9 Steps to your first JOG Race

Guide for new Skippers/Owners

Introduction

Entering your first ever race can be a daunting task and somewhat confusing for the newcomer, so here is a guide to make the process as easy and as smooth as possible.

JOG encourages new skippers to come and sail in their fleet and enjoy the welcoming nature of our great club. We cater for a wide spectrum of race experience and are always here for a chat if you need help along the way.

Who can enter a JOG race?

JOG is a Corinthian sailing group and our intention is not to have high budget corporate racing boats in our races so some rules around this exist to protect our ethos. These are simple, we do not permit advertising for most boats and we set a limit on the rating of a boat. (IRC Rating covered later in this article)

JOG organise around 12-18 races per year and these are divided into Offshore and Coastal races. You can find the programme of races at https://myjog.jog.org.uk/programme

Note that each race is marked with Category 3 or Category 4. The Category 3 races are offshore races and the Category 4 races are coastal races.

1. Boat Preparation

For everyone’s safety, your boat must meet a certain level of safety requirements and include a minimum set of safety equipment.

You will need to comply with JOG Prescriptions and World Sailing Offshore Special Regulations.

You can find the Race Documents and Rules here. The JOG checklist is available to make things easier and can be completed online once you have completed step 4 in this guide. It shows the difference in requirements for Cat 3 & Cat 4 races.

2. IRC Rating Certificate

Boats in JOG race under IRC classifications and rules. IRC is a system of handicapping sailboats and yachts for the purpose of racing. It is managed by the Royal Ocean Racing Club by their dedicated Rating Office.

Based on measurements of your boat, IRC will determine a rating for your boat, and this will be used as a factor against your race time to determine your position. IRC works well as its intention is to create a level playing field whether you race a 40-foot boat or a 30-foot one.

For every JOG race, we separate boats into classes, each with their own start time and set of results. Prizes are awarded at the end of the season for race wins and cumulative results in each class for each race series. (Offshore or Coastal). JOG also award smaller prizes at the end of each race where possible.

Our current class bands can be found in the Notice of Race.

IRC have some very good information on how to get a certificate at

https://rorcrating.com/40-irc-rating/irc-misc/198-how-do-i-start-racing

The certificate can take up to 3 weeks, so make sure you plan this well in advance of your first race.

Note: JOG do not require you to have an endorsed certificate but reserve the right to request you get one at their discretion.

3. Insurance

Ensure that your boat insurance covers you for racing. Each participating boat shall have adequate third-party liability insurance.

You should contact your insurance company to make certain that this is in place.

4. MyJOG Registration and Nautical Cloud Racing App

MyJOG is JOG’s platform for race entry and managing all aspects of your racing with JOG.

If you have not already registered, you can register here.

We encourage you to Join as a JOG member as this entitles you to discounted race fees and the annual cost of membership is normally covered by the discount received to members on just two or three races.

A summary of the steps to take to enter a race is:

Register for MyJOG and add your emergency contact details
My Boats – Add your boat, you will need your sail number for this. We get your IRC rating automatically from IRC within 24 hours of you being issued it but if we haven’t received it yet, you can enter your rating or expected rating manually. At this stage, you will see which class you will be entered in.
My Boats – Checklist. JOG require before you race to complete an online checklist. This helps us understand if you have some specific safety requirements in place along side the others covered in step 1.
My Crew Locker – We require all crew on your boat for each race to complete their emergency contact information. You can invite crew to register here.
Enter races – This is where you can make your race entry. The size of your boat determines how much you pay for race entry. A 28-foot boat will pay less than a 40-foot one.
My Race Entries – You can add your invited crew to your crew list for each race once they have accepted your invitation that you made in the My Crew Locker tab.

Communications and declarations will be made through the Nautical Cloud Racing App, make sure you have it downloaded before you start racing.

5. Finding Crew

JOG Connect is the place to find crew or a boat for JOG races.

If it’s your first race, it’s a good place to find someone with experience that can guide you.

6. Sailing Instructions

The sailing instructions can be found on the Official Notice Board for each race. These include details about rules, timings and courses specific to the race.

7. Buy a class flag

Make sure you have a class flag for the class you’re in. You can purchase these at most chandleries or online.

This should be attached to the back of your boat and be visible. The backstay is normally a good place for this.

8. Race Day

Before going afloat make sure your crew list is up to date. You will be required to verify the number of people onboard via the Nautical Cloud Racing App prior to starting, which is cross-referenced with your crew list.

For your first race, it’s a good idea to get to the start area early.

You should ensure that your VHF radio is tuned into the correct frequency and you have noted your start sequence from the sailing instructions. Listen out for any last-minute amendments to the course or start.

Informal messages may be posted using WhatsApp. Links to the WhatsApp group can be found on the Official Notice Board.

9. Post Race

You need to submit your finish declaration via the Nautical Cloud Racing App or via the link you will have received by text message prior to the start. Here you can enter your finish time and any observations.

Results are shown live on the JOG site here.

There is usually a post-race social, which will be communicated in the WhatsApp group and/or notice board. We strongly encourage you and your crew to attend and share your race with our great community of friendly JOG sailors.

Were here to help so please feel free to contact us at myjog@jog.org.uk.