Cruiser
Racing at NUSC
Introduction
(print this introduction)
Cruiser racing
is held throughout the sailing season at NUSC. We have three race series
during the year and two open events. As a club member all races are free
to enter.
Knickertwisters
– series. Short races, typically start an hour and a half before
high tide, lasting two hours or less. Also a handicap system that penalises
the winners to give the less experienced a better chance of winning is
used. Knickertwisters run either on weekday evenings or late Saturday
afternoons. Courses are short - usually around the buoys marking the entrance
into the river. Spinnakers cannot be used
Tide
Races – series. Slightly longer races than the Knickertwisters,
taking place around high tide on the weekends.
Day Races
–starting at about high tide on a Sunday, sailing further down channel,
returning to the club on the evening tide.
The Cruiser
Rally (May) and The Regatta (September) –
tide races for fast and slow fleets on Saturday and Sunday.
For Tide, Day
and open event races spinnakers can be used but when you ask for your
rating you can elect not to. For this a rating adjustment will be made.
Boats are divided up by rating into two fleets to allow suitable courses
to be chosen.
September Series This can have any type of race included.
Races usually start at the slipway at the river mouth end of the moorings
and finish back at the club house line.
Never Raced Before?
New sailors are often reluctant
to start racing because they are worried about the racing rules or simply
about coming last. Most sailors who have raced however, will argue that
racing is by far the best way to improve your sailing skills, get to know
other club members and have more fun in your boat.
NUSC is an ideal place to
start racing. The races are short, the fleets are small and friendly,
and the bar is open at the end to facilitate discussions on tactics, ratings,
boat problems or life in general.
To enter just turn up and sign on. Please read the Notice of Race for
the event you are doing. It sets out the terms and conditions under which
we race. You agree to abide by these and the sailing instructions when
you, owner or skipper sign on to enter the race.
Looking for a chance to crew
or some help on your own boat?
If you haven’t raced
your own boat before, need crew or would like to crew for somebody else,
come to the club on a race night. We will always try to ensure that everybody
who wants a race can get out, either on their own boat, or with somebody
else. Please do not be shy, make it known you would like
to crew. There are often people standing around waiting for their skipper
to turn up and you maybe confused with one of these if you keep quiet.
Handicap System
The results for all the club
races are calculated using the RYA’s Portsmouth Yardstick handicap
system. At the start of each season each yacht is allocated a rating.
These are based, where possible, on current RYA handicaps using the Portsmouth
Yardstick scheme. If there is no rating given in the current RYA documents,
the last published figure will be used. If no previous rating can be identified,
a trial rating will be allocated based on the best available data.
For the Knickertwister Series only, the handicap of a boat is reduced
for the next race by 50 for a win, 30 for 2nd place and 10 for 3rd place.
Request a Rating
If you require a rating please
contact the Sailing secretary (email Racing@nusc.co.uk ) providing the
following information.
Boat Name
Boat Make and Model
Keel Type Fin/Bilge/Triple/Lifting etc
Engine/Prop Folding/Fixed 2 or 3 blades /Outboard
Spinnaker Yes/No
Cruising Chute Yes/No
Any changes from standard design
Details of previous ratings.
Want To Know More?
Contact Mike Jones-Downing Sailing
Secretary by email
or see me at the club on race nights
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