Two-Boat Umpiring

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Two-Boat Umpiring

• Devised by
• Bruce Hebbert
• June 2007

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Background

• At most TR events, we do not have the luxury of 3
  boats umpiring rather, we often have only one
  and sometimes two umpire boats on a race
• The following has been developed to provide a
  method for handling this

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There are generally 2 variations

• 2 umpire boats throughout
• 2 umpire boats at the start, with the second
  leaving at the windward mark

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Terminology

• Driver of Lead Umpire Boat LU
• Second Umpire in Lead Umpire boat- LUA
• Driver of Second Umpire Boat 2U
• Second Umpire in Second Umpire Boat- 2UA
• (Sorry about thisbut if you have a better
  acronyme, shout now)

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General Principles

• All Umpires follow a single team, usually those
  with the lower numbers are selected by the Lead
  Umpire (eg. the Red team)
• The Lead Umpire (UL) for the race will take the
  committee boat end of the line. The other Umpire
  boat (2U) will take the pin end
• The driver of the Lead Umpire boat (UL) is the
  controller

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Dialogue

• When an Umpire boat is following a single
  target boat, dialogue between LU/LUA and 2U/2UA
  is essential the driver taking the target
  boat, and the second Umpire taking the opposing
  boats that are nearby
• When an Umpire boat is following two boats, each
  Umpire should clearly select to follow one of the
  two boats

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Pre-Start
LU
2U
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2U
LU
LU to LUA I have Red 2, you have Red 3 - keep
an eye on Red 1 While all in a bunch around LU,
then 2U just waits
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2U
Here, when it is clear that Red 1 is moving to
leeward, 2U starts to take responsibility
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2U
If this happens, 2U should take both Red 1 and
Red 2
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LU
2U
As the boats approach the line to start,
(generally) one of the Red boats will move down
the line. 2U takes this one (Red 1) LU may hail
or radio to confirm that 2U takes Red 1
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LU
2U
In the final approaches, LU should take the boat
starting closest to the committee boat and
position to see any incident. LUA should follow
the other Red boat at the committee boat end
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If as here 2 Red boats go to start at the pin
end, then 2U and 2UA each take one and LU keeps
the committee boat end A hail or radio call to
this effect from LU is helpful to ensure this
happens
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In the last 15-20 seconds, Umpires must keep to
their boats ensuring they know how overlaps were
established
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Just before and after the starting signal, an eye
should also be kept on the Blue boats -
especially if Rule 42 conditions exist or if one
is OCS and may turn to return
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After the start, Umpires should keep with their
boats for the first 30 meters or so to ensure all
accidental incidents are covered
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2U
LU
Thereafter, the fleet typically splits left and
right. LU should go right, 2U should go left
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Despite the left-right rule, the over-riding
requirement is to be positioned to cover
engaging pairs
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As the fleet approaches the laylines, the Umpire
boats should move to be outside the laylines
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On the approach to the mark, the Umpire boats
must be positioned to see overlaps as boats reach
the zone
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LU
2U
The Umpire of the leading pair must aim to get to
windward of the first mark, and hold position to
see any action before turning towards Mark 2
Illustrated for LU easier when 2U is on the
leading pair
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The first Umpire to the windward mark goes with
the front of the fleetkeeping to windward, then
going down the port of the fleet as they approach
Mark 3
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The second Umpire to reach the windward mark goes
either high or low on the first reach, depending
on the spread
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If 2U has to drop out at the windward mark, LU
must follow the critical gap
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The Umpires need to keep sufficiently to windward
to avoid luffs but avoid the Red shaded area
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On the run, the Umpires have kept to the port
side of the fleet..though the green Umpire may go
either side at first
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If there is any attempt at a passback at Mark 3,
the Red area is a no go zone for the umpires
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The front Umpire boat moves below Mark 3 to see
the actionthen turns and keeps to leeward of the
rhumb line 2-3
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Approaching Mark 4, both Umpire boats are ideally
positioned below the rhumb lineand both avoid
Hell Corner indicated in Red
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On the final beat, the Umpires need again to go
left and right, taking the two most in contention
pairs. Whatever happens, the key Gap must be
covered. LU should hail or radio as necessary It
is often (but not always!) easier for the Umpire
leading along the reach to go right up the beat,
and the trailing Umpire to go left
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Approaching the finish, seeing overlaps at the
zones are key for E9 calls, so Umpires need to be
outside the laylinesand should never cross the
finish line