{"id":204,"date":"2021-07-23T11:19:45","date_gmt":"2021-07-23T15:19:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pcyc.qc.ca\/?page_id=204"},"modified":"2026-06-05T14:53:27","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T18:53:27","slug":"tgif-racing-clinic","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.pcyc.qc.ca\/en\/tgif-racing-clinic\/","title":{"rendered":"Race Training Clinic"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The Friday Racing Training Clinic is designed as an educational, hands-on learning experience focused on building confidence, improving seamanship, and developing practical racing skills in a supportive environment. Each session will begin with a 30-minute instructional briefing covering a racing or boat-handling topic, providing participants with practical knowledge and techniques to apply on the water. Following the briefing, participants will join a live training race hosted by the Royal St. Lawrence Yacht Club, allowing sailors to reinforce classroom concepts through real-time experience in a fleet environment. The clinic emphasizes learning, mentorship, and skill development in a calm, safe, and respectful onboard atmosphere, free from the pressures often associated with highly competitive racing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Our goals:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>To foster skill development for ALL sailing levels<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>To provide a \u201cno-intimidation\u201d atmosphere for novice racers<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>To help novice sailors adopt and grow our sport.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>It is not necessary to be a skilled sailor to join us in this event or even know how to race. The objective is to help sailors and crew develop their skills so that they feel equipped and comfortable taking part in our other club races.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Friday<\/strong> <strong>Schedule for the PCYC Race Training Clinic<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>17h30 &#8211; 17h55<\/strong> &#8211; Training Briefing<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>17h55<\/strong> &#8211; Crew assignment<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>18h00<\/strong> &#8211; Depart docks<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>18h30<\/strong> &#8211; Start of race<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>(Participating skippers are encouraged to prepare their boats prior to the 17h30 briefing).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button has-custom-width wp-block-button__width-100\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-black-color has-vivid-green-cyan-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/sail123.com\/rstlyc\/2026\/docs\/PHRF_FFR_NOR_2026.pdf\">Notice of Race<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button has-custom-width wp-block-button__width-100\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-black-color has-vivid-green-cyan-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/sail123.com\/rstlyc\/2026\/docs\/PHRF_FFR_SI_2026.pdf\">Sailing Instructions<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FAQs<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q. What time does the race start?<\/strong><br>A. The 5-minute warning signal is &#8220;planned&#8221; to be at 18:30, therefore the race would start at 18:35. But the Start Sequence flags will always display the exact time of the warning signal. See question below on how flags work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q. When I get to the starting area, how will the Race Committee know that I&#8217;m there to race?<br><\/strong>A. A representative from PCYC will have texted the Race Committee all PCYC sail numbers who plan to race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q. What if I don&#8217;t have a SLVYRA handicap?<br><\/strong>A. You can still race, the Race Committee will have one for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q. Does this race have wind limits?<br><\/strong>A. Yes. If winds are between 4 and 15 knots, and there are no looming storms, there will be a race. RSTLYC will be in contact with PCYC prior to the race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q. How do the start flags work?<br><\/strong>A. Refer to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pcyc.qc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Flag-Signals.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the image<\/a>. Also, the first few pages of Racing Rules booklet contain additional flag signals you may see at the start or during a race. Read further to download your copy of the rules, or visit the office to purchase a booklet version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q. I&#8217;m new and I&#8217;m intimidated by sailing close to the big boats?<br><\/strong>A. The start line will be generously long, spacing out the boats. All boats will be starting on starboard tacks only. There will be no aggressive maneuvering at the start. You can always start after all the boats have departed as the scoring does not matter. You are there to practice and learn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q. What does the race course look like?<br><\/strong>A. Refer to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pcyc.qc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Friday-triangle.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the image<\/a>. It&#8217;s a triangle course. Note that the start\/finish pin (a red ball) will also serve as the leeward mark. The windward and gybe marks are either yellow or orange inflatable marks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q. How many times around the race course?<br><\/strong>A. It will most often be 2 laps, but in certain situations it may be reduced to one lap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q. How do I know if it&#8217;s 2 laps or 1 lap?<br><\/strong>A. The race committee may either display a numerical flag and\/or broadcast the number of laps on the VHF radio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q. What is the VHF radio channel for this race?<br><\/strong>A. 78.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q. Can I fly my spinnaker?<br><\/strong>A. No, this is a white sail only race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q. What if I don&#8217;t know the racing rules well?<br><\/strong>A. Keep your distance from boats. And learn these simple rules:<br>-Port tack boats keeps clear of starboard tack boat&nbsp;<br>-Windward boat keeps clear of leeward boat&nbsp;<br>-Overtaking boat keeps clear of boat ahead<br>-Tacking or jibing keep clear of other boats<br>You can download a copy of The Racing Rules <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sailing.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2025-2028-RRS-with-Changes-and-Corrections.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q. Can boats protest me?<br><\/strong>A. No. Protests are not allowed. But if any boat feels it has violated a rule, without delay it should sail clear of other boats and execute one 360 degree turn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q. How do I let other boats know that I&#8217;m an inexperienced racer?<br><\/strong>A. Fly a yellow flag from your backstay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q. How does the scoring work?<br><\/strong>A. These are training races, scoring does not matter. It is an enjoyable learning event. Nevertheless, a finishing order will be determined by the RSTLYC scorer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q. What if I arrive late at the start line and all the boats have already started?<br><\/strong>A. The Race Committee will keep the start line open. Just start when you get there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q. Where do I get more information?<br><\/strong>A. Refer to the Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions or contact the PCYC Fleet Captain<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q. What is a Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions?<br><\/strong>A. In sailboat racing, races can be won or lost in many different ways, not only on the water, but before the starting signal is ever made. The Notice of Race (NOR) and Sailing Instructions (SI) contain the rules, procedures, requirements, and details that govern the event. They define everything from eligibility and schedules to course configurations, starting procedures, scoring, and protest requirements. Competitors who fail to carefully read and understand these documents risk penalties, missed opportunities, or costly mistakes that can significantly impact their results. Many sailors have lost races, regattas, and even championships simply because they overlooked an important detail contained in the NOR or SI. Don&#8217;t let a failure to read these documents thoroughly be the reason you lose a race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are considering getting into racing, start by reading Notices of Race and Sailing Instructions. Developing this habit early will give you a valuable advantage long before the first warning signal is made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1839\" height=\"1300\" data-id=\"407\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pcyc.qc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/IMG_3105.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-407\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pcyc.qc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/IMG_3105.jpg 1839w, https:\/\/www.pcyc.qc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/IMG_3105-891x630.jpg 891w, https:\/\/www.pcyc.qc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/IMG_3105-1536x1086.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1839px) 100vw, 1839px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1540\" height=\"1095\" data-id=\"405\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pcyc.qc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/IMG_3103.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-405\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pcyc.qc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/IMG_3103.jpg 1540w, https:\/\/www.pcyc.qc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/IMG_3103-886x630.jpg 886w, https:\/\/www.pcyc.qc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/IMG_3103-1536x1092.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1540px) 100vw, 1540px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1684\" height=\"1140\" data-id=\"403\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pcyc.qc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/IMG_3102.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-403\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pcyc.qc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/IMG_3102.jpg 1684w, https:\/\/www.pcyc.qc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/IMG_3102-931x630.jpg 931w, https:\/\/www.pcyc.qc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/IMG_3102-1536x1040.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1684px) 100vw, 1684px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-background has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Club members<\/strong> are encouraged to join our PCYC Discord Server and become part of the racing community.<br><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pcyc.qc.ca\/en\/discord\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" class=\"wp-image-4181\" style=\"width: 150px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pcyc.qc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/discord-logo-icon-editorial-free-vector.jpg\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.pcyc.qc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/discord-logo-icon-editorial-free-vector.jpg 980w, https:\/\/www.pcyc.qc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/discord-logo-icon-editorial-free-vector-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.pcyc.qc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/discord-logo-icon-editorial-free-vector-735x735.jpg 735w, https:\/\/www.pcyc.qc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/discord-logo-icon-editorial-free-vector-360x360.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Friday Racing Training Clinic is designed as an educational, hands-on learning experience focused on building confidence, improving seamanship, and developing practical racing skills in a supportive environment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"templates\/template-one-column-page.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-204","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcyc.qc.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/204","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcyc.qc.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcyc.qc.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pcyc.qc.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pcyc.qc.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=204"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.pcyc.qc.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/204\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pcyc.qc.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=204"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}