The 2010 Season Club Racing at HISC . . .

The Racing Committee gathered on 5 December amidst the revelry of the children's Christmas Party to discuss the various views and proposals and to see where we might make changes to incorporate those where we could. The outcome of that meeting is as follows:

1. For the Spring and Summer series, we plan to move the start sequence on Sundays to 12.00.

2. There will be a mixture of Harbour and Bay racing. Bay racing on Saturday will start and finish inside the Harbour. Bay racing on Sundays will start and finish in the Bay and will provide 2 races (a Harbour course will also be provided for Solos and Slow Handicap). Harbour races will either be two races or a single longer race around the fixed racing marks depending on the state of the tide. The planned format will be published in the year book, so you will know what to expect on any given weekend.

3. Example courses will be provided for both Bay and Harbour so that club race officers have some indication of appropriate length and configuration.

4. When running two races in the Harbour, greater use of the club finish line will be encouraged to ease the complexity of starting and finishing multiple classes.

5. The Racing Committee members will provide support and advice where needed to the club race officer and his team.

6. The Class Captain's Forum will meet early in the New Year to consider how best it can help nurture the activities of each class and the club as a whole.

There were two major issues raised on the 29th that the Committee recognises have not yet been resolved, but will remain on the agenda until they are.

These are, firstly, the issue of supported classes, what supported status actually provides, and how we can use that to promote class racing. There is the additional issue of whether a supported class becomes so by virtue of its activity at the club, or whether we should declare classes supported to encourage their growth.

Secondly, we recognise the problem that racing at HISC can undoubtedly be daunting for those new to the sport or the club; providing exciting and demanding racing for experienced sailors means that the less experienced might feel it is not for them. Clearly that is not what we want and this issue will receive further attention.

If you want to express your views on any of the above (particularly the unresolved issues), please do talk to any member of Racing Committee or send an email to sailingsecretary@hisc.co.uk - Greg Lamb, Rear Commodore Racing