Charley Cook (USA) is the ISAF Principal Race Officer (PRO) at the 2010 Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta. He will also be the (PRO) for the 2012 Olympic Games Sailing Competition to be held in Weymouth in just under two year’s time.

Cook has a team of International Technical Officials (ITO) and Course Race Officials (CRO) to manage the final regatta of the ISAF Sailing World Cup in Weymouth. There are seven race courses in Weymouth and nearly 700 boats so this is a major test for this highly experienced team. The key objective, Cook points out, is to provide consistent and fair racing at all Sailing World Cup (SWC) regattas.

'Every SWC this year has appointed a (PRO) from a small group developed by ISAF, and the concept was to have a (PRO) who is not from the host country to make sure the events run consistently on the water at all SWC events.'
The race officials appointed by ISAF travel from all over the globe to gain experience and take part in some of the biggest and most important sailing regattas in the world.

From this pool of officials some of the best are chosen to officiate at the Olympic Games. This is a very important accolade of which any race official can be very proud.

Cook explains, 'Events like this are an opportunity to bring officials from parts of the world where they would not get the chance to learn the skills required to officiate at major events. They can then take this knowledge back home and use it in practice at local regattas. That is good for sailors worldwide.'

This year’s Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta is also an informal test event in preparation for the 2012 Olympic Games. So two years out, what is his view on preparations ahead of the Olympic Regatta from a race management perspective?

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