Club Handicap Racing Fleet 
Santa Barbara Yacht Club

Because every boat has a unique start time, it is important that the clock you use to start the race be synchronized with the Race Committee's Clock. That clock is always on the deck prior to the start of the race.

The Race Committee makes every effort to insure that the time displayed on its clock is accurate. So the clock used is an Atomic clock capable of receiving time signals from the Atomic Clock located in Boulder Colorado. This time signal is considered to be the most accurate in the world. 

It is possible that the Race Committee's clock might not always be properly synchronized due to weak radio signals, so it is imperative that competitors compare their clocks to the Race Committee's clock prior to each race. In all cases, the time displayed on this clock will be the official race time right or wrong.

One objective for using an Atomic clock on the deck is hopefully to allow individual competitors to use a GPS or an Atomic Clock of their own so that synchronization with the RC clock is unnecessary. Initial tests are encouraging, but the jury is still out. If you want to rely on your own GPS or Atomic clock, you must assume the risk that it may differ from the official RC clock. One way to be sure you are coordinated with the RC clock is to simply monitor the time displayed on your GPS when you hear the first gun. If there is any discrepancy, you will know what it is.