Preparing for and sailing a regatta on Lake Geneva

The rules that apply

When racing, World Sailing's Racing Rules of Sailing apply (2025-2028 edition), with Swiss Sailing's national prescriptions on the Swiss side, supplemented for each regatta by its notice of race and its sailing instructions. These rules apply between boats that are racing: towards a boat that isn't racing, and above all towards priority passenger boats (green ball by day), the Lake Geneva navigation regulations apply — you keep clear of them, just as outside regattas (see Who has right of way?).

Storm warning lights also apply during a regatta: ≈ 40 flashes per minute for the caution warning, ≈ 90 for the storm warning (see storm warning lights).

The day before and that morning

• The wind: the hour-by-hour forecast (Wind and weather menu, time slider), then the lakeside stations on the morning itself, updated every 10 minutes.
• The racing area: the “Navigation — summary” layer for wind, current and sea state together, and “Waves — estimated height” for the chop.
• The boat: enter your polar in “Where to?” (waterline, displacement, sail area, a few real speeds): the racing route uses it.

Racing with the app

1. The line: sail right past the committee mast, then the pin-end mark, and tap “Here (GPS)” each time.
2. The marks: in course order, by GPS or on the map; “Round trip” for a multi-lap course. “My courses” keeps them for next time.
3. The wind: entered by hand, measured by the nearest station or taken from the forecast; or measured on two upwind legs (15 seconds steady on each).
4. The countdown: 5 min, 3 min or another duration; “Sync” on the committee's signal.
5. Racing: marks are rounded automatically, fastest route to the next one, recalculated at each mark and each wind change; “Finish” within 3 minutes of crossing the line stops the clock at the crossing.

Button-by-button details: racing user guide.

What the app doesn't do

The GPS gives the course over ground, not the heading: VMG, tack and layline lag a few seconds behind after tacking, and the current shifts them. Within the displayed accuracy, the app doesn't know which side of the line you're on. Only the race committee rules on a premature start: the app does not settle any racing rules question.

Open the Lake Geneva map

See also

The Sailing and racing guide, plus: Sailing schools and clubs, Major regattas.