NETWORK
Race officer qualification requirements
RYA qualifications for race officers are Regional Race Officer and National Race Officer. The International Race Officer qualification is awarded by World Sailing
All RYA qualifications (NRO and RRO) are held for four years, after which time an application for renewal must be made. Applicants must be:
- members of the RYA
- age 18 or over for both National and Regional qualification
- an experienced racing sailor
- an email user with internet access
- UK passport holder (or have principal residence in the UK).
The table below provides a summary of the Race Officer qualification requirements. For all qualification requirements in more detail, please view our competency document.
Requirement |
Regional Race Officer |
|
|
Initial |
Renewal |
|
Course |
RRO |
Or conference |
Examination |
RRO Exam (min 70%) |
Or conference |
Experience |
4 events* as RO, CRO, STRT or RSRO |
|
|
3 events* as RO, CRO, STRT or RSRO & One National-Level or WS Principal event as RMT |
||
|
2 events* as RO, CRO, STRT or RSRO & 2 National-Level** or WS Principal events as DRO or Start or Finish ARO |
||
|
Active role in the RMT of other events |
Not required |
|
References |
1 |
Not required |
VHF Certificate |
Yes |
Yes |
Powerboat Qualification |
Not required |
Not required
|
Conference |
Not required |
Or course |
Race Officials Safeguarding Course* |
Yes |
Yes |
Requirement |
National Race Officer |
|
|
Initial |
Renewal |
|
Course |
NRO |
Or conference |
Examination |
NRO Exam (min 70%) |
Or conference |
Experience |
4 major events* as RO, CRO, STRT or RSRO |
|
|
3 major events* as RO, CRO, STRT or RSRO & 2 National-Level** events as DRO or Start or Finish ARO |
||
|
3 major events* as RO, CRO, STRT or RSRO & One WS Principal event as DRO |
||
|
Active role in the RMT of other events |
Not required |
|
|
DRO or above in at least: 2 events on the sea; |
Not required |
|
|
Worked on either Signal Vessel, Start Pin Vessel or Finish Vessel under at least 2 senior race officers (NRO or IRO) |
Not required |
|
|
Worked in at least 2 disciplines |
Not required |
|
|
Worked with at least 2 course configurations |
Not required |
|
References |
2 |
Not required |
VHF Certificate |
Yes |
Yes |
Powerboat Qualification |
PB 2 |
PB 2 |
Conference |
Not required |
Or course |
Race Officials Safeguarding Course* |
Yes |
Yes |
* see 6.5 b)
** A National-Level event is either a National Championship or a National Series event of a class and run by an NRO or an IRO
*** see 3.2 h)
References must be from the events given on the application form.
Candidates for the National qualification are also required to show additional experience such as an ability to work with a variety of course configurations, in waters outside of their home area and with several senior race officers. A 'major event' is deliberately not defined as there are many factors to be taken into consideration when assessing this.
The Race Officer application form and reference form can be found here.