Racing Squadron - Cynthia Houston, Racing Commodore

PSC Racing Squadron
 

The PSC Racing Squadron is open to all active PSC members who hold a US Navy Sailing Basic Keelboat Skipper (B-KBS) rating or an equivalent keelboat rating through ASA or US Sailing.  If you do not currently have a basic keelboat rating, you should start with our thorough and challenging Basic Keelboat Training (B-KBS) course.

The PSC Racing Squadron offers members an opportunity to develop their sailing skills right here on the Potomac River in a competitive yet friendly sailboat racing environment – all at a bargain price.  Even if you have raced sailboats before, you will find the Potomac a worthy challenge.  For those who have never raced, the somewhat more relaxed atmosphere of the racing fleet offers a great opportunity to learn.

The Pentagon Sailing Club Racing Squadron was founded in 2006 after the initial efforts of John Cavedo and Charlie Peck to train a group of Pentagon Sailing members in sailboat racing, the nuances of sail trim, and the ISAF Racing Rules of Sailing. The program continued to a more formal status in 2007, when PSC put together a formal racing squadron with its own charter, qualification process, and organizational rules.  PSC also joined the Dangerfield Island Sailing Club (DISC), the sponsor of our Tuesday night and weekend races on the river.  The Squadron Standard Operating Procedures can be found here.

How does it work?

Tuesday evening DISC racing is offered from May through October.  Races begin at 6:30 PM with boats returning to the dock between 8:00 and 9:00 PM.  Races offer members a terrific opportunity to hone their skills while racing against a fleet of more than 20 boats on a typical night.  Departure time from the dock is 5:15 PM sharp.  You should plan to arrive earlier to get your crew and boat assignment and prepare your boat.  Later departure times may be available at the discretion of the senior member.  The complete DISC schedule and additional information can be found here.

DISC also offers several weekend racing opportunities during the season.  RS members may enter these races if the club boats are not being used for other purposes such as B-KBS training courses.  However, only a few of these weekend DISC races are paid for in our group membership, so additional fees may be required by DISC and/or PSC crew.  Crews will need to reserve the boats in advance through the normal reservation process.  Several organized regattas are also held each season on the river and are sponsored by a variety of organizations.  RS members are encouraged to organize a crew, reserve boats, and enter those events.

Participation in DISC racing also requires additional qualifications.  Those wishing to act as crew members will need to complete a short and basic written exam to ensure they understand the fundamental racing rules to be safe.  Members who wish to function as a tactician or helmsman will require a Skipper of Record (SOR) qualification which includes a more extensive written exam and several on-the-water evaluations.  You must also pass a Boating Safety Exam and carry a certificate card. 

While River Training takes precedent, these events offer other racing possibilities where they do not conflict with River Training.

If you have never raced, it is the most fun that you will ever have sailing.  It isn’t a “read a book in the cockpit” activity like cruising.  It gets the adrenaline pumping and builds camaraderie.  But more importantly, it is probably the best thing you can do to build your skills as a sailor and crew member. When you have raced for awhile, you definitely take with you a feeling of confidence whenever you head out cruising on the bay or the ocean. 

How do I get started?

Sign up for a Racing Squadron membership

1. Contact Cynthia Houston, the Racing Commodore
2. Print and fill out a Racing Squadron Application for the class.
3. Mail your completed River Activities Registration Form and your payment to:

PSC Treasurer
P.O. Box 23422
Washington, DC 20026-3422

Racing Tips

If you’d like to get a jump start on your racing season, here are a few helpful links:

Review the 16 Basics of Sailboat Racing to understand of basic mechanics of the racing at…

www.sailingcourse.com/racing.htm

Review the official rules at the ISAF website at…

www.sailing.org/racingrules.php

Take an US Sailing exam on the basic racing rules at…

www.sailingcourse.com/racing_test.htm

Already a Racing Squadron member?  Tell us when you plan to race or volunteer to host the post-race social on the crew sheet.

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This page updated December 21, 2012