Meet the London and South East Team - Chris Simon, Regional Rules Advisor

Chris writes:

My name is Chris Simon and I am the Regional Rules Advisor (RRA) for the RYA London & South East Region. I have been the RRA since 2008, originally in the Thames Valley Region, which was partially merged into this region in 2016.

The role

My role is to improve racing rules knowledge and observance in the clubs in the region. This is mainly done through presenting rules talks to club members and, also, by training members to become Club Rules Advisors for their clubs.

Background

I have been sailing for over 70 years, almost entirely racing dinghies and small keel boats. I have been an RYA race official for over 30 years and variously as an International Umpire, International Umpire and International Race Officer. I have also been involved in the administrative side of sailing in various roles including 20 years (2004 to 2023) as a member of the RYA Racing Rules Committee and 16 years as Editor of the RYA Case Book.

Rules talks for clubs

I am happy to give rules talks face-to-face at clubs but some clubs feel that online talks (Zoom, Teams, etc.), as I gave during lockdown, worked well and attracted bigger turnouts. Over the lockdown periods of the pandemic I gave 22 online talks – nearly all on ‘the new rules for 2021-24’ to over 700 club members!

My role is largely reactive – I do what I am asked to do by clubs. I am always hoping that clubs will want to get rules back on their agendas and ask me to give talks, in person or remotely and to train Rules Advisors for their club. It has been shown, repeatedly, that poor rule observance is one of the biggest reasons for people leaving the sport of sailboat racing.

So let me help you and your clubs put ‘following and enforcing’ the racing rules of sailing as a priority, as the Basic Principle of our sport requires. If you’d like an online or in person talk on the rules of sailing at your club/centre please contact me