Pico Racing 2008

Pico Race Coaching and ‘Wetsuit Outlet’ Pico Race Series 2008 Programme

Race Training/Organisation Rupert Snow
Race Officers Linda Snow and Lisa Farrell and others
Rescue Boat (Seasafe 7/Toby’s Rib?) Parent Volunteers and Rupert Snow

Training will hopefully also be provided by seasoned veterans within the club and younger members, with experience of training at National level (if this is you – Be Prepared!)

Aims of the Pico Series and Race Training:

  • Have fun and get as many club members (adult and cadet) and Picos on the water as possible.
  • Encourage confidence and understanding in the rules of racing.
  • Advance members sailing/racing skills.
  • Provide one design racing for the Pico fleet.
  • Act as a stepping-stone into the main club racing, for those new to racing dinghies and for cadet members gaining confidence.
  • Provide video footage/feedback of each race to support training.
  • Provide a benchmark standard for cadets wishing to take part in the race training section at cadet week.

Racing rules for the Wetsuit Outlet Pico Series (for general rules refer to the club website):

  1. Entrants will be expected to be able to right a Pico individually, if sailing single-handed (mainsail only), or as part of a pair, if sailing double handed (mainsail and jib). Entrants should be able to sail a Pico around a triangular course fairly efficiently, being at Stage 2 standard or above, as the helm (although it is not vital to have taken the Stage 2 to enter).
  2. Parents/Carers of cadet entrants, not involved in sailing as part of a team, must be in attendance (for health and safety reasons) and able to assist with launching/recovery if appropriate, or have handed over responsibility for their child, to someone who will fulfil their duty. (see Parent Charter)
  3. As with all club racing it is the responsibility of the adult in attendance to make the decision to go on the water or not, as appropriate to the skill of the team. Race officers will cancel a race if they feel it is in the interests of safety and their decision shall be final.
  4. Racing is for Picos only (remember club Picos will be prioritised for Sail Training over racing) and both single-handed options (mainsail only) and double-handed options (mainsail and jib) will race against each other as a one-design. We will try to operate PY handicap regarding boats with race sails and those with non-battened sails, but this will be subject to the numbers of helpers available in the race-box.
  5. Due to the racing results programme, you must maintain the entry type (single/double-handed) for an entire series, for your efforts to count.
  6. Each ‘series’ consists of 6 races over 3 Saturdays with no discards being allowed this year (to encourage the mid-fleet sailors to turn up every time, as regularity could well pay off!). Prizes shall be awarded on the club Prize Giving evening, on Sunday 19<SUP>th</SUP> Oct.
  7. This is not a handicap race series, but other classes will be able to join in for training purposes, however they will not count in the Wetsuit Outlet Pico Series.

Race Coaching

As one of the aims of this series is to promote dinghy-racing to all members, we are keen to provide coaching before and after the events. As such, each Thursday Cadet Night, immediately prior to a Pico Series Saturday, there will be race-coaching either in the Cadet Training Room, or on the water if appropriate, aiming at unravelling some of the mystery surrounding racing, learning how to get the best out of your Pico and tuning up some of those vital boat handling skills.

In order to provide the best possible feedback and learning opportunities we will be using video footage of each race as the basis for discussion at the following Cadet Night training session and/or after racing in the clubhouse.

There will hopefully be opportunities before, during and after the racing, for short, on-the-water training sessions.

Race Programme (as detailed in your Membership Handbook)

Thur 10 Apr Cadet Night Sailing/Race Training – Port/Starboard rule and Windward/Leeward rule
Sat 12 Apr Pico Spring 1&2 – 16.15 start
Thur 24 Apr Cadet Night Race Training – Race Starts and mark-rounding
Sat 26 Apr Pico Spring 3&4 15.15 start
Th 8 May Cadet Night Race Training poss 1st Aid
Sat 10 May Pico Spring 5&6 15.15 start
Thur 5 June Cadet Night Race Training – Sail Trim
Sat 7 June Pico Summer 1&2 14.15 start
Thur 12 June Cadet Night Race Training
Sat 14 June Pico Summer 3&4 09.15 start
Th 19 June Nationals preparation – very important!
Sat 21 June PICO NATIONALS (incorporating Pico Summer 5&6 and MBSC Challenge)
Sun 22 June PICO NATIONALS
Sun 13 July Mulberry/Yantlet BBQ and Beach Day
Mon 4 August – Fri 8 Aug… CADET WEEK
Fri 8 August WALLEY CUP
Th 18 Sept Cadet Night Race Training - tba
Sat 20 Sept Pico Autumn 1&2 14.45 start
Sun 21 Sept Hunter Cup and Rebellious bowl 15.30 start
Th 25 Sept Cadet Night Race Training - tba
Sat 27 Sept Pico Autumn 3&4 10.15 start
Th 2 Oct Cadet Night Race Training - tba
Sat 4 Oct Pico Autumn 5&6 14.15 start
Sun 19 Oct Prize Giving

As you will have noticed, we are hosting the Pico Nationals this year and hopefully incorporating the MBSC Challenge Cup as well as the Pico Series summer 3&4 races into the event. For further information, PLEASE KEEP AN EYE ON THE WEBSITE!! Shaun Christian is dealing with all things concerning the Nationals and running the event; if you can lend a hand, or a boat, please let him know asap.

See you on the water!

Rupert Snow