Race Committee

Every sailboat race depends on a team of volunteers who make sure that everything runs smoothly. They staff the official Race Committee boat and other powerboats that perform race-management or safety functions. They convene a Protest Committee, if there are any disputes over rules among the participants, and they compile and report the results of the race(s). Like sports officials in any sport, these officials are often the invisible backbone of the entire activity.

TISC is responsible for running several races through the season. Volunteers are needed on the Race Committee boats to help run these races. No prior experience is necessary, and both sailing and social members are invited to participate. You will assist the Race Committee with timing, recording, flags or operating the Race Committee boat. Joining the race committee is a good way to hone your understanding of the sport. It is recommended that all new crew volunteer for race committee prior to their first race so they better understand the dynamics of racing. Even if you don’t want to race, your help would be greatly appreciated on the committee boat or the whaler. It’s a lot of fun and a great way to meet club members.

Besides pen and paper, the Race Committee can use technology, like the Sailrace dinghy race timer app (for Android and iOS).

You can sign up for the TISC hosted races for the 2024 sailing season. If you would like to be on the Race Committee register for one of the TISC Hosted Race Events (when available) or contact the Racing Director!

To give you an idea of what's involved in the race committee, we've uploaded some images below that list the jobs that need to be covered, the flags and equipment used, and the starting sequences!