Race Management Best Practices Forum

The inaugural Race Management Best Practices Forum will be held January 12 at the Charleston Yacht Club in Charleston, SC. The 2019 Forum will be moderated by Randy Draftz, US Sailing Race Administration Chair, and the format will consist a round table discussion consisting of judges, race officers, and sailors (amateurs, pros, and coaches).

“While the rules do a great job of dictating actions on the water there are times that require careful judgement,” Draftz said. “The Forum will provide a platform to thoroughly investigate the judgement and decision-making process and as well, consider important input from the sailors to arrive at the appropriate decision.”

Sponsored by Sperry Charleston Race Week, ChYC, and US Sailing, the Forum is open and free to anyone who has an interest in race management. Lunch will be served with a post event cocktail party for additional discussion and networking.

Topics to be covered include:
• Starting Processes
• Course Layout
• Mark Management
• Volunteer Management
• Safety
While this started out as a local event to help race committees, the concept has attracted national attention with broad interests. Draftz said that input from the customer – sailors and pro sailors – will drive the agenda.

“The goal is to use that information to determine how race management can provide the solution for future decisions made on the race course,” Draftz explained. “Race officers who do not develop a decision-making process that includes this concept will not be successful at racing’s highest levels. We are grateful to US Sailing for its support of this Forum and acknowledgement that this is an area where we can improve relationships with our customers – those competing on the race course.”

Dick Rose, current member of the World Sailing Racing Rules Committee, will be attending the Forum. He said, “For once, instead of a race officials’ seminar or roundtable that concentrates on the technical side of race administration, Randy Draftz, the new chair of US Sailing’s Race Administration Committee, is conducting a program focused on making regattas more fun to the participants. This is long overdue. I wouldn’t miss it.”

The forum is supported and will be attended by race management from around the country including Matt Hill (US Sailing’s Race Administration Director), Ron Hopkins (Chair of US Sailing’s Race Management), Sarah Ashton (Chair of US Sailing Judges), Kathy Lindgren (Chair of US Sailing Umpires), John Strassman (past Race Management Chair), and members of the US Sailing Rules Committee.

“Charleston Yacht Club is excited to be part of this inaugural event and we hope what we have started here helps the sport of sailing nationwide,” said Sarah Ashton, Commodore Charleston Yacht Club and US Sailing Judges Chair. “With Sperry Charleston Race Week it is our mission to grow the sport and make it better. We hope that this inaugural Forum event does both.”

For pre-registration… click here.

Note that the event will be streamed live on Sperry Charleston Race Week’s website and Facebook page. For more information, contact Randy Draftz at rdraftz@charlestonyachting.com.