What Is RC?
The Race Committee is a group of volunteers who commit their time to help run all of our club regattas, either on Banks Channel or in the ocean. They are in charge of where to set the course, where to drop the marks, starting the fleets, scoring the races, and keeping everyone safe on the water!
Positions
Signal Boat
- Principal Race Officer (PRO) — lead position on all racecourse positioning, mark placements, and fleet management.
- Deputy Race Officer (DRO) / Timer — assistant to the PRO; keeps track of times on the racecourse (ocean races only).
- Recorder — writes and records sail numbers, sailor names, and race finishes.
- Flags / Anchor Yanker — holds flags and poles, and sets and pulls the anchor on the Signal Boat.
Mark Boats
- Mark Boat Driver — communicates with the PRO on where to set the marks.
- Mark Boat Assistant — sets and pulls marks to change positions throughout the day.
Safety Boats
- Safety Boat Driver — lead on all safety situations: towing, righting capsizes, minor first aid, and tracking all sailors on the course.
- Safety Boat Assistant — assists the driver with all safety actions.
- One safety boat for sound races; two or more for ocean races.
Facts & FAQs
- If you are new, we will do our best to pair you with an experienced volunteer. We are all here to learn and enjoy the sport of sailing!
- Not sure how to get started? Reach out to our Program Director at programdirector@carolinayachtclub.org to find the right position for you.
- Race Committee is the most important part of sailboat racing. Our annual SAYRA Regatta is the most popular on the circuit because of our fantastic venue, awesome onshore hospitality, and — most importantly — an RC that sets great, fair courses for every class that comes to race.
