Skegs Boat Race is a service to help sailing clubs run their races more easily. Race scheduling, competitor registration and results can all be done in real time using the power of the cloud.

No more soggy bits of paper or hours spent applying handicaps for mixed class races. Results are instant and can easily be broadcast live while the race is running.




Calendar
Boats
Officer
Admin
Help
Current
Recent
History
My season

Races
Duties

Your boats

Different boats and rigging options carry their own PY number for calculating results in mixed class racing. Setting up each of your boats will give flexibility when registering to race. The race officer can adjust the rig if a different one is used on the day. Local rules may apply when different rigs are used in the same event series.

+ Add boat





Cancel
Ok

Change
Races
Sailors
Clubs
Classes
Winners

Race admin

+ Add event
  
Results URLs

Participating clubs (edit):

Up to n racesDiscards
0
1
2
3
4


 

+ Add race
Cancel
Ok

Current
Recent
History

Club admin

Sailor admin

PY Classes

+ Add class

Rig nameCrewSailsSpinnakerPY number
+ Add option






Cancel
Ok

Current season winners and leaders

Loading, please wait...

  My race duty list

Current
Recent
History



User Guide


How to sign up

You'll need to create a login to use Skegs Boat Race. Go to https://race.skegs.net/ and click the "Join here" button. Fill in the form and click "Sign up". You'll receive an email asking to confirm your email address, and your account will only be activated once you've followed the verification link. The confirmation email should come through straight away so check your Junk folder if you don't see it.

Note that at present you will automatically join Highcliffe Sailing Club as this is the only organisation using the service while it undergoes full development. We plan to add lots more clubs in the future.


How to add and manage your boats

Different boats and rigging options carry their own PY number for calculating results in mixed class racing. Setting up each of your boats will give flexibility when registering for events and signing on to races. The race officer can adjust the rig if a different one is used on the day. Local rules may apply when different rigs are used in the same event series.

To add your boats, go to the Boats tab and click the "+ Add boat" button to add to the list. Give your boat a name or nickname for easy identification, select the class and enter your sail number. Don't worry if your sail number changes (either temporarily or permanently) - you can always update it when you sign on to race.


How to sign on for a race

Go to the Calendar tab to see the list of races. Here you'll find three tabs - Current, Recent and History. Choose Current for all upcoming races, Recent for the last 6 weeks, and History for everything before that.

In the Current list you'll see a "Register" button, and clicking it will bring up the Event registration form. Choose the boat that you plan to race and click Register. Note that only the helm should register, as they are registering the boat and not the crew. On returning to the calendar, you'll see information about the boat you've registered against all races in the event series.

Once you've registered for the event or series, you'll receive emails before each race day asking you to sign on for the race. On the confirmation page you can confirm the boat class you'll be sailing, enter your intended rig or sail size, and confirm your sail number. Don't worry if any of these details change on the day, you can follow the link in the email again to make adjustments up until the start of the race. The Race Officer will also be able to update the details if necessary.

Note: Emails will be sent from noreply@skegs.net to the address you use to log in to Skegs Boat Race, so please make sure they don't go to your Junk folder.


What happens if I don't register for a race?

If you haven't registered or signed on you can generally still take part. The Race Officer is able to add any boats that attend the start line if they weren't pre-registered. They will also check that details are correct (boat class, rig and sail numbers) for all boats in the race.


How do handicaps work and why can't I update the rig for my boat?

Skegs Boat Race is fully geared up for mixed class racing and recognises that many boat classes allow you to choose a different rig depending on the conditions. Each rig has a Portsmouth Yardstick handicap defined by the RYA and we always use the latest PY numbers at the time of the race. Smaller rigs attract more favourable handicaps and can sometimes create an advantage in the right conditions.

If you've sailed a race in a series using a faster rig, you won't be able to set a slower rig for subsequent races. This is because handicaps apply for all the races in a series, not each race, and the fastest rig used will count for all races in the series. You can of course sail a slower rig on any given day (for better stability in windier conditions, for example) but the handicap for the fastest rig you've used will still apply for all races.


Race Officer basics

As Race Officer, you have the responsibilities of setting the course and running the race, and Skegs Boat Race is designed to help you manage this in real time. To get started click the Officer tab to see the list of races you can manage. You will only see this option if you have been assigned as RO or ARO to at least one race. Click on the race in the list to open the race management pane.

The race management pane has a number of elements as follows:

  1. Race information - event and race name, date, time and status. Click the "edit" link to adjust, record wind details, or edit officials.
  2. Number of registered boats - click the "add/remove" link to make changes.
  3. Race clock with contextual controls
  4. Link to the event results page
  5. Mode selector buttons (desktop devices only) - to allow for manual result entry from paper sheets (see manual mode section below)
  6. Participant list - boats, sail numbers, helm and controls

This section of the guide will tell you how to change the race details, manage the fleet, operate the race timer, capture the lap times, and finalise the results.


Race Officer - how to edit event information

Click the "edit" link to the right of the race date/time to open the Race details panel. Here you can adjust

  • Scheduled date and time for the race
  • Race status (Rescheduled, Cancelled, etc.) Note that the status will be set automatically when you start the timer, finish the race, etc.
  • Wind strength and direction
  • Officials on duty - RO, ARO, support boat, etc

Race Officer - add participants to a race

Participants who have signed on will be added to the race automatically. However, you may need to make some adjustments or add boats that come to the line without signing on first. Click the "add/remove" link to get started. The fleet management panel has three tabs:

  • Registered - for boats already in the event or series fleet. Toggle participation in the race on or off by clicking on the participant row.
  • Club list. All boats known to the club are listed alphabetically by class and sail number. Select the boats you want and click "Add to race". You may need to specify the rigs where applicable.
  • Add new - for all other boats.

We recommend returning to the Registered tab to double check before clicking Ok to save your changes and close the panel.


Race Officer - how to run a race

Prepare the course and communicate the layout and number of laps to the fleet. The app doesn't currently do this so you'll have to do it manually. Once that's out of the way you can turn your attention to running the race.

  1. Prepare the fleet list. Check that you have all the boats in the list on the Race details panel. You can update the list once the race is under way.

  2. Start the timer. This will begin the countdown and give a 15 second buffer before you have to sound the first signal. The clock will count down to zero and give visual and audible prompts at 4 minutes to go, 1 minute to go, and go time (remember to turn your device sound up).
    You can cancel the countdown at any time if you need to restart proceedings. Remember to use appropriate signals to notify the fleet.
    Once the countdown reaches zero you will hear a signal, the clock will turn green and the race timer will start counting up.
    If there are boats over the line early you can recall the whole fleet or just the errant boats if it's a small number. For a general recall you can abandon the race and call all the boats back for a full restart procedure. For a small number of boats, give an extra signal to notify that boats were over the line. For any errant boats that don't come back and start again you can mark them OCS in the Participant list.

  3. Record the lap times. Tap the stopwatch icon in the participant list to capture the time as a boat crosses the line. You'll see the number of laps go up and the participant will move to the bottom of the list to make it easier to find boats when there are lots of them.
    Remember to give boats a signal when they complete their last lap.

  4. Finish the race. Click the "End race" button on the stopwatch to stop the timer and mark all boats as finished.

  5. Check and adjust details before confirming the results. Use the pencil icon to adjust boat details, rig, PY number and lap times. To adjust boat status and mark participants as DNS, OCS, DNF, DSQ, OOD, etc. tap on their status in the list, and select the correct status from the menu.
    You can check your adjustment by opening and/or refreshing the results page before you communicate that the results are confirmed. If there is a protest committee you should wait for any decisions to be completed before adjusting if necessary and confirming the results.


Race Officer - manual mode

Manual mode was designed to let you capture the results after recording them on paper sheets, however it's also an easy way to make several adjustments at once after the race is finished. Results will be published to the event results page as normal. Manual mode is only available on desktop (not mobile) devices.

Remember to set the participant status to a value other than Active for their scores to count, and to set the race status to Finished.


User hints and hardware notes

Skegs Boat Race is designed to run on any device with a web browser and this makes it easy for all sailors to use when taking part in racing. For the race officials there are some practical considerations to think about when choosing a device to use.

You'll need an Internet connection to load the app and submit your updates to the cloud, but not all tablets are equipped with a mobile connection and mobile signals can be iffy when out on the water. For this reason we've designed the app to be able to work offline if necessary and upload the results when your Internet connection is restored. For absolute certainty we recommend that you make sure your device is fully charged, and that you log in and open the Race Officer pane before moving away from a wifi connection.

The weather can also play a big part in running a race when you don't have the luxury of being indoors. Here are some things to think about:

  • Glare from the sun can make the screen difficult to see so make sure you have your screen brightness turned up.

  • Many screens nowadays are polarised and this can cause difficulty when wearing polarised glasses. You may need to try using landscape instead of portrait if this is the case, as the direction of polarisation can make a difference. Note that using landscape isn't recommended for phone screens due to the limited space, and you may need to use a different pair of glasses instead.

  • Cold conditions can limit a touchscreen's ability to detect taps on the stopwatch and other controls, and may also increase battery consumption. If you wear gloves make sure they won't hinder your device's ability to sense any touches.

  • Rain can cause issues for electronic devices and we recommend using a suitable waterproof cover. Be sure to get one that doesn't hinder the screen's ability to sense your touch. Raindrops can also register as taps on a screen causing the app to behave erratically, and we recommend use of an umbrella or other cover in these circumstances. You may also be able to adjust your device's touch sensitivity in the settings to limit the impact of rain.

Whichever strategies you choose to adopt, do give them a try ahead of time so you can be confident of being able to run the race unhindered. If you're running the race from a boat take precautions to ensure that your device can't fall into the water and break or get lost.




X

Sign up

Sailing clubs (or other organisations) and their members will be able to sign up to use our services, which include running and taking part in races.

You don't need to sign up to view race results, your club will be able to share a link for this.

The service is currently available on a trial basis to Highcliffe Sailing Club members only.




Sign up
X


Confirm your organisation

The club you entered matches one that's already on Skegs. Please confirm or register a new organisation.

  
Confirm

 OR


  
New

The club you entered isn't one we know about yet. Please confirm you want to register a new organisation:

  


Ok
Back

We found a few matching club names. Please select the right one or confirm you want to register a new organisation.


Select

 OR



Create new
X


Is this you?

We found a match from previous race results! Please select any boats that are yours:



Ok
X


Please log in to continue






Log in

Login failed, please try again

Please change your password





Change password
X


You're almost there!

Please check your inbox or junk mail email for a verification message from us. Once done you can return to our home page and log in.

X


Forgot password

Please enter your email address and click ok, then check your inbox or junk mail email for a verification code.




Ok

Nearly there!

Please check your email for a verification code and enter it below with a new password









Reset password
X


Event registration

Note that only the helm can register for an event

Event:
Type:
Location:

Races:




Register
X


Appoint

Event:
Race:



Ok
X


Event editor


Participating clubs (edit):

Up to n racesDiscards
0
1
2
3
4



+ Add race
Cancel
Ok
X


Edit boat class


+ Add rig

Rig nameCrewSailsSpinnakerCurrent PY



Cancel
Ok
X

Let's go racing!


 (edit)


 (add/remove)
Countdown
Cancel
Abandon
End race


05:00
Standard mode
Manual mode

Boats

HelmClass RigSail # PY numberStatus LapsFinish time

Race details

to

+ Add official
RoleName



Save
 Finished
 Competitor not present
 Present but didn't start
 Retired / didn't finish
 Didn't sail the course
 Disqualified
 Officer on duty
 Reset status
X


Select participating clubs


Done


X


Registered
Club list
Add new

Registered for the event



Ok


Other known boats

Add to race

Add to race


Add a boat






Clear
Add to race


Please confirm rigs for the boat(s) below. You can also do this later via the Edit Boats tab.


Ok


X


Edit race participant







(was )





Cancel
Ok

 
 
 
 
 
X


Race details



to

+ Add official
RoleName


Cancel
Ok
X


Sequence of active boats



Cancel
Ok
X


Select boats to add to race



Cancel
Ok




Cancel
Ok
X

Race sign-on


Helm: Helm name








Confirm


Sorry, this link has expired as there are no upcoming races in the event. Please click Ok to return to the Skegs Boat Race home page.



Ok


X


Error


Ok


X


Event Results URL List


Ok


X


PY Number editor

 


Effective datePY Number

Cancel
Ok
X


Duty volunteering


OfficialName


Cancel
Confirm

 
 
 
 
 
X


Duty swap or cancellation

Future duties can only be cancelled if you are already over your required quota. Alternatively you can exchange with another empty slot, or request to swap with someone else for a specific duty.





Swap options available to you:



Close

 
 
 
 
 
X


Changes detected

Your changes may be lost if you continue. Do you want to save them first?


Save
Continue without saving
Cancel