Lap counters for single handers

Originally posted by Contender443 That won't work in a handicap race where boats are frequently lapped.

Yes it will. At Ballyholme we have 70-90 boats every Sunday afternoon. These range from Toppers to Hurricanes so there's lots of lapping to be done. And although Belfast Lough is huge, Ballyholme Bay (where we are confined in the winter for safety) is pretty small (100 hectares) so we will do lots of laps.

The onus is on the competitor to keep an eye on the race battery. I've lost races when I have failed to spot a change of course. Our races last for 50ish minutes for the front runners. Depending on wind conditions, a lap could be 9 minutes for a cat or we might all drift round and manage just one lap. Our sailing courses all include the finish line each lap so, in theory, you just keep on going round until you hear a horn to tell you you have finished. And that's how it works in practice.

Originally posted by English Dave ...hoist a flag. Maybe a blue one.

Or even a white one with a blue patch in the middle... And hey, lets finish everyone when they go through at the same time and not bother about how many laps they've done, just average lap score, so that we can run the next race sooner. Oh, and while we're at it, put the finish line as part of the course so everyone runs through it each time...

It beats me why Race Committees ever put up number of laps. I can't see a good reason for it. Put the S up in front of the leading boat after a suitable race length is far better to my mind. That way you don't get caught out with a silly short race if the wind gets up.



Edited by JimC

Here's an new idea that I may forward to ISAF. When it's time for you to finish why doesn't the race officer hoist a flag. Maybe a blue one. Or is the world not ready for such advance?

But why limit the problem to single handers. My crew can't steer the boat and only communicates with monosyllabic grunts so there's little chance that he'll be able to count. Certainly isn't able to work out when it's his round!

Back to original thread. Take ten small pebbles out with you and drop one overboard each lap. The longer the race the lighter the boat... .. and the shallower the pond

Originally posted by Merlinboy Sweet jesus! That has made my day!

I think it may have made many days