HomeWednesday Night Races

Wednesday Night Racing

2023 Wednesday Night Race Results

Over the years Wednesday night races have become the most popular races at PPYC. Wednesday night races are FUN RACES that use a pursuit-start format based on each boat's PHRF handicap rating. Races are held every Wednesday April through September. After the race on first Wednesday night of each month is a Burger Night social --$10 a head is due at the door.

If you want to sail, but don’t have a boat, please sign up/register for the specific event that you plan to attend on the PPYC web site prior to noon on race day. We will try to align available crew with boats that need crew. Boats are typically rigging at 5 PM, so if you are wanting to crew, try to arrive by around that time.

For Skippers - if you either need or can accommodate additional crew, please advise the Race Director (Racing@ppyc.org) on a weekly basis.

Important Links

Starting Times Sheet -Find your start time here. Note that there are separate tables for Spinnaker and Non-Spinnaker.
http://www.time.gov/ - This is our official clock. Check your cell phone against this if you are going to use your cell.
Waiver/Release/Emergency Contact - Non-members and guests, please bring a completed waiver when you come out to join us.
Wednesday Night Course Diagram
Short Course Diagram
WNR Sailing Instructions

General Procedures Summary - Click here to download the complete WNR Sailing Instructions.

Wednesday Night Races start at 6:00 pm. Your count down is based on this start time.
The race Start/Finish line is between the two southernmost no wake markers near the mouth of the Hamilton Creek Sailboat Marina cove.
Time-of-Day Starting System: Wednesday Night Races are intended to be fun races that are simple to participate in and simple to run. One way we made them simpler was to eliminate the starting horn completely. You will use your starting time listed on the Starting Times Sheet, but instead of waiting for a horn to start your countdown, you will use 6:00:00 as the "zero starting time." Just use the Official US Time at http://www.time.gov/ or http://time.gov/widget/widget.html . There will not be a starting horn used for the zero time. The starting times sheet also shows the time-of-day that each boat should start. Although you will probably still find it easier to use a countdown, you could just use the time-of-day to start.
Bring a signed Waiver/Release/Emergency Contact form for you and your crew.
Scoring Sheet and Novice Points
At the conclusion of each race, find the scoring sheet on the dock or deck. Record your boat, the boat that finished ahead of you and the boat that finished after you. If your crew includes race novices (up to 2) add that to the score sheet. A novice is defined as a race participant that has been involved in 6 or fewer club races or regattas.

Novice points are intended to encourage opportunities for prospective sailors. Each novice aboard (up to 2) will subtract 1 from your race score. 1 is your lowest possible score. (For example, if you finish 4th and have two novices on board you will receive a score of 2. 1 is the lowest possible score.
WNR Series: Monthly competitions will be scored for May, June, July, August and Sept. There will also be scoring for the entire series. One throw-out will be allowed for each six races conducted. If a race is cancelled for weather or lack of participation, it will not be considered in the scoring.
Abandoning the Race:
Racing for the day will be abandoned if no boat rounds the first mark by 7 pm.
Racing will be abandoned if no boat finishes by 8 pm.
Shortened Course for Low Wind: The following method will be used to shorten the course for low wind days or impending bad weather.

The call to shorten course will be made by consensus of 3 or more racing skippers or by the Race Director.
The decision to shorten course shall be made no later than 5:45 under the following conditions:
- If sustained winds are 3mph or less at the Nashville Airport weather station. Or wind conditions are visibly light on the lake. http://w1.weather.gov/data/obhistory/KBNA.html
- And the wind forecast is not predicted to improve.
The shorten course starting times on the starting times sheet shall be used.
The S Flag shall be displayed as soon as possible after the decision to shorten course. It shall be accompanied by two sounds of horn or whistle.
S Flag:
The Short Course is illustrated here.

If you are a PPYC member and want to participate in club races, but your boat does not appear on the starting times list above, please complete a PHRF Rating Application. For questions about handicaps and starting times, contact the PPYC Director of Racing.