Portsmouth number list for the year ahead released

RYA Zone Championships action © Paul Wyeth / RYA

The RYA Suzuki Dinghy Show (1-2 March) marks the release date for the RYA Technical and Racing Services department's Portsmouth Number list for the year ahead. The RYA is also pleased to announce a number of additional releases for 2014 which are set to enhance handicap racing around the UK for all clubs and their sailors.

The Portsmouth Yardstick (PY) Online Website has gone from strength to strength over the past five years and has revolutionised the way in which racing in analysed and reported on when it comes to setting of handicaps.

In 2013 the RYA received 155 returns of which nearly 75% came via PY Online with the remainder being sent in via traditional spreadsheets. The website counted data submitted from over 60,000 individual races, consequently increasing the statistical confidence the RYA has when it comes to ensuring the Portsmouth Number (PN) List reflects each class's performance as it's sailed around the country.

"With the movement of a class's handicap, there are always some complaints and questions and occasionally a smile or two", commented Bas Edmonds, RYA Technical and Racing Services Manager.

"What may seem like an established class with no amendments to its rules or equipment, may be confused to see its handicap change by a large margin when the boats performance hasn't moved. This can be for a number of reasons but is most likely down to the method of collecting data. The RYA now collects real race results and therefore has a clearer picture of how a boat performs. A class which was previously seen as sure fire winner is now more likely to be treated more fairly within a fleet", Bas explained.

Another exciting development to handicap racing is the release of the latest editions of Sailwave and HALs Race Results, both scoring programs that have supported adjustment methodology required to run the RYA's National Handicap for Cruisers scheme (NHC).

NHC will be celebrating the completion of its first year after a successful 12 months, during which time the RYA has been collecting feedback from clubs that have used NHC and have put in place some improvements primarily to the adjustment software which is hoped will enhance the scheme.

"The enhancements all are designed to ease the amount an individual boats handicap moves during a series and making sure that adjustments are fair and equal respective to a boats performance", Bas added.

The modifications have been built into the scoring programs and any club wishing to take advantage of the upgrades should make sure they download the latest versions of either Sailwave or HALs Race Results.

For further information or if you don't use either Sailwave or HAL scoring programs then contact the Technical and Racing Services Department at

For more information on Portsmouth Yardstick visit - www.rya.org.uk/racing/Pages/portsmouthyardstick.aspx

For more information on the National Handicap for Cruisers visit - www.rya.org.uk/racing/Pages/NHC.aspx

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