Sailing - what we do.

Sailors seem to universally agree that the more boats participating in a race the better and are very welcoming to new boats and sailors. Everyone has experienced the combination of fear and adrenalin that accompanies the decision to start racing. Nobody wants to bash either their boat or yours!

The WCA actively welcomes new participants. We run the Pursuit Series with the specific aim of providing a gentle format that is still a proper race. Some people worry about the start but Pursuit races see the fleet all start at different times, with the fastest last, so they are a great way to build confidence.

Whatever your experience level, to enter you should read the Notice of Race (NoR) then submit a Series Entry Form. You will find links to all the documents you need on the Summer Series page.

Have fun, stay safe, and we hope to see you on the water!

A good way to understand handicaps is to think about the case when they're not needed - if all the boats racing are identical.

One Design Racing

Things are most simple when boats race against other boats of the same design. The [Volvo] Ocean Race and Clipper Round The World Race are examples of one-design races - the links take you to the specifications for the boats racing. One Design classes specify rules that owners must conform to in order to race and the position you cross the finish line in is your result. Some class associations strictly control what's allowed, and others are a little more relaxed and allow some leeway.

The wide variety of boats owned by WCA members, currently ranging from 19' to 45' with the average being 30', means that One-Design racing isn't an option apart from smaller sub-groups (e.g. Sonatas, SB20s, and even Beneteau First 21s.)

Mixed-Fleet Racing

Some system is required though to enable everyone to race together. Factors that need to be considered include: -

    Hull measurements: the hull speed of a displacement hull is directly related to its waterline length and boats with a longer waterline have a higher hull speed. Keel type. Rudder Type.

    Engine details.

    Sail measurements.

    Sail wardrobes; some boats fly spinnakers and others don't.

    Folding propellers.

    Furling versus non=furled. Furling systems v other furling systems.

    etc etc.

The variations possible with just this set of mixed-fleet factors is huge. The range of systems for combining them to come up with a handicap or rating is huge as well. Some publish the formulae they use and others don't, and while they all share the aim of providing a basis for fair mixed-fleet racing they also share the characteristic that none are perfect. A corollary is the universal past-time of grumbling about handicaps. This is unlikely to change - the August 1904 edition of Yachtsman magazine apparently observed that “handicapping at its best is far from satisfactory and it is seldom that one does not find a grumbler”. There's an etiquette to grumbling - we ALL prefer the good-natured, well-humoured, sporting type to the other. Purgatory may well be full of sailors who didn't like their club's handicap system(s)!

WCA races are scored using CYCA. We dual-score eligible boats under IRC. We only use NHC for WMV Marina Series entrants (WCA members are scored under CYCA). 

Both CYCA and IRC are ratings rather than handicaps: your boat's rating is based on the its measurements and it doesn't therefore alter from race to race. The CYCA scheme and the "IRC Rating Rule" are designed to enable different designs of keelboats to race together and don't make any allowance for differences in crews' capability or experience.

We understand that this can seem overwhelming at first, but you'll soon get used to it. In fact in no time at all you will have developed strong opinions about the rights and wrongs of the different schemes - arguing about grumbling about handicaps is after all an important part of social bonding in sail racing!

To Protest or Not to Protest?

If you don't carry a red flag you can't protest so you may as well skip this - or better, make sure you have one! Sail racing is a self-policing sport and protests are important to its health - because they help people to understand the rules better and keep things fair for all.

During a race, sometimes there are incidents on the water.  The WCA encourages competitors to use these incidents as learning points to improve understanding of the Rules.

1. ‘Normal’ Incidents - Take your Penalty Turns on the Water

If you find yourself in the wrong, or suspect that you may have broken one of the rules, then it’s best to promptly take a penalty on the water.  Either a single turn (Rule 31 touching a mark) or a two turns (rules of Part 2 in an incident while racing)

[ISAF Rule 44]

2. Serious Incidents – Retire and Protest

If you are involved in an incident where there is either injury and/or serious damage, then you must retire.  This will then lead to a formal Protest.  See item 6 below.

3. Incidents where you agree that you were in the wrong, but were unable to take turns on the water

Here you agree to take an Exoneration Penalty.

This applies to ISAF Rule of Part 2 (where boats meet), or ISAF Rule 31 (touching a mark) or 42 (Propulsion).

Notify the race committee (the OOD or the Sailing Secretary) and state that you have broken one of the rules, and that you would like to accept a 20% scoring penalty.  This means that your place will go down by 20% of the number of starters, minimum 2 places.

4. Incidents that you would like to discuss and learn from

This is called an Advisory Hearing.

Sometimes, following an incident on the water, it is not clear what has happened.  In this case, whilst no protests would have been raised, it would be beneficial to discuss what has happened and to learn from it.

Notify the race committee (the OOD or the Sailing Secretary) and state that you would like to hold an Advisory Hearing.

We will then call the parties together for a discussion as to what has happened, and provide advice on interpretation of the Rules.

If, following the Advisory Hearing, you wish to take a penalty, then you can voluntarily take an Exoneration Penalty (20% scoring penalty).

5. Incidents where you would like a formal ruling, but not a full-blown Protest Committee

This is called RYA Arbritation.  It is not appropriate where there has been any injury or damage.

Notify the race committee (the OOD or the Sailing Secretary) and state that you would like to RYA Arbritation.

We will convene a formal hearing.  If the Hearing decides that a party should take an Exoneration Penalty, then it need not go to Protest, and any protesting boat can withdraw its protest.

[ISAF Rules Part 5]

6. Incidents where a Formal Protest is needed to Determine the Facts and come to a Formal Binding Decision

This is called a Protest Hearing.

This will be run iaw the guidelines provided in the ISAF Rules Appendix M.

[ISAF Rules Part 5 and Appendix M]

[NB: These are brief guidance notes.  The WCA SIs and World Sailing RRS take precedence]

Like all organised sports yacht racing has an official body - World Sailing - who control the Racing Rules of Sailing. 

The Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) governs the sport of sailboat and sailboard racing. It is revised and published every four years by World Sailing. The current edition is the RRS 2021-2024.

The Racing Rules of Sailing apply between boats that are engaged in racing, even if they're in different races, but don't apply to any other boats - so the normal rules apply in respect of all other boats. In most cases International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, more commonly known as the COLREGS but on Lake Windermere this means the The Windermere Navigation Byelaws 2008.

If you'd like to learn about the RRS there are plenty of books and guides available, and the Niall McLeod, Racing Services Manager at Royal Yachting Association produced an excellent series of six one hour videos over Summer 2020. He also added a 7th video covering the changes contained in RRS 2021-2024.

You can watch these by clicking the button below.