Racing at Downs

A Guide to Racing at Downs SC
Downs runs handicap points racing on Sundays from April to December, and on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from May to August. Entry into each series is free and is open to members of the club (not applicable to social members).
The racing is split into 8 separate series as detailed, with the Sunday series being sailed in the morning, Tuesday and Thursday series sailed during the summer evenings and a short Saturday series new in 2010 being sailed on Saturday afternoons once the mid week evening series has stopped:
Spring Points –	March 27^th to 1^st May
Summer Points –	May 1^st to August 28^th
Tuesday Points –	May 3^rd to August 30^th
Thursday Points –	May 5^th to September 1^st
Sunday Points –	June 26^th to October 30^th
Autumn Points –	September 11^th to October 30^th
Saturday Points –	September 17^th to October 29^th
Winter Points –	November 6^th to December 18^th

The Spring, Winter Points and Saturday Series are sailed as one mass handicap fleet (although there are some separate fast and slow prizes awarded for the Winter Points). The Summer Points, Autumn Points, Tuesday evening and Thursday evening series are sailed in separate “Fast Handicap 1034PY and below” and “Slow Handicap” fleets, with separate starts. Please note, “Lets Get Racin” training course (May – June) as detailed below, and a second Sunday points series (Sunday Points: June – October) . “Lets Get Racin” – New in 2007 and due to overwhelming success to be repeated for a fifth year. Personal (one-to-one) training with expert “Buddys” to encourage non-racing sailors to join the club racing programme, concluding with a series of practice races for the Siemssen Trophy. See Training, page 13 for more details. The results for all handicap racing at Downs Sailing Club are calculated using the Downs Handicap Numbers, as published on the notice-board by the entrance to the gents changing room and on the club website (www.downssailingclub.co.uk). These numbers are based on the RYA Portsmouth Yardstick Numbers with small adjustments to help slower boats in the strong tidal conditions experienced at Downs. The Downs Handicap Numbers were revised and updated this winter but may be still be adjusted during the season (but not midway through a series) after review by the Sailing Committee. Any changes will be published in advance. If there is no number shown for your class please contact the Sailing Secretary Peter Hyett (tel. 01304 621582)

		(Feb 2011)