Umpire's view

James Blacksell

For team racing in the UK, the Wilson Trophy is the season’s big finale.

Forgotten are all those cold days through the winter. Whether you have been to the Wessex Winter Warmer, the Bristol Brew or the Liverpool Lash among the many events through a team-racing season starting in autumn and ending in spring, the Wilson Trophy is an event you want to be involved in. As well as replacing the two sets of thermals and three jackets with fewer layers and sunglasses, it is the pinnacle of an umpire’s season. If he gets asked . . . . Invitation time is around December and you get a bit nervous as you’ve noticed that each year there are always one or two missing faces. Did I do OK last time? Has that error in October (it wasn’t my fault he fell in) got back to the power-that-be?

Phew! . . the precious email arrives from CHUMP. Would I like to be on the Wilson team again this year? Is the Pope a Catholic? Umpiring the Wilson is the best chance to use all your knowledge and experience among the best team-racers in the World over two intense days of racing.

The call book is an invaluable aid for all umpires. Throughout the season you check it from time to time when discussions arise or just to refresh your memory. You know it inside out but as you get close to May things start niggling. You have rules on the brain. You have to carry a call book at all times (including visits to the water-cooler) just in case a question pops into your head. Bed-time reading changes from Tom Clancy to ISAF Publications. At the event, we start with an umpire briefing on Friday night, a little supper and a pint with old friends with introductions to new members of the team. Rules’ amendments and calls are discussed and the roster is sorted so you know who you are with for the first of many flights. It’s a good idea to try and get an early night on Friday (but this never seems to happen), as the first flight starts on Saturday morning at 8.00 am and umpires are to be present and correct by 7.30 am. At least there’s a breakfast barm and a strong coffee provided by the fantastic crew on the grill.

So you don your Umpire top and radio and kitted with rule books, notepads, flags, whistles, hats, sun cream and sunglasses everyone makes their way to their numbered RIB. You know it’s going to be a long, long day – around 200 races split between four umpire teams means you will umpire nearly 50 races in this, the first day. It never really seems that many; you just get drawn into the rhythm of the event.

As soon as one race has finished it’s time to make your way back to the start for the next one. As the course manager has usually got the course spot on there’s never time to stop and it’s straight into another start sequence. Racing is frantic, teams are pulling off new moves, which, if you haven’t been on the circuit all season might surprise you. It’s nice to get the first couple of races away, but all you are waiting for is that chance to fly your red flag and blow your whistle. A clear cut opportunity soon arises and you know you’re in the right.

At around 10.00 am tea arrives, perfectly timed to quench the thirst, as well as provide a much needed caffeine boost to prevent you flagging, as you’ve already umpired about a dozen races. Confidence is building with every race, but beware: don’t get carried away. At sometime during the day a situation might happen that will bamboozle you – so stay on your toes.

Another 15 races and lunch passes. You’re nearly half way through the day. More and more calls, flags and whistles through the afternoon. Hopefully not too many disgruntled competitors as there are always two sides to a story. Now you’re starting to look forward to a well-earned glass of Pimms at the evening’s umpire reception.

The umpire team after being first on the water at 7.45 are pretty much last off at 5.30. It’s been a long day and you can’t remember how many flags you’ve flown. It’s time to dash into the shower get your blazer on. You’ve got the umpire reception at 6.00 and the famous Wilson Dinner at 7.30. A word of warning, make sure you never have a glass full to the brim, you never know when the next table drinking race will come along. After a few glasses of wine and some entertainment, it’s time to slope off and leave the competitors to party into the night. You’ve got to be up early again ready for another long day. Now the second word of caution. Be wary of fellow umpires with a taste for late night tipples. You’ll find out soon enough who they are!!

Sunday morning arrives and the cobwebs are soon blown away with more flags and whistles - which seem a bit louder than the previous day. Teams are getting more anxious and desperate in their manoeuvres trying to claim a spot in the quarter finals. The cut-off to the knockout stages at around lunchtime gives you a chance to have a breather before the stakes rise. Get a call wrong in the knockout stages and it’s not just the competitors’ wrath you will gain but the hundreds of supporters on the shore and in the grandstands. The pressure is on as you know how much teams have worked to get this far. The standard gets better and better through the semi-finals and, even if you’re not lucky enough to be on the team for the final, you can watch the highlight of the team-racing year from the safety of the shore.

So it’s all over. Say your goodbyes, rive home and eagerly wait CHUMP to send out that invitation again in December. You’ve definitely got the bug to umpire the best team racing event in the World.