Pursuit race sailing instructions
The skipper’s meeting will be held at 0845 hours in the picnic area. We do not use an OD or race committee. The Fleet Captain or designee will run the meeting and make any adjustments needed to have a successful race.
This is a trophy race, meaning the top three winners qualify for award plates. The following awards will be added to the usual top three overall finish awards, and will also receive plates for your CYC award plaques:
- 1st place to any group of like boats fielding 2 or more entries (for example 2+ MCs, 2+ Catalinas, 2+ Ensigns, 2+ Wayfarers, 2+ Scots, 2+ Sunfish, or 2+ Ports — all boats not in a class of 3+). The class winner is eligible for a plate.
- Top female skipper regardless of classification.
Boats are eligible for one award only — the highest award they win, with top three being the highest awards given.
The starting sequence is based on the US Sailing ratings in the start-times table below.
The starting line shall be an imaginary line between the gazebo flagpole and the rocky point on the opposite shore. The alternate starting line will be the gazebo flagpole to a mark located west of the gazebo flagpole.
Possible courses
Course 1
Solid fill of 5–7 mphStarting line to Buster Boyd Bridge. Round any mark at the bridge to port. Return to the starting line.
Course 2
Solid fill of 7–10 mphStarting line to Buster Boyd Bridge. Round any mark at the bridge to port. Continue to the duck blind area where there will be a CYC race mark approximately 50 yards to the east. Round to port. Return to the starting line. This course could be reversed to provide for a windward start.
Course 3
Solid fill of 7–14+ mphStarting line to Ebenezer Park. Round the easternmost buoy to port. Return to the starting line.
Course 4
Spotty fill of 5–7 mphStarting line to the duck blind area where there will be a CYC race mark approximately 50 yards to the east. Round this buoy to port. Return to the starting line.
Wind readings are based on the gazebo weather station. If readings are below 5 mph the race will be canceled. The intent is to choose a course with the best chance of 2 hours of racing.
Schedule
- 12:30 — Skippers meeting in the club picnic area
- 13:00 — First boat starts
The race may be delayed as late as 14:00 to wait on wind. If the race has not started by 14:00, it will be canceled.
Miscellaneous
In the event that two or more boats have the same start time, it is against the rules in the starting line area to cause any boat to run ashore or hit the gazebo or shoreline regardless of right-of-way. Give room please.
If your boat is not listed in the start-times table, message Ron through the fleet captains contact form on this site to resolve.
US Sailing start times
CYC Portsmouth Times — 120 min race (updated 3-1-23)
| Boat | Portsmouth | Actual min | Corrected min | % adj | Delay min | Start after horn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Irwin 23 | 1.039 | 120 | 115.5 | 103.9 | 0.0 | 0 |
| Sunfish | 1.009 | 116.5 | 115.5 | 100.9 | 3.5 | 3′ 30″ |
| Hunter 23 WK | 0.990 | 114.3 | 115.5 | 99.9 | 5.7 | 5′ 42″ |
| O'Day 23 | 0.989 | 114.2 | 115.5 | 98.9 | 5.8 | 5′ 48″ |
| San Juan 23 n/spin | 0.988 | 114.1 | 115.5 | 98.8 | 5.9 | 5′ 54″ |
| San Juan 23 w/spin | 0.978 | 113.0 | 115.5 | 97.8 | 7.0 | 7′ 0″ |
| Ensign n/spi | 0.979 | 113.1 | 115.5 | 97.9 | 6.9 | 6′ 54″ |
| Ensign w/spi | 0.969 | 111.9 | 115.5 | 96.9 | 8.1 | 8′ 6″ |
| Columbia 21 | 0.969 | 111.9 | 115.5 | 96.9 | 8.1 | 8′ 6″ |
| Catalina 22 sk n/spi | 0.963 | 111.2 | 115.5 | 96.3 | 8.8 | 8′ 48″ |
| San Juan 21 fk w/spi | 0.963 | 111.2 | 115.5 | 96.3 | 8.8 | 8′ 48″ |
| Ideal 18 n/spi | 0.951 | 109.8 | 115.5 | 95.1 | 10.2 | 10′ 12″ |
| Ideal 18 w/spi | 0.941 | 108.7 | 115.5 | 94.1 | 11.3 | 11′ 18″ |
| Hobie Wave | 0.927 | 107.1 | 115.5 | 92.7 | 12.9 | 12′ 54″ |
| Aqua Sailbird n/spi | 0.926 | 107.0 | 115.5 | 92.6 | 13.0 | 13′ 0″ |
| Capri 22 n/spi | 0.924 | 106.7 | 115.5 | 92.4 | 13.3 | 13′ 18″ |
| Wayfarer | 0.917 | 105.9 | 115.5 | 91.7 | 14.1 | 14′ 6″ |
| Capri 22 w/spi | 0.915 | 105.7 | 115.5 | 91.5 | 14.3 | 14′ 18″ |
| Flying Scot n/spi | 0.914 | 105.6 | 115.5 | 91.4 | 14.4 | 14′ 24″ |
| Flying Scot w/spi | 0.904 | 104.4 | 115.5 | 90.4 | 15.6 | 15′ 36″ |
| Beneteau 235 (DK/WK) | 0.904 | 104.4 | 115.5 | 90.4 | 15.6 | 15′ 36″ |
| Capri 22 TR n/spi | 0.900 | 103.9 | 115.5 | 90.0 | 16.1 | 16′ 6″ |
| Lightning n/spi | 0.886 | 102.3 | 115.5 | 88.6 | 17.7 | 17′ 42″ |
| Lightning w/spi | 0.876 | 101.2 | 115.5 | 87.6 | 18.8 | 18′ 48″ |
| MC Scow | 0.874 | 100.9 | 115.5 | 87.4 | 19.1 | 19′ 6″ |
| Soling n/spi | 0.843 | 97.4 | 115.5 | 84.3 | 22.6 | 22′ 36″ |
| Soling w/spi | 0.833 | 96.2 | 115.5 | 83.3 | 23.8 | 23′ 48″ |
| Hobie 16 | 0.787 | 90.9 | 115.5 | 78.7 | 29.1 | 29′ 6″ |
| J70 w/spi | 0.758 | 87.5 | 115.5 | 75.8 | 32.5 | 32′ 30″ |
| Nacra 6.0 | 0.66 | 76.2 | 115.5 | 66.0 | 43.8 | 43′ 48″ |
Course map
Tips on sailing a pursuit regatta
The CYC Pursuit Regattas were started to give us a fun activity beyond our normal series racing. The emphasis is on fun! Plan to have a good time and put enjoying the day at the top of your priorities.
Races are scheduled by the race committee and entered on the club calendar.
The races are only held if there is workable wind. The key is a solid fill of wind all across the lake at 5 mph or more. We often delay the start for better wind.
Pursuit races allow boats to use their US Sailing ratings and apply them at the beginning of the race. Once the race starts, the order of finish is determined by the on-the-water finishes. There are no post-race calculations.
You will want to use a traditional count-up timer to start your race. The club will run the same 3-minute starting sequence that we use in series racing.
When the final horn sounds to signify the race is starting, start your count-up timer. Compare that time with your published start time. When you reach your published start time, you are free to cross the starting line and race.
(Note: the only boat which actually starts at the end of the three-minute horn is the Irwin 23. Everyone else must use their US Sailing times to determine when they start.)
If you lose track of your starting time, just do the best you can. It’s an honor system and the emphasis is on fun.