Like many Judges, I have been asked to do a few talks to local clubs over the winter, based on the RRS.
There must surely be props, video or PowerPoint, available that would support a talk. Even better, a "barebones" script to provide the backbone of a seminar.
Any pointers on what to include (or not), would be very much appreciated.
For instance, some of my audiences are beginners and we need to do port-starboard. Others, we can do rules 10-17 and others we can also talk about 18.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/19essv_KGDphubDSIWxkS57pi2A9789O-
http://morainesailingclub.org/website/racing/LEARN%20TO%20RACE.ppt
One suggestion is it present them as you race. I.e. begin at the start, then windward leg, windward mark, etc. linking the rules to the leg helps me to apply them better.
I would assume R10 to be pretty basic knowledge, but I'm sure a few wouldn't recognise the windward "running" boat on stbd, to have ROW over the Port boat beating to leeward.
Start your talk about what rules apply prestart, during the start and immediately after. Entertain questions. No more than 3 to 5 if they're short.
Next: Talk about rules that one may encounter on the upwind. Entertain questions. No more than 3 to 5 if they're short.
Then for the fun part, show scenarios at the top mark, with and without offsets. If it is a group that does mainly distance races, go for RRS 18 light. (If you're inside, you're inside. If you're outside, stay outside around the mark.) If they are buoy racers, be prepared to spend some time at the mark.
Then show what happens at a reach mark. This should be quick.
Do the downwind rules and then the bottom mark. Be sure to explain why some of 18 is different at the bottom and where the language tells us about those differences. This won't be quick.
Then show the finish and immediately after.
Videos and diagrams are nice, but they can be limiting to what you can show when a question is outside of the diagrams you have. Keep it conversational. Show them that we use the book too and read the applicable rules aloud. Better yet, have an assistant that can show the rule in discussion on a screen and have them read the rule so you have more than one voice for the poor souls to listen to.
What I just laid out is about 3 to 4 hours depending on the group. The group will pace themselves depending on their knowledge. The more they know, the more they will challenge you. Be prepared to tell them that you don't know the answer and that you will research it and send out to the group via email. Keep them from rambling and keep the conversation under control so you can keep the group going around the course. Be careful of the person that will have a lot of questions and will hog the presentation for themselves. Ask them to note their questions for afterward.
Watch the time and change pace as needed to finish close to where you should be at the time bell.
Advantages are that it follows the reasoning and orientation of the Rules, and provides an easy way to learn the active rules by number.
(I raced for 40 years "knowing" instances when I had ROW. "Keep Clear" gives a fuller picture.)
Attached are
my handout sheet - easily drawn in progression on a chalkboard/whiteboard.
a powerpoint of Coach Healy's full version (note RRS shows 4BL for radio sailing)
a handout of the powerpoint - which include props to Healy and shows 3BL
Also, if you want something beyond the usual "port-starboard, windward-leeward" recitation, I've often thought that a session on the protest hearing procedure would be useful for racers. I think competitors would do better at preparing or defending against protests if they understood the procedure and what the judges would be looking for. If they write, testify and question with a view towards establishing facts relevant to the rules and suggesting conclusions it makes the hearing more efficient and can enhance the probability of successfully sustaining or defending against a protest.
It starts with a basic presentation of the fundamentals and then runs around a windward/leeward/windward/finish course beginning in the pre-start using a white board and magnetic boats. Feel free to steal whatever works for you.
Eric
Mike
https://photos.app.goo.gl/BDERmDWuEeJNoviR2