Interview with Jack Roy from the National Yacht Club
Jack Roy is attending the ISAF Worlds in lstanbul as part of the ISAF Race Management Team and is responsible for one of the racecourses.
Jack, what is an ISAF course Rep.?
An ISAF course rep is in charge of the particular race course, and the local race management team.
This is an ISAF event and ISAF appoint a representative to whom the local team reports on the racecourse.
The idea is to have the event run to ISAF standards and guidelines. So to achieve that ,ISAF will have their own team on the water.I am one of that team with my own race course to manage.
In this instance, a Turkish team will operate the various race management activities and will consult and report to me on all decisions being made on my course.
You will be on the water?
Oh yes.. On the boat and fully involved.
How many race courses will there be ?
3 racecourses
What race course are you responsible for?
The 420 boys and girls and also the new catamaran class SL 16
We will have 3 races in each class every day so that is 9 races ,each lasting approximately 50 minutes.
Who sets up the course?
The local team with their support operation of ribs etc,. However,it is obligatory fore the local Race Officer to consult with the ISAF Course Rep on all decisions length of the course ,the length of the starting line, OCS, General Recalls etc.
What preparation have you had to do?
I have been an International Race Officer for many years .. However, this is my first I have worked on ISAF event. Each ISAF representative has been issued with a guidelines document and I have been busy familiarizing myself with that.
What are the big events that you have been Principal Race Officer on ?
In recent years ,I have been PRO of the SB3 Worlds, the Flying Fifteen Worlds both in Dun Laoghaire and in Auckland, the Fireball and Enterprise Worlds.
At European level ,I have managed the Laser 4.7 and Etchell European Championships, as well as Cork Week and Sovereigns Cup for larger boats.
Will you attend at jury hearings if they arise.?
Absolutely, I will have to give evidence along with the course Race Officer.
What will constitute a successful event for you?
Get all the races in.. No redress hearings..have happy sailors..and fair sailing for all.
What about 2012 and the ISAF Worlds coming to Dun Laoghaire ?
The reverse situation will arise in 2012.
I will be the local Race Officer on a course and ISAF will appoint a Course Representative over me and the other courses, as I am in Istanbul.
This event is a great opportunity to see first hand how the ISAF Youth Worlds are run and it will be an invaluable preparation for Dun Laoghaire 2012.
How do you keep up to speed as a PRO?
I have been an International Race Officer since 1998. It is essential to do PRO for events regularly. That is the best way ,practice,,practice.
As well as that, I still race, no longer in Dragons but as often as I can in J109.
It is very important to be on the other side of the start line too...in touch with competitors and the racing. They are the 'customers' on the race course.
What about the temperament for race management?
I always comment at seminars that a grumpy race officer sends vibes down the fleet very quickly .
You must be relaxed, know what you are about. Over the last 2 maybe 3 years ,I have maybe done in excess of 30 days per season on the water in race management.
And ,at the end of the day, I treat a dragon east coast, a feva nationals or a world championships the same way..it's just that the stakes get a bit higher..
Video Technology and such like has become hot topic at the Soccer World Cup..any new developments for Istanbul ?
Some developments: We will be fully briefed this Thursday and Friday. I understand that on a one course per day, we will have trackers,also the marks will have trackers and the race tracking will be shown ashore.
I gather the Optimists Worlds have,also, now introduced trackers on the boats .
It may be that more sensors on boats will be introduced at some stage in the future, and certainly GPS now plays a major role in course setting.
It's a long day for a PRO on the water?
Well, normally we are afloat at 9 and not back in the marina before 5.
You are on your feet all day ,there is no question for me of sitting down, I like to be always standing in the wind and aware.
I am hoping for flat water in Istanbul. There is very little tide there. No Dublin Bay swells and wind against tide !
You need to retain a high degree of concentration but then I like what I am doing.
When are you off to Istanbul?
Wednesday morning. I have 2 days of meetings ..Thursday and Friday . We have a practice race on Saturday then in to the racing proper.
What about Weymouth and the Olympics in 2012?
Well, 130 International Race Officers applied and I have been notified that I am now one of a group of 24 from which the final 18 will be selected.
Final word?
It's a great honour for me and Dun Laoghaire sailing to be part of the ISAF team at Istanbul.
