Big Boat Racing
Overview
Big Boat racing is a longstanding tradition at Pequot Yacht Club. Twenty-five big boats entered Wednesday night and weekend races in 2021. All members and SAMs with big boats are encouraged to race and volunteer for a race committee. Races are run Wednesdays, starting May 11 and most weekends. Race dates and start times are shown on the Big Boat Race Calendar. Races are run for boats with spinnakers (Division I) and without spinnakers (Division II). The highlight of our season is the Falkner Island Race, a qualifier for distance racing trophies.
Phrf Ratings
In PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) racing, each boat is handicapped based on its length, sail area and other measurements which determine the boat’s potential speed. PHRF ratings are set by the YRA-LIS (Yacht Racing Association of Long Island Sound). To obtain a PHRF certificate with a rating for each type of race, go to: https://www.yralis.org/phrf-racing-1.
A boat’s PHRF rating converts the boat’s elapsed time to a corrected time which reflects the sailing skill of the skipper and crew rather than the potential speed of the boat. Finishing order in a handicap race is based on corrected times. A boat finishing third on the water, for example, could finish first based on corrected time. PYC records elapsed times in ProRegatta, our race management system, to calculate corrected times and report race results. For race results during the season, go to: https://proregatta.com/clubs/pequot-yacht-club/events/.
Trophies are awarded to boats which submit a valid PHRF certificate from YRA-LIS to the Race Committee. The Sherwood Cup is awarded to the PYC big boat with the best score among qualifying boats in Wednesday Night Races.
Registration for Big Boats without a PHRF certificate
A big boat can race without a PHRF certificate by completing the Big Boat Registration form. Send your registration form to [email protected] before entering your first race. This form is NOT required if you submit a PHRF certificate. By registering, you will help the Race Committee identify all boats at the starting line.
How to Join a Big Boat Crew
Crew needs vary from boat to boat. A boat may lack enough crew, or the right crew, to race. Some boats race shorthanded, which sometimes is a disadvantage. However, skippers will not blindly add crew. Knowing something about the person’s sailing experience and physical ability helps the skipper determine whether there’s a good fit.
If you have big boat racing experience, contact the Race Committee and we will introduce you to skippers. If you don’t have big boat racing experience but you’ve sailed one designs or cruised on a big boat, we urge you to try to join a crew on Wednesday nights.
Here’s how: Wednesday Night races start on May 11th. Be on the Junior porch @ 17:00 and look for a member of the Race Committee wearing a yellow vest. Introduce yourself and we’ll do our best to introduce you to skippers. Unfortunately, we can’t guarantee we’ll find a boat for you. In the event you don’t join a crew, you can join the race committee on Pequod, which leaves the dock @ 17:30. The horn sounds to start Wednesday races @ 18:30.
Race Committee Volunteers Needed
The PRO will be at the helm of Pequod and is the decision-maker on race issues. We need at least two volunteers to assist the PRO (Principal Race Officer) for each race. All members and SAMs are encouraged to help the Race Committee manage races at least once each season. We welcome all members and SAMs, experienced or not. Enjoy the salt air, a front row seat for the race and the comradery of other members and SAMs. Its an opportunity to meet members you don’t know. We want all skippers and crews to race rather than serving on a race committee. However, if your boat isn’t racing, please volunteer for the race committee.
The PRO or a senior member of the Race Committee will train inexperienced volunteers while Pequod makes it way out of the harbor. The PRO sets the course, anchors to position Pequod at the end of the starting line and explains the rationale for the course to the race committee crew. As a member of a race committee crew, you’ll experience moments of excitement, especially during race starts, followed by long periods of calm.
The PRO and crew work as a team to prepare for the race. They must post the marks for the course for all boats to see, prepare the shapes which are raised and lowered during the start sequence, set the timers to record elapsed time and record the name of each boat in each race. All boats pass close by Pequod to announce whether they are racing in Division I (boats with spinnakers) or Division II (no spinnakers). When not raising or lowering shapes for the start sequence, you’ll have the opportunity to observe each boat’s speed, sail handling during turns and tactics for the start. Once both races are underway, there’s time for beverages and snacks while the PRO keeps an eye on racers, elapsed time on the course and the weather.
To sign up for Race Committee, go to the website: www.pequotyc.com, click on Sailing, Big Boat Racing, Race Documents, Race Committee Sign Up Sheet. For more information, contact Pam Toner @ 917-319-1580 or [email protected].
Boat Reservations for Weekend Races
Starting this year, all Sunday and weekend races require a reservation by at least three boats by 14:00 on the Friday before the race. All skippers will be notified if the Sunday race is ON or OFF by 15:00 on Friday by an email from the Race Committee or Club Administrator.
Photographers Wanted
Members and SAMs with photography skills and a camera with a long lens are needed to photograph skippers, boat crews and boats when we race under a clear sky with a moderate breeze. Contact [email protected] to sign-up as a race photographer. We will notify you when conditions look favorable. We will pair you up with a skipper of a power boat, who will be at the helm while you take photographs.