So? I am not a number article?

https://www.rya.org.uk/SiteCollectionDocuments/technical/Web%20Documents/2007%20Portsmouth%20Yardstick%20Scheme/2007%20Instructions%20for%20Worksheet.pdf

All that has really changed is that the calculation is now done on the website backend. I'll take issue with my predecessor on only one point. To talk about a theoretical best time is flawed. A very appealing flaw, but still a flaw. There is no such thing. It makes no practical difference though.

Edited by JimC - 22 Nov 17 at 5:06pm

Good points all, and as you say, fast boats are often harder to sail but that just reinforces the point that in an ideal world* handicaps would only reflect the potential of the boat and not the sailing ability of the people who typically sail it..... You want to win on handicap in a fast boat, you have to invest more time learning to sail it. And, equally, the mid fleet L@ser sailor is not entitled to a free ride because he outnumbers the top guys (which is what happens now but with the caveat that the top guys in L@sers probably feature in very few if any handicap returns).

That is true, and for those of us who 'occasionally' race one of the 'lost classes' it's a frustration because, as has been discussed many times before, the hypothetical baseline drifts. At the moment that seems to be upwards (Lasers are not getting slower in real terms are they?) which leaves those boats at an increasing disadvantage. At least if the baseline was fixed (as when the Firefly was the 'scratch' boat in the '60s) that disadvantage would be pegged at the age related decrease in performance caused by flexy overweight hulls and tired sails. I'll bet if the baseline drift was the other way causing a few 'lost classes' to achieve 'bandit' status the handicappers would do something about it...... Except, of course, they would never know 'cos those boats would almost never appear in the returns. The other option would be to estimate the effect of that 'drift' and publish a suggested compensation factor to encourage those old boats back into the handicap fleets (local handicap committees are notoriously reluctant to make changes for fear of upsetting some of the fleet).

It's only a matter of degree, class racing in a 400 the big guys will win when it's blowing and there's lots of windward work the little guys will win in marginal planing on a reaching course. The weather, venue and course will always make a difference but the good big guys will usually beat the mediocre little guys in the light and visa versa.

To say handicap racing cant be taken seriously is just cockwomble...

Agree.  But it seems that some who decry handicap racing, have strong views on why nobody else should take it seriously either  ...  Well possibly they would of course however plainly illogical.  It must be the herd thing or something.  

If you don't want to take part nobody is dragging anyone along to do so .... You don't approve  ? ...  fine with the rest of us and you are perfectly entitled to hold that view just as others ... etc.  But why all the 'noise' if it is smply not for you or you 'don't get it' ? 

Start a thread on the 'purity' and 'divinity' that is strict one design class racing maybe - just saying.  It is not 'either' / 'or' anyway.