Competition

Rules/Officiating

Ensure safety, integrity and quality for all participants in the sport of sailboat racing

Give back to the sport of sailing by volunteering and becoming a race official. You’ll run races, make umpire calls on the water, hear protests and redress requests in the jury room, and classify sailors to compete in disabled sailing events.

What are Race Officials?

Race Officials represent US Sailing on and off the race course. They are trained, certified and supported by US Sailing, and they have the resources of the organization at their disposal.

The primary responsibility of race officials is to ensure the safety, integrity and quality of racing.

Race Officials are sailors like you who volunteer their time because they enjoy the work and because they believe in the importance of giving back to the sport.

FIND A RACE OFFICIAL

Race Officials In The Spotlight

Meet Edith Collins

Edith Collins is one of those people who is the first to jump in and help where needed. For all she does for the sailing world she was honored as the recipient of the H. Willard Davis Service Award from the South Atlantic Yacht Racing Association (SAYRA) this past winter. In January of 1986, SAYRA established this award and dedicated it to Dr. H. Willard Davis to honor individuals who make significant and outstanding contributions in service to the South Atlantic Yacht Racing Association and their fellow yachtsmen. Edith, humble as ever, said, “needless to say I have no idea why I got it.” Read more about Edith

Meet Team Iowa

What’s better than an experienced Race Official? A TEAM of experienced award-winning Race Officials!
“Team Iowa,” as they are known, consists of Dean Drevlow, Dick Leaders, Craig Johnson, and Fields Gunsett. These guys are not only very active in their own club, Saylorville Yacht Club near Des Moines, IA, but are regularly called on to run regattas far out of their venue.  Read more about Team Iowa

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Meet Mary-Lawrence Bickford

According to Essex Yacht Club Vice Commodore Bill Gunther, “Mary-Lawrence has always been a willing volunteer, and her endless energy is an inspiration to us all. In 2019, she received the James Orne Willets Trophy for her many contributions to Essex Yacht Club. It is awarded for the purpose of promoting the true Corinthian spirit, and recognized Mary-Lawrence’s continuous exemplary display of the highest ideals of amateur yachting.”
Read more about Mary-Lawrence

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Meet Donna Sue Marks

“Donna Sue is exactly the sort of person we are looking for in a Regional Race Official,” said Mary Ellen DeFrias, member of the US Sailing Race Management Committee and a principal race officer at the Buzzards Bay Regatta in Massachusetts, where Donna Sue has run the kite circle for several years.  “Her positivity and patience working with other volunteers motivates her team to excel, and she is the kind of race official who can come in and work with a new club and leave behind more confident volunteers.” 
Read more about Donna Sue

Do you know a race officer whose work is exemplary and should be celebrated?

Please contact your Area Race Officer to nominate one or more officials.

Newly Appointed or Upgraded Race Officials

Name
Certification
Date of Certification
Area
ARO/RAJ
Ellen Pesch Regional Race Officer August 2024 A Susie Schneider
Pam Gallaher Club Race Officer August 2024 J Steve Kuritz
David Donnelly Club Race Officer August 2024 L Mary Ellen DeFrias
Anthony Pelletier Club Judge August 2024 J Steve Holmstrom
Tish Wold Club Race Officer August 2024 D Donna Sue Marks
Mary Cay Tylee Club Judge August 2024 E Nancy Zangerle
Stephen Corona Club Judge August 2024 E Nancy Zangerle
James Lee Club Race Officer August 2024 J Steve Kuritz
Keven Eiber Club Judge August 2024 E Nancy Zangerle
Michael Balay Regional Judge August 2024 A Mary Pierce
Peter Fanta National Judge August 2024 C Harry Foote
Bob Meagher National Judge August 2024 D Jerry Thompson
Warren Collier National Judge August 2024 D Jerry Thompson
Paul Murray National Judge August 2024 J Steve Holmstrom
Bobby Matthews Jr Club Race Officer September 2024 D Donna Sue Marks
Michael Chammout Club Judge September 2024 G Don Wieneke
Eric Everitt Club Race Officer September 2024 B Sue Reilly
Patrick Byrnes Club Race Officer September 2024 F Jack Yoes
Ricky Richardson Club Race Officer September 2024 F Jack Yoes
Sandra Svoboda Club Race Officer September 2024 E Jamie Jones
Michael Chapell Club Judge September 2024 B Bruce Cook
Nelson Pemberton Regional Race Officer September 2024 C Sharon Hadsell
Patrick Lambert Regional Race Officer September 2024 D Donna Sue Marks
Jeff Progelhof Regional Race Officer September 2024 F Jack Yoes
Raymond Groble National Umpire September 2024 K Steve Schupak
Sandra Svoboda Club Judge September 2024 E Nancy Zangerle
Tyler Phillips Club Judge October 2024 C Harry Foote
Nancy Rogachenko Club Judge October 2024 C Harry Foote
Michael Hamilton Club Race Officer October 2024 L Mary Ellen DeFrias
Mark Dailey Club Race Officer November 2024 B Sue Reilly

Race Officers

Use your knowledge and abilities to lead others on the race course 

By becoming a race officer you’ll be able to ensure the safety of competitors and the race committee and choose courses to give competitors the best possible races. The three levels of certification will allow you to help standardize race management practices and improve racing events.

FIND A SEMINAR

Learn More

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judges

Use your experience in racing and race management, service on protest committees and a high standard of personal integrity to become a judge

As a judge you will be responsible for conducting protest and redress hearings when there may have been a breach of the rules. The various certification programs are tailored to meet the needs of each person who seeks certification.

FIND A SEMINAR

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Umpires

Make decisions on the water

As an umpire you’ll  function as a race official by applying the rules of the sport (match racing or team racing) to racing situations, primarily on the water, as situations occur to resolve rules issues. 

FIND A SEMINAR

Learn More

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Classifiers

Use your experience as a medical professional to ensure equitable competition at all levels for sailors of varied levels of ability.

A classifier can help to grow and improve adaptive sailing by “leveling the playing field” for disabled sailors by ranking persons with disabilities on their function and performance of sailing tasks.

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Measurers & Equipment Inspectors

Check sailing equipment against the relevant rules

As a measurer & equipment inspector you'll use your excellent knowledge of the relevant class rules, certification measurement and high level inspection methods & techniques to lend to the process of sailing equipment control.

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Instructors

Secure area for Race Official instructor resources

Use these resources to aide and assist you as you educate others.

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Racing Rules and Appeals

Keeping sailors safe & competitions fair

The Racing Rules of Sailing allow for fair competition by keeping sailors and boats safe. Appeals allow for a party to correct possible protest committee (PC) errors in interpreting the rules.

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