Plans Dinghy Sailing Show • Club Pro Launch • Club Racing: Optimising Handicap & Fleet racing 13

2007 Possibles • Build on strengths, build action plan for weaknesses • Volunteers • Open meetings and championships: guidance and best practices • Class support 14

2007 Possibles What are we missing? 15