Here is some information to help you decide which seminar is best for you.
For more help, contact the seminar instructor, your Area Race Officer or Regional Administrative Judge, the Chair of the Umpire Committee or US Sailing.
Basic Race Management Seminar
… is for people who have some Race Committee (RC) experience, but newcomers are also welcome. Topics include RC objectives and responsibilities, regatta safety, writing sailing instructions, RC jobs, equipment, setting the course, starting system, starting penalties, before the start, during the race, finishing and scoring.
What to Bring: You will need your own copy of The Racing Rules of Sailing.
Study Materials: You should answer the Basic Race Management Seminar Study Questions, which will help you find your way around the rule book. These will be sent approximately ten days prior to the in-person session, along with other study materials.
The Club Race Officer certification test, available online at the conclusion of the seminar, is optional. In order to be certified as a US Sailing Club Race Officer, however, you must attend a complete seminar and pass the test, as well as own a copy of The Race Management Handbook and meet the program’s other criteria. Details of the other requirements for certification are available at the Race Officer section of the US Sailing web site.
Advanced Race Management Seminar
… is for experienced certified race officers to refresh and increase their knowledge of such topics as organizing an event, regatta safety, writing the notice of race and sailing instructions, RC equipment, race committee preparations, setting the starting line, setting the course, starting, finishing and scoring. This seminar is also required for those certified race officers looking to move up to the next level of certification.
What to Bring: You will need your own copy of The Racing Rules of Sailing and The Race Management Handbook.
Study Materials: You should answer the Advanced Race Management Study Questions. People interested in becoming certified by US Sailing as Regional or National Race Officers must attend this seminar and pass the associated test. Details of the other requirements for certification are available at the Race Officer section of the US Sailing web site.
Club Judge Seminar
…is for people who are interested in initial certification as a US Sailing Club Judge. Some protest committee experience is helpful, but not required. The purpose of the seminar is to improve the quality, consistency and fairness of protest hearings and results at the club level. Topics include deriving facts from testimony, managing hearings properly, applying applicable rules and arriving at conclusions and a decision.
What to Bring: You will need your own copy of The Racing Rules of Sailing.
Study Materials: Please view the Judge Seminar Study Questions for 2021-2024, as well as Dave Perry’s Significant RRS Changes 2021-2024, before attending the seminar. Additional information about the Club Judge Seminar can found in the Judges section of the US Sailing website.
The Club Judge certification test, which is available online at the conclusion of the seminar, is optional. However, in order to be certified as a US Sailing Club Judge you must attend a complete seminar and pass the test, as well as own a copy of The Judges Manual and meet the program’s other criteria.
Advanced Judge Seminar
…is required for initial certification and re-certification as a US Sailing Judge or National Judge. For those who are not currently certified Judges, some protest committee experience is recommended. Topics include handling protests and requests for redress, techniques for running good hearings, writing protest committee decisions and handling open hearings and arbitration.
What to Bring: You will need your own copy of The Racing Rules of Sailing, the US Sailing Judges Manual, and the US Sailing Appeals and World Sailing Case Book.
Study Materials: You should answer the Advanced Judge Study Questions as well as view Dave Perry’s Significant RRS Changes 2021-2024. We strongly recommend that you study and answer each question and write down the relevant rule citations prior to attending the seminar.
People interested in becoming certified by US Sailing as Judges or National Judges must attend this seminar and pass the associated test. Details of the other requirements for certification are available at the Judges section of the US Sailing web site.
Regional Umpire Seminar and Advanced Umpire Seminar
…focus primarily on match race or team race umpiring and will cover topics including the mechanics of umpiring, effective “umpirespeak,” umpire and wing boat positioning and handling protests and requests for redress.
What to Bring: Participants at the seminar will be required to bring the current Racing Rules of Sailing, and the appropriate World Sailing Call Books (Team Racing and Match Racing), which are available on the Umpires Page of the US Sailing website.
These seminars include the tests required for initial certification and re-certification as a US Sailing Regional or National Umpire, respectively. For those who are not currently certified Umpires, some protest committee experience is recommended, but not required. Complete information about the US Sailing umpire program, including certification requirements, can be found in the Umpire section of the US Sailing web site.
