Instructor Login
Facilities

Abstract

This chapter specifies the necessary facilities at the regatta site, beginning with signal masts and boards to pass information to the competitors, mentioning boat moorings and boat storage, and ending with medical facilities, transportation and security.

Contents
3.1 Race Office requirements
    3.1.1 Signal mast
    3.1.2 Official Notice Board
    3.1.3 Public address system
3.2 Boat facilities
    3.2.1 Mechanical lift out resources
    3.2.2 Moorings of coach and committee boats
    3.2.6 Team containers
    3.2.7 Launching ramps
3.3 Car & trailer parking
    3.3.1 Parking for cars and vans
    3.3.2 Trailer parking
3.4 Further shore facilities
    3.4.1 Fuel supply
    3.4.2 Club facilities
    3.4.3 Telephones and faxes
    3.4.4 Food
3.5 Off-site facilities
    3.5.1 Repair facilities
    3.5.2 Medical facilities
3.6 Other
    3.6.1 Transportation
    3.6.2 Security


3.1 Race Office requirements

3.1.1 Signal mast
The signal mast must be close to the Race Office and be visible from the competitors' area and from the moorings of the Committee boats. It should be high enough to be seen and have as many halyards as the number of racing areas.
Flags are hard to see when there is no wind. Recent experiments include a system of rigid flags consisting of a metallic or plastic fabric that will permit the wind to pass through. The only drawback is that it must be oriented correctly since it has only two planes of vision. An alternative would be a cylinder variation. When being hoisted, signals at the signal mast should be accompanied by a sound signal and/or a short announcement through the public address system.

3.1.2 Official Notice Board (see also Appendix 2A)

Provide an official Notice Board with the following sections:
* Race Committee;
* Protest Committee;
* Measurement Committee;
* Results.
The board(s) must be adequately lit and located close to the Race Office. Its handling should be limited exclusively to Race Office personnel and the Secretary to the Protest Committee.

A second information board will serve to post:
* meteorological information
* social program
* map of the facilities
* town map indicating services as well as locations of the social events, etc.

A designated section of this board may also be used by competitors to put up their advertisements. This will preclude the posting of numerous "for sale" messages in undesired areas.

3.1.3 Public address system
The system should be able to reach all shore areas, such as moorings, measuring area, ramps, locker rooms, etc. Besides as a means to page people, it can also be used to give competitors information about the compass course and distance to the course area before going afloat.
Use of the public address system should be kept to a minimum and limited to reasonable hours. Too many unimportant messages may make listeners less attentive. Early-morning or late-night messages may cause complaints from people living close to the site.

3.1.4 Moorings for coach boats Most teams have coaches who bring their own boats, usually inflatable hard-bottom dinghies. Crane or slipway facilities should be available to launch them, as well as moorings in a designated area.
Moorings for Race Committee boats It is recommended that all the organization's vessels be together or arranged by their specific purposes, Race Committee, Patrol, etc. This makes loading materials and victuals on board much easier. It also gives the Race Officer(s) a good overview before going afloat, and makes it easier for them to communicate with their RC team as a whole.

3.2.3
* loudspeakers;
* running water, i.e. a hose of adequate length for every 10 boats;
* proper lighting;
* electrical outlets;
* day and night guards;
* lockers for mast, sails, etc.;
* garbage containers.

3.2.4 Boards
Board storage
Vertical storage: Supply a system of supports against a wall spaced every 25 cm at a height of 2 m, and a rubber floor to protect the boards. Alternatively, supply vertical lockers of 70 cm deep by 40 cm wide, capable of accommodating a board, mast, sail, centreboard and clothes. Such a system must have air circulation and drainage.
Horizontal storage: Lateral installation with frontal access, made of metal or wood supports at least 25 cm apart, to fit the tip of the board and the fins. The supports must be covered with a soft material (rubber, plastic, PVC). This system may be complemented by frontal lockers of 70 cm deep by 40 cm wide, capable of accommodating board, mast, sail, centreboard and clothes. They must have air circulation and drainage.

3.2.6 Team containers
Some organizers provide small containers for each of the teams near their areas, which can be used to store tools, sails, gear, etc. This method reduces the traffic within the compound, and is appreciated by the competitors.

3.2.7 Launching ramps
There are no pre-established dimensions for ramps, but as a general rule it should be possible to launch the entire fleet in approximately 20 minutes. The following factors should be taken into account:
* total number of boards to be launched;
* degree of difficulty of the ramp system;
* tidal effect, surf, etc.

3.3 Car & trailer parking

3.3.1 Parking for cars and vans
In order to provide adequate parking facilities, an estimate should be made of the number of cars and camper vans expected.
To collect this information at an early stage, a space could be provided on the entry form sent to National Authorities and/or Class Associations asking for the number of cars, vans and/or trailers that will be brought to the regatta venue.
If appropriate, reserve a few parking spaces close to the Race Office for key personnel. Ideally, the parking area should be supervised to restrict access only to authorized vehicles. It should be well lit and equipped with loudspeakers, and a 24-hour guard should be present. The local police should also be informed of the event and the amount of traffic expected.

3.3.2 Trailer parking
A specific area should be assigned for competitors' and coaches' trailers. The Beach Master's team should have cars with hitches to drive all trailers to the designated areas. Via the Notice Board or a separate Information Sheet issued with the Sailing Instructions, competitors and coaches should be informed as to where they can pick up their trailers at the end of the regatta. Remember that many boat trailers have built-on locker space, so the closer they are to the boats, the more convenient for the competitors.

3.4 Further shore facilities

3.4.1 Fuel supply
If the club is located in, or close to, a marina, it will probably have a service station with gasoline, diesel fuel and oils (2-cycle marine). Otherwise a fuel compound should be provided within the club and sufficient quantities stored.
It is important to estimate the fuel needs of all watercraft involved in the regatta. Add the normal usage data from previous years to a provision for additional usage by spectator craft. A good estimate of consumption will preclude running out of fuel during the regatta.
Each day after the races, all RC boats should be refuelled for the next racing day. This frees the fuel docks for their routine service the following morning, and avoids RC delays.

3.4.2 Club facilities During the competition an unusual number of people will be using the club facilities, i.e., bar, restaurant, dressing rooms, rest rooms, etc. Take this into account when planning the number of personnel, volunteers, etc.

3.4.3 Telephones and faxes The number of existing telephone lines in a Club is usually insufficient for big-regatta needs. The minimum requirements are:
* Regatta Organizing Committee (1 line);
* Reception and Information - Race Office (2 lines, including 1 for faxing);
* Press room (4-5 lines, including 2 for faxing).
One solution is to have the telephone company install a mobile office providing this service to competitors and press. Manpower to service it should also be arranged.
If new telephone numbers are to be used, they should be known in advance and preferably be published in the Notice of Race.

3.4.4 Food Each RC boat should make one crew member responsible for collecting food and drinks for the crew each morning before going afloat.
When arranging catering consider the expected weather conditions and the length of time the RC members will be at sea.

3.5 Off-site facilities

3.5.1 Repair facilities
These should consist of the following services:
* sailmaker;
* machine shop;
* carpenter;
* fibreglass repair shop.
Some clubs that are located close to marinas or harbors usually have this type of service available. If this is not the case, these services must be coordinated to be available, or a list must be prepared of services available elsewhere, with addresses, telephone numbers and a map of how to get there.

3.5.2 Medical facilities
Besides the medical help at sea (see this Section, Chapter 2.7), provision must be made to have access to full medical assistance such as the services of a local hospital, the Red Cross, a private doctor, ambulance, etc.

3.6 Transportation and Security

3.6.1 Transportation
Arrangements must be made for swift transportation of goods and people to and from the site before, during and after the regatta. An import-export agent should be contacted to coordinate and expedite temporary imports of containers, etc. Transportation needs may be needed in the following areas:
* goods (office, on-the-water, food + drink, etc.);
* competitors equipment, RC boats, trailers;
* competitors and personnel (RC, Measurement Team, Protest Committee).

3.6.2 Security Depending on the location, it may be important to arrange security measures that will guarantee the security of competitors, personnel and materials