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TY : 1 - The Entry Screen

When opening the Top Yacht application the first thing that appears is the Entry Screen. This is the Central point from which all tasks are directed.

At the top of the screen is a Menu bar with the usual pull-down Menu lists.
Centrally below that are two radio buttons giving you a choice of two MODES, the Standard mode and the Administrator mode.

  • The Administrator mode provides access and edit facilities to all sensitive data and activities, such as Competitors details, Yardsticks, Handicaps, creating a new Series etc.

  • The Standard mode can only be used for setting up races, entering competitors in it, recording and processing finishing times, etc., while protecting all sensitive data
Below this are a List of 12 Tasks which are used to process a race.

The tasks indicated by a pink triangle or tick are MUST do Tasks.

Those with a black triangle or tick are Optional Tasks.

The Tasks are :
COMPLETE TASKS IN ORDER
 1 - Select a Series

PRE-RACE

 2 - Select/Setup Race

 3 - Add Additional Competitors to this Series

 4 - Print Sign On Forms

 5 - Print Start Details

 6 - Enter Existing Competitors into Race

 7 - Print Lap Count Forms

 8 - Print Sign Off Forms

AFTER RACE

 9 - Enter Finish Times

10 - Process Race

11 - View/Print Reports

12 - Make corrections as necessary


At the bottom of the Entry Screen are displayed the Race number, Race Date and Series Name of the current race accessed by Top Yacht.

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TY : 2 - Selecting or Creating a Series

If you wish to access an already existing Series simply press the Task 1 button ("Select a Series"). You can do this in either "Standard" or "Administrator" mode.
A list of existing Series comes up. Simply click on the Series you require. This activates the Series and returns you to the Entry Screen.

To create a New Series you need to go through the following steps.

  1. Activate the Administrator mode by pressing on the right radio button on the Entry Screen

  2. Select from the Menu bar at the top of the Entry Screen >> Series >> Create New Series
    This brings up Page 1 of the "Series SU Wizard Form"

  3. On Page 1 type in the Name for the new Series (include the relevant Divisions), press the Accept button, then the Next button to progress to Page 2

  4. Leave Page 2 (Advanced Settings) as it is with all its Default settings. Simply press Next to progress to Page 3

  5. On Page 3 press on Add New Group. This produces a pop down list with several choices. Always select Mixed Class YS and Mixed Class HC, and leave the Default settings as they are. This gives you maximum flexibility for any Series.

  6. Now press Close which brings you back to the Entry Screen.

Step 5 is a most important step. Make sure you do this one right.

Before setting up a Series consider carefully which Divisions you are going to combine in the same Series. The cats have their Pointscore races at different times then the Lasers and Tasars. The Minnows do of course their own things, etc. etc.
It is therefore best to divide (for scoring purposes) the Divisions into 3 or perhaps 4 distinct groups.
  • Divisions 2 (small monohulls) , 6 (Tasars) and 7 (Lasers)

  • Divisions 8 (Tornados), 9 (various small cats) and 9a (A-Class cats)

  • Division 10 (Minnow Frogs) and 11 (Minnow Tadpoles)

  • Some races perhaps Division 2 may need to have their own Series (separate from Lasers and Tasars)

These decisions are best made at the very beginning of the racing season and based on the then available race program for the current year.

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TY : 3 - Selecting or setting up a Race in a Series

After you have activated a Series (Task 1) you can select an existing race or set up a new one. This can be done in either "Standard" or Administrator" mode.

To select an Existing Race press the Task 2 button ("Select/Setup Race") on the Entry Screen .
This brings up the "Select/Setup Races" screen for the currently activated Series.

  1. Press on the Select Race button

  2. Select the race number from the pop down menu list

  3. Press the Accept button at the bottom of the Screen

  4. Then press the Close button to bring you back to the Entry Screen


To setup a New Race press the Task 2 button ("Select/Setup Race") on the Entry Screen.
This brings up the "Select/Setup Races" screen for the currently activated Series.
  1. Press on the Add New Race button

  2. Select the Date (the current date is highlighted in the selection field)

  3. Tick the box Use for HCing (this is most important !)

  4. Fill in Start number, start time and Division in the relevant fields

  5. If there are more than one start for the race press Add New Race, and fill in details for the 2nd start

  6. After you have recorded all starts for the race press Accept, then Close to return to the Entry Screen

Make sure that you tick Item 3 above. This ensures that the results of the race are included in the calculations for the handicaps of the individual competitors.
Regarding Items 4 and 5 above : record only starts for Divisions racing in the series. For example For any race of Division 8 and 9 only enter the starts for these two Divisions. Do not include starts for Divisions in an other series, such as Lasers (Div.6) or Tasars (Div.7).


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TY : 4 - Editing General Details for a Race

To Edit general details for a race press the Task 2 button ("Select/Setup Race") on the Entry Screen.
This brings up the "Select/Setup Races screen for the currently activated Series.

  1. Press on the Select Race button

  2. Select the race number from the pop down menu list

  3. Press on the Edit Race button

  4. Change details such as date, starting times, add new starts as required

  5. After you have completed your edits for the race press Accept, then Close to return to the Entry Screen

This function is very useful if starts for a race are delayed or even postponed. It means that you can setup a race, enter all its competitors at an early stage, then readjust the starting time (or even date) if necessary.

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TY : 5 - Entering Existing Competitors into a Race

The following procedure can be done in either Standard or Administrator mode.
After a first race in a new Series has been completed a number of competitors for all following races in that series are already in the Series Competitors list.
In this case press the Task 6 button ("Enter Existing Competitors into Race") on the Entry Screen.
This brings up the list of Competitors which have been racing in this Series so far.

  1. If all Competitors on the list will also be racing in the race you are setting up now then press Add all to Race

  2. If most Competitors on this list will also be racing in this race, then first press Add all to Race, then delete (by double clicking) the plus signs (+) in the "ADD" column behind those competitors which are not competing in this race

  3. If only some Competitors on this list will also be racing in this race, then select them (by double clicking) with the plus sign (+) to this race
    or : select the Sail number, then press the space bar (on keyboard)
    or : place cursor in the Sail number column, start typing the required Sail number until found, then press the space bar

  4. After you have selected all competitors to this race (by placing the plus signs in the "ADD" column), press the Accept button. This adds all selected competitors to the new race

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TY : 6 - Entering Additional Competitors into a Race

If additional existing competitors have to be added to a Series and Race then press the Task 3 button ("Add Additional Competitors to This Series") on the Entry Screen.
For the first race in a new Series this must be done for all competitors.
This can be done in either Standard or Administrator mode.

  1. Select Add EXISTING Competitor as Series Entrant to THIS Series from the Menu Bar's Competitor Drop down Menu list

  2. This brings up the Master List showing all Competitors of the Club.
    Select the new competitors from this list with a plus sign (+) in the "ADD" column (by double clicking) behind their name (or by pressing the space bar)

  3. Enter their new handicap (if not yet shown) in the MIXED CLASS HC column

  4. Press Accept when finished, then press Close

  5. When returned to the Entry Screen press the Task 6 button ("Enter Existing Competitors into Race") and double check that all newly selected Competitors are now in the Series Competitors list

  6. Press Accept and return to the Entry Screen

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TY : 7 - Creating a New Competitor

A new Competitor has to be created and added to the Master list for

  1. any new Sail Number

  2. any existing Sail number or boat with a new Skipper

  3. an existing Sail number and Skipper to be added to a different Division
For Case C for example a Division 11 "Tadpole" may progress to a Division 10 "Frog"

This procedure can be done in either Standard or Administrator mode.
  1. From the Top Menu Bar select Competitor >> Create NEW Competitor and Enter into THIS Race and Series

  2. This opens the Add a NEW Competitor to the Master List window

  3. If you only want to add the new Competitor to the Master List and not to the current Series and/or Race, untick the appropriate box at the top left corner of the screen

  4. Enter the Sail Number

  5. Select the Class Name from the drop down list

  6. Enter the Boat Name and Skipper

  7. Enter V for a Visitor or N for not a Visitor (but Club Member),
    and the Ys in the ADD boxes for the Handicap Groups

  8. Press Save New Competitor, then Close to return to the Entry Screen

  9. When returned to the Entry Screen press the Task 6 button ("Enter Existing Competitors into Race") and double check that all newly selected Competitors are now in the Series Competitors list

  10. Press Accept and return to the Entry Screen

In view of the fact that many crew members sail with different skippers it is perhaps best not to record them in the Master Lists.
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TY : 8 - Changing a Competitor's Details

To change the name of a Skipper of a boat or allocate a new Yardstick (for example from Laser Radial to Laser Full rig) select the Administrator mode.

  1. Then select from the Top Menu bar Competitor >> Change Competitor's Details
    or : press the Task 6 button
    The Edit Competitors in the Total Data Base page appears

  2. Edit as required, then press the Enter key on the keyboard

  3. To change the sail number first sort by Boat name or Skipper (by pressing on the blue header on top of the column), then edit the sail number as required

  4. Tick radio boxes for appropriate cases when prompted

  5. Press Close to return to the Entry Screen

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TY : 9 - Removing a Competitor from a Series

To remove a Competitor from a Series you first have to know his/her CID number. This number is the follow on number allocated by Top Yacht to each new Competitor added to the Master List. The very first competitor entered is allocated Number 1, the fifth number 5 and so on.
First select the Administrator mode.

  1. Select from the Top Menu bar
            Maintain >> For Competitors >> Edit Boat/Skipper Details in Master List
    This brings up the Data Base showing the CIDs for all Competitors.
    Write down the CID of the Competitor to be removed from the Series, then press Close

  2. Now select again from the Top Menu bar
            Maintain >> For Competitors >> Remove Competitor From This Series.
    The Remove Comp From Series Form appears

  3. Type the CID number in the entry field, then press Find

  4. This brings up Details of the Competitor about to be removed
    If correct press Remove, then Close to return to the Entry Screen
The CID number is also available in "Administrator mode" from
Top Menu bar >> View >> Competitors in this Series >> Competitor Details list

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TY : 10 - Changing the Crew member or Skipper of a boat

To change the Crew or Skipper for a boat first select "Administrator" mode.
To CHANGE a Crew member :

  1. Select from the Top Menu Bar :
          Maintain >> For Competitors >> Change Skipper/Crew

  2. The EDIT COMPETITORS screen appears

  3. Select the boat in question from the Skipper and Boat list on the left of the screen

  4. The name of the current crew member for that boat appears in the Existing Crew field at the left bottom of the screen

  5. Now select the new Crew member from the Select New Crew/Skipper list on the right of the screen, then press the Add New Crew button.
    This name will now also move into the Existing Crew field at the bottom left of the screen

  6. Select the old crew member's name form the Existing Crew list, then press the Remove Crew button underneath.
    This removes the old crew member from the selected Boat/Skipper combination

  7. Press Close to return to the Entry Screen


To CHANGE the Skipper of a boat :
  1. Select from the Top Menu Bar :
          Maintain >> For Competitors >> Change Skipper/Crew

  2. The EDIT COMPETITORS screen appears

  3. Select the boat in question from the Skipper and Boat list on the left of the screen

  4. Now select the new Skipper from the Select New Crew/Skipper list on the right of the screen, then press the New Skipper button underneath.
    This will remove the previous Skipper and replace it by the newly selected one

  5. Press Close to return to the Entry Screen
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Copyright © 2005 Michael Furstner . All rights reserved.