Mason Blake
The Off Soundings Club is a yacht racing organization with a membership of approximately 500 experienced racing sailors. It was founded in 1933 by Edward Southworth, who wanted to create a club for sailing enthusiasts to meet weekly and enjoy themselves both on and off the water. The club hosts two high-quality weekend race series per year, with each series consisting of a point-to-point race and an around-the-buoys race. While the Off Soundings Club does not specify sail requirements, they do have safety equipment requirements that boats must meet, and it is the responsibility of the skipper to ensure their boat and crew are competent and comply with the relevant regulations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Club | Yacht racing organization |
| Year founded | 1933 |
| Membership count | 500 |
| Member experience | Experienced racing sailors |
| Member location | Connecticut, Rhode Island, Long Island, southern New England, New York State |
| Number of races per year | 2 |
| Number of boats | 115-165 |
| Number of classes | 10 |
| Scoring | ECSA Offshore Circuit, NEMA Racing Schedule |
| Race document distribution | Postal mail, club website |
| Safety equipment requirements | Meets government safety equipment requirements |
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What You'll Learn
Off Soundings Club history
The Off Soundings Club is a yacht racing organization with a membership of approximately 500 experienced racing sailors. Most members are based in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Long Island, Massachusetts, New York State, and elsewhere in southern New England. The club was founded in the fall of 1933 by Edward Southworth, who wanted to create a community for members interested in sailing and sailing only, allowing them to enjoy themselves both ashore and afloat.
Within a few weeks of its conception, Southworth, with the help of Stan Bradford, had drafted the club's constitution and by-laws. On November 7, 1933, an organizational meeting was held at the University Club in Springfield, Massachusetts, where the constitution and by-laws were adopted, and officers were elected. The club's early records include a scrapbook from 1935-1938, documenting the club's activities during those formative years.
Since 1935, the Off Soundings Club has cultivated a tradition of racing sailboats, fostering an environment of competition, challenge, camaraderie, and celebration. Twice a year, nearly 100 boats with 500 crew members compete in a dozen classes, racing to Block Island in the spring and Gardiner's Bay in the fall. The club does not operate a shore facility but focuses on managing two high-quality weekend race series annually for its members and their guests.
The Off Soundings Club assesses penalties for success, creating a more interesting and competitive racing environment. Additionally, the club prioritizes safety, ensuring that boats are properly equipped and meet government safety equipment requirements. The historical records of the club are housed in the Blunt Library at Mystic Seaport Museum, considered the club's traditional home port.
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Membership requirements
The Off Soundings Club is a yacht racing organization with a membership of around 500 experienced racing sailors. The club was founded in 1933 by Edward Southworth, who wanted to create a club for members interested solely in sailing.
Most members are based in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Long Island, and elsewhere in southern New England and New York State. The club does not operate a shore facility but instead focuses on organizing two high-quality weekend race series per year for its members and their invited guests.
If you are a skipper who has never sailed with the club before, you are encouraged to ask a member to invite you as a guest so that you can sail several series to determine your comfort level with the format and conditions and meet other members.
The Off Soundings Club has a "Members Book" that includes the current officers and committee chairmen, constitution, by-laws, individuals who have won trophies, a summary of each trophy's deed, past officers, the fleet, and recently deceased and new members. A list of proposed members is mailed to the existing members for review, and if there are no objections, membership is automatic after 30 days.
The club's historical records are kept in the Blunt Library at Mystic Seaport Museum, which is considered the club's traditional home port.
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Race safety requirements
The Off Soundings Club is a yacht racing organization with a membership of around 500 experienced racing sailors, most of whom are based in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Long Island. The club was founded in 1933 by Edward Southworth, who wanted to create a community of sailors who would meet once a week to enjoy themselves both on and off the shore. The Off Soundings Club has a strong tradition of racing sailboats, with two series each season: a point-to-point race and an around-the-buoys race. These races attract a large number of participants, with fleets ranging from 115 to 165 boats and over 500 crew members competing in various classes.
To ensure the safety of its members and guests, the Off Soundings Club adheres to strict safety requirements and government regulations. According to the club's FAQs, each participant is responsible for the safety of their boat and crew. This includes ensuring that the boat is safe and properly equipped, meeting all safety equipment requirements, and having a competent and physically fit crew.
The club provides thorough race documents that outline the rules and safety procedures for each event. These documents include important information such as anchoring/mooring instructions, race courses, and any relevant rules or last-minute instructions. The Off Soundings Club also follows US Sailing's Safety at Sea guidelines, which have been overhauled to be more accessible and easier to understand for yacht owners.
In addition to safety equipment and procedural requirements, the Off Soundings Club promotes responsible behaviour among its members. This includes preventing underage alcohol consumption, as mentioned in the FAQs. The club also emphasizes the "good fellowship of sailing" in its administrative activities, fostering a sense of camaraderie and sportsmanship among its members.
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Scoring and penalties
The Off Soundings Club assesses penalties (PE) for success, which are applied against a boat's handicap. The penalty system is detailed in the NOR and Sailing Instructions.
There are various scoring abbreviations used for recording the circumstances described:
- DNC: Did not start, did not come to the starting area
- DNS: Did not start (other than DNC and OCS)
- OCS: Did not start; on the course side of the starting line at her starting signal and failed to start, or broke rule 30.1
- ZFP: 20% penalty under rule 30.2
- UFD: Disqualification under rule 30.3
- BFD: Disqualification under rule 30.4
- SCP: Took a Scoring Penalty under rule 44.3(a)
- NSC: Did not sail the course
- DNF: Did not finish
- RET: Retired
- DSQ: Disqualification
- DNE: Disqualification (other than DGM) not excludable under rule 90.3(b)
- DGM: Disqualification for gross misconduct not excludable under 90.3(b)
- RDG: Redress given
- DPI: Discretionary penalty imposed
A boat that did not start, sail the course or finish or comply with rule 30.2, 30.3, 30.4 or 78.2, or that retires or takes a penalty under rule 44.3 (a), shall be scored accordingly by the race committee without a hearing. Only the protest committee may take other scoring actions that worsen a boat’s score.
A boat that did not start, did not sail the course, did not finish, retired or was disqualified shall be scored points for the finishing place one more than the number of boats entered in the series. A boat that is penalized under rule 30.2 or that takes a penalty under rule 44.3(a) shall be scored points as provided in rule 44.3(c).
A boat takes a Post-Race Penalty by delivering to the arbitrator or a member of the protest committee a written statement that she accepts the penalty and that identifies the race number and where and when the incident occurred.
Rule 43.1(b) exonerates a boat from breaches of certain rules when she is sailing within the room or mark-room to which she is entitled. This rule could apply in any situation that requires a boat to give room or mark-room, including rule 15 (acquiring right of way), rule 16 (changing course), rule 18 (mark-room), rule 19 (room to pass an obstruction), and rule 20 (room to tack at an obstruction).
Rule 43.1(c) exonerates a boat from breaches of rule 14 (avoiding contact) if she is the right-of-way boat or sailing within the room or mark-room to which she is entitled. This applies only if the contact did not cause injury or damage.
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Race documents and communication
The Off Soundings Club is a yacht racing club with a membership of around 500 experienced racing sailors. The club hosts two high-quality weekend race series per year, with each series consisting of a point-to-point race and an around-the-buoys race. The race documents provided by the club are thorough and complete, including general information about the venues. The club is ready to communicate with entrants at any time, but the expectation is that entrants should be able to enter and sail the races with minimal communication by thoroughly reading the provided race documents and the RRS.
The usual flow of information for a race includes an early warning during the first quarter of the race dates, followed by a First Race Notice with general information about the race, including arrangements for anchoring/mooring and dining, and requirements for entering. A Final Notice is mailed the week before the race, including a list of entered boats by class, sail number identification, class starting times, race courses, rules, and any last-minute instructions. Results are mailed out after the race, usually with the First Notice for the next race.
The Notice of Race (NOR) and Sailing Instructions outline the responsibilities of entrants, including ensuring that their boat is safe, properly equipped, and meets government safety equipment requirements, and that their crew is competent and physically fit to race. The NOR and Final Notices are posted on the club website, and entrants must bring these documents with them on race day. The club does not distribute race documents on the water for safety reasons due to the large fleets and potential for heavy weather.
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Frequently asked questions
The Off Soundings Club is a yacht racing organisation with a membership of approximately 500 experienced racing sailors. It was founded in 1933 by Edward Southworth.
If you are a skipper that has never sailed with the club before, you should ask a member to invite you as a guest and sail several series to determine that you are comfortable with the format and conditions and to meet other members.
The Off Soundings Club's safety requirements state that you must be aboard and ensure that your boat is safe and properly equipped and meets government safety equipment requirements. You are responsible for the safety of the boat and crew and for deciding whether to start or continue racing at any time.
The Off Soundings Club provides race documents that include general information about the venues, where and when the race will take place, arrangements for anchoring/mooring and dining, and the requirements for entering. The club also provides a First Race Notice and a Final Notice that includes more detailed information about the race.
