how would you respond to this missive from your commodore?

[Bump-n-Grind]

so the grand poobah of our little dogpatch wednesday night sailing club sent this out to his master email list. 

particularly the last sentence. This is the entirety of the message, the ellipsis replace any personal identifying information.

I am not participating in the current series. Nor was I involved with the RC last evening. 

I'm really just curious how others might react to receiving something like this.

.....

I've had a number of complaints on last nights RC.  Horns going off late, horns going off out of sequence with the flags, late start, etc.
 
I'd like to reiterate the RC responsibilities for everyone.
 
1.  The first page in the RC book that is at the stand tells you what you need to do.  READ IT.
 
2.  No more than 3 people on the RC stand.  Three is all you need.  One to check boats in, one to manage the flags, and one to watch the time to ensure the races and the prestart start on time.  Anymore than 3 and you have people standing around with nothing to do but interfere with the Race Committee.  This is not a get together or a party.  The RC has a job to do, an important one.  If you want to have a get together do it AFTER the race.
 
3.  The first horn goes off at 5:55 and that is started by turning on the red switch on the horn box (This is in the book and in the instructions) at 5:55:50.  NOT 6:00, NOT 6:04 or 6:03.  READ THE INSTRUCTIONS.  Everything after that is automatic.
 
4.  The raising and lowering of the flags is supposed to be synchronized with each horn and the only way you can accomplish that is to be prepared for the horns to sound. (That's the person watching the time).
 
Once all the boats have started put the horn and the flags away and get prepared to record the finish times.
 
This isn't rocket science here but it does require your attention.  If anyone feels that they have attention deficit or a reading  comprehension so severe that they would not be able to accomplish the above let me know.
.....

 

[PaulK]

Sounds like the Commodore is annoyed and that the Race Committee Chair needs to hold a training session. Getting all the signals and timing right is not overly difficult, but it is not as easy as he makes it sound, even if the horns are automated.  We have the instructions written out under a clear sheet of plastic on the RC boat so everyone can see them. Do the complainers do their share of serving on the RC too?  If their fellow club members are messing up on the RC, perhaps individual talks with them would be more effective than the Commodore's rant. 

 

[Dark'N'Stormy]

Doing RC is a pretty thankless job. It's easy to fuck it up, but there's no reason to go after them like that. Is your RC paid or volunteer?

At my last club, for years we had one individual (who was very talented) run RC each week. I believe he received some compensation. One week, he messed something up and someone went off on him - and that was it, he quit on the spot. From then on we set up a system where teams rotated on RC duty each week. We had several training courses to go over the timing, flags, etc. There were learning pains for sure, but suffice it to say that everyone gained an appreciation of what goes into running races, and there were far fewer complaints afterwards. 

 

[trimfast]

It was the first WNR? If so, that email is a bit brash. A email worded with affirmation of the struggles, and the effort to have training continued would have been more appropriate.  People in power do not always need to be a dick.

 

[Mark Set]

as a frequent RC volunteer I would kindly tell him to fuck off, then never work a race again. Is this RC paid? Are they children he's writing this to? If he doesnt like how its being done then he should get off his ass and do it himself.

 

[AHoleMel]

Never Ever loose the opportunity to do a Good Job BAD!!

Next, take the one who is bitching the most/loudest and inform em..  Your RC next week - usually shuts them up in a heartbeat.

Next..  make sure this weeks RC leaves the bar with their tab PAID IN FULL.

and if someone gets their Feelings Hurt... 

Just Look Left

Everyone's an Expert until they have to do the JOB

 

[Bump-n-Grind]

Doing RC is a pretty thankless job. It's easy to fuck it up, but there's no reason to go after them like that. Is your RC paid or volunteer?

At my last club, for years we had one individual (who was very talented) run RC each week. I believe he received some compensation. One week, he messed something up and someone went off on him - and that was it, he quit on the spot. From then on we set up a system where teams rotated on RC duty each week. We had several training courses to go over the timing, flags, etc. There were learning pains for sure, but suffice it to say that everyone gained an appreciation of what goes into running races, and there were far fewer complaints afterwards. 

thanks for the reply. this is strictly volunteer. I was really just trying to get a head check and make sure my reaction to this email wasn't wrong. each crew that races is supposed to pick a week to volunteer for RC.  Personally, I can run our wed night races by myself without any trouble. As he said, it aint rocket science, but I also have the luxury of having attended umpteen million RC seminars at AYC and run a bunch of them for my other club around the corner.  I think what twisted my knickers the most was that he chose to broadcast this message wideband to the membership instead of having a little chat with the crew that ran the races last night, then offering to host a couple instructional sessions. A lot of these people only get around to "their" night every couple years or so. and frequently the horn machine has dead batteries... I always take my own air horn up there with me.    Personally I think our commodore is a douchenozzle with control issues... but that's just my opinion LOL

 

[fastyacht]

I always snicker at rhat term. It looks like a Philly Pjanatic with an anger management problem.

 

[SailRacer]

It is all about the flags. 

Just be thankful the writer of that letter is only in the job for 1 yr (Or Less)

 

[jesposito]

so the grand poobah of our little dogpatch wednesday night sailing club sent this out to his master email list. 

particularly the last sentence. This is the entirety of the message, the ellipsis replace any personal identifying information.

I am not participating in the current series. Nor was I involved with the RC last evening. 

I'm really just curious how others might react to receiving something like this.

.....

I've had a number of complaints on last nights RC.  Horns going off late, horns going off out of sequence with the flags, late start, etc.
 
I'd like to reiterate the RC responsibilities for everyone.
 
1.  The first page in the RC book that is at the stand tells you what you need to do.  READ IT.
 
2.  No more than 3 people on the RC stand.  Three is all you need.  One to check boats in, one to manage the flags, and one to watch the time to ensure the races and the prestart start on time.  Anymore than 3 and you have people standing around with nothing to do but interfere with the Race Committee.  This is not a get together or a party.  The RC has a job to do, an important one.  If you want to have a get together do it AFTER the race.
 
3.  The first horn goes off at 5:55 and that is started by turning on the red switch on the horn box (This is in the book and in the instructions) at 5:55:50.  NOT 6:00, NOT 6:04 or 6:03.  READ THE INSTRUCTIONS.  Everything after that is automatic.
 
4.  The raising and lowering of the flags is supposed to be synchronized with each horn and the only way you can accomplish that is to be prepared for the horns to sound. (That's the person watching the time).
 
Once all the boats have started put the horn and the flags away and get prepared to record the finish times.
 
This isn't rocket science here but it does require your attention.  If anyone feels that they have attention deficit or a reading  comprehension so severe that they would not be able to accomplish the above let me know.
.....

If he's a WASP, call him a Wasp Bastard and tell him to fuck off

 

[Bump-n-Grind]

It is all about the flags. 

Just be thankful the writer of that letter is only in the job for 1 yr (Or Less)

akshully he's been in this position for far too long.. a few years now... it's not a regular yacht or sailing club... it's sole function is to operate these wed night races... 

 

[VWAP]

so the grand poobah of our little dogpatch wednesday night sailing club sent this out to his master email list. 

particularly the last sentence. This is the entirety of the message, the ellipsis replace any personal identifying information.

I am not participating in the current series. Nor was I involved with the RC last evening. 

I'm really just curious how others might react to receiving something like this.

.....

I've had a number of complaints on last nights RC.  Horns going off late, horns going off out of sequence with the flags, late start, etc.
 
I'd like to reiterate the RC responsibilities for everyone.
 
1.  The first page in the RC book that is at the stand tells you what you need to do.  READ IT.
 
2.  No more than 3 people on the RC stand.  Three is all you need.  One to check boats in, one to manage the flags, and one to watch the time to ensure the races and the prestart start on time.  Anymore than 3 and you have people standing around with nothing to do but interfere with the Race Committee.  This is not a get together or a party.  The RC has a job to do, an important one.  If you want to have a get together do it AFTER the race.
 
3.  The first horn goes off at 5:55 and that is started by turning on the red switch on the horn box (This is in the book and in the instructions) at 5:55:50.  NOT 6:00, NOT 6:04 or 6:03.  READ THE INSTRUCTIONS.  Everything after that is automatic.
 
4.  The raising and lowering of the flags is supposed to be synchronized with each horn and the only way you can accomplish that is to be prepared for the horns to sound. (That's the person watching the time).
 
Once all the boats have started put the horn and the flags away and get prepared to record the finish times.
 
This isn't rocket science here but it does require your attention.  If anyone feels that they have attention deficit or a reading  comprehension so severe that they would not be able to accomplish the above let me know.
.....

Did the commodore not pass the open book race management test?

[SIZE=15pt]26 STARTING RACES[/SIZE]

[SIZE=15pt]Races shall be started by using the following signals. Times shall be taken from the visual signals; the absence of a sound signal shall be disregarded.[/SIZE]

 

[JimC]

Did the commodore not pass the open book race management test?

Think you'll find that SIs may change RRS26 and to rely on sound signal rather than flags is a common and sensible change at clubs that use automated sound signals.

 

[VWAP]

Think you'll find that SIs may change RRS26 and to rely on sound signal rather than flags is a common and sensible change at clubs that use automated sound signals.

SI were not posted on this site

 

[Bump-n-Grind]

Think you'll find that SIs may change RRS26 and to rely on sound signal rather than flags is a common and sensible change at clubs that use automated sound signals.

not the case here. and not really the issue. more about bedside manner and how he chose to address this issue than anything else. but thanks for playing. 

We have a long line. If it's blowing more than 8-10 knots the sound signals can't really be heard at the far end of the line. RRS26 and it's emphasis on visual signals 

has always been stressed in years past when we did have instructional sessions on how to run the races.... As is the case in many situations, audio signals are a courtesy only and not to be relied upon for timing your starts. Although I'd be willing to bet that half the people racing here on wed nights do not know that. 

 

[Monkey]

I can understand the commodore’s frustration, but that was incredibly awful wording and should not have been sent out like that. Like many of us here, I’ve done a lot of RC work, and it’s a thankless job we only do because we want to support the sport. We all get frustrated sometimes, but there’s better ways to deal with it. 

I still laugh my ass off at a situation last year. I was the PRO for one of our regional OD regattas. The wind was VERY puffy. Some new folks to the class turtled their boat before we’d even started the first race. Both of my support boats were tied up for quite awhile getting that boat upright and back to shore, so we spent quite a bit of time under AP. One of the skippers, who is perpetually at the top of the fleet at a worlds level, but also the nicest guy in the world, started venting his frustration to his own crew. Poor guy didn’t know the VHF in his pocket had a hot mic!  When he learned of that little oops, he apologized profusely and wouldn’t let me pay for a drink for quite awhile. After the regatta was over, I admitted to him I should’ve just sent the fleet back to the dock til the problem was sorted. Lesson learned for me. It’s amazing what a friendly chat can accomplish. 

 

[Dark'N'Stormy]

thanks for the reply. this is strictly volunteer. I was really just trying to get a head check and make sure my reaction to this email wasn't wrong. each crew that races is supposed to pick a week to volunteer for RC.  Personally, I can run our wed night races by myself without any trouble. As he said, it aint rocket science, but I also have the luxury of having attended umpteen million RC seminars at AYC and run a bunch of them for my other club around the corner.  I think what twisted my knickers the most was that he chose to broadcast this message wideband to the membership instead of having a little chat with the crew that ran the races last night, then offering to host a couple instructional sessions. A lot of these people only get around to "their" night every couple years or so. and frequently the horn machine has dead batteries... I always take my own air horn up there with me.    Personally I think our commodore is a douchenozzle with control issues... but that's just my opinion LOL

I see your point, and definitely agree. He should have spoken privately with the group doing RC first, then made a broader announcement about doing more training, seminars, etc. Plus, understanding RC helps out with your racing technique as well.

 

[Zonker]

as a frequent RC volunteer I would kindly tell him to fuck off, then never work a race again.

Yup. It's a Wed night race, not a big deal if the sequence starts a few minutes early or late.

 

[ahab in puget]

that cat needs to relax and just have a friendly discussion with the offending rc... This is weeknight racing, bruh. Nothing is fucked, here, man.