All boats entering a race must be equipped with a VHF radio with Channel 37 (M1) capability.
A listening watch must be kept on this channel from 20 minutes before the published start time until the boat concerned has either retired or finished the race.
Starts
The precise protocol for starting is given in Racing Instruction 6, but a summary of the radio traffic to be expected is:
There will be an announcement and count down to the 10 minute warning:
WESTON BAY BOATS STAND BY FOR YOUR 10 MINUTE WARNING (a short pause) (10 ………5–4–3–2–1-0).
The 10 minute warning announcement will be made either on the hour, or at intervals of 5 minutes after the hour.
There will be an announcement and count down to the 5 minute warning:
WESTON BAY BOATS STAND BY FOR YOUR 5 MINUTE WARNING (a short pause) (10 ………5–4–3–2–1-0).
There will be an announcement and count down of to the Start:
WESTON BAY BOATS STAND BY TO START (a short pause) (10–5–4–3–2–1- Start).
Finishing
Retiring boats shall notify their retirement to the OOD by radio, and where possible avoid calling at times when other boats are about to finish.
A boat finishing will call the ODD on CH37 (M1) approximately 3 minutes before it expects to finish and make the following call:
RACE CONTROL – THIS IS Boat Name APPROACHING THE LINE – OVER.
The OOD will respond as follows:
Boat Name – THIS IS RACE CONTROL – STANDING BY.
In cases where two or more boats are approaching the line in quick succession, the protocol will be for boats to call in, in order of approach, so that the leading boat’s call is not blocked.
On crossing the line each competing boat will call the OOD on CH37 (M1) and announce its finish with the following call:
RACE CONTROL – THIS IS Boat Name CROSSING THE LINE – NOW – OVER.
The OOD will respond as follows:
Boat Name – THIS IS RACE CONTROL – TIME TAKEN – OUT.