Skipper’s Handbook

1. The Skipper’s Responsibility & On-Water Safety

  • The Ultimate Authority: The decision to race or even leave the dock rests solely with the Skipper. This decision must always be based on current weather conditions combined with the specific experience and readiness level of both you and your crew.
  • Situational Awareness: Always maintain a vigilant lookout. Safety is a team effort; a crew of four means eight eyes actively dedicated to preventing collisions and monitoring shifting conditions.
  • Sail Safe: Racing at HDGYC is competitive and exciting, but it is never a contact sport. Boat preservation and crew safety supersede right-of-way – Rule 14 of the Racing Rules of Sailing requires even right-of-way boats to avoid collisions if reasonably possible.
  • Required Equipment: You must comply with all safety equipment requirements outlined in the US Sailing Nearshore Safety Equipment Requirements for either Monohulls or Multihulls, as appropriate for your vessel.
  • Commercial Traffic Awareness: Tugs working barges monitor VHF Channel 13. Always stay clear of these vessels and avoid navigating into situations that would cause them to sound five short horn blasts (the danger/doubt signal).

2. Administration & Crew Management

  • Waiver Compliance: The Skipper is responsible for ensuring every person aboard has signed a liability waiver before leaving the dock. Registered members complete this requirement online during registration. You must keep paper copies onboard or at the dock for any guests or friends who are “trying it out.”
  • Registration Verification: Confirm the registration status of your crew before racing. You can determine this by asking the crew members directly or verifying the roster with the club secretary.
  • Handicap Accuracy: You can have an official PHRF certificate, or we can issue informal handicaps for Thursday Night races. Either way you are expected to report your boat’s equipment and specifications accurately. If you upgrade your sails, propeller, or make any other modifications that could affect your handicap, you must notify PHRF of the Chesapeake or our Secretary promptly so your rating can be updated.
  • Official Documentation: The Notice of Race (NOR), Sailing Instructions (SIs), and Race Committee guidance are centrally located at https://hdgyc.org/racing.

3. Racing Conduct, Rules & Communications

  • VHF Communications: Monitor VHF Channel 68 for all communications from the race fleet and Race Committee.
  • Fouls and Protests: If you foul another vessel, take your penalty turns on the water. If there is a significant rules disagreement, you may file a protest. Please note that our Sailing Instructions require a protest to be filed if there is contact causing damage or injury. Protests are often valuable educational tools, providing an excellent way for all parties to learn the relevant rules and familiarize themselves with the formal process required for participating in regional or larger regattas.
  • Continuous Improvement: You are required to be safe and have fun. The HDGYC philosophy dictates that sailing isn’t solely about beating the next boat; it is about sailing better than you did the last time you were on the water. As Bob McVey said after founding the club – “Racing without winning is what it’s all about. The motivating force that defines the sport of sailing is the satisfaction of finding what your measure of ability is.”

4. Facilities and Etiquette

  • Hoist Operations: Be courteous when launching and recovering at the hoist. Stay clear of the staging area until your vessel is completely ready to launch. Move promptly and do not cut in front of others. The race is on the water, not at the hoist.
  • Tidewater Marina & Regatta Room: Tidewater Marina generously permits our use of their property and the Regatta Room. Respect the facilities, leave the grounds at least as nice as you found them, and act as a good steward to maintain our positive relationship with the marina.

5. Race Committee (RC) Obligations

  • Shared Responsibility: Skippers are expected to volunteer for Race Committee once per year. Serving on the RC gives your crew valuable race management experience and provides a necessary perspective on what it takes to keep club racing operational and fun.
  • Preparation and Resources: Do not wait until the day of your duty to prepare. Reference the RC guidance available on the HDGYC website (https://hdgyc.org/racing). Plan ahead and ask any current board member for a dry run.