2019 RYA PYs

Surely, not that simple. 

The PY system is not necessarily/solely about any class of boat getting quicker (or slower) per se, it's a compound of that (thru better set-ups and systems, specification changes, whatever) AND how well in aggregate those boats were sailed in handicap races where returns were filed AND how conditions and courses in those races suited those boats (another thread perhaps, are there 'windy' years and 'light-airs' years or does it truly average out?)

A bandit boat is often that because it has historically been sailed by the less experienced (in handicap races where returns were filed). Then the hot-shots pile in and, well, we all know the rest.

Any boat can outperform its PY in a given set of conditions. Solos/British Moths in very light airs, D-Zero in marginal planing for most other boats and when it is honking (when most others fall in). I never really found the Laser had a sweet spot conditions wise, it seems to perform as an average in all conditions, never really excelling.

That is part of the issue as to why the PY system is at best a compromise. Every dog will have its day and boats perform differently at different venues (which is why you tend to get certain types of boat dominating at some clubs).

This is precisely why the RYA encourage clubs to play with the numbers. Where I sail it is a small piece of water. Something like a D-Zero is very well suited in most conditions. Whereas something like a Blaze (very slow to tack) is not as suited as you lose more tacking on a shift than you would by ignoring it. Other faster tacking boats can take advantage. Same with a spinnaker boat, the legs are not usually long enough for the ground lost on the hoist and drop to be made back up. So it becomes self limiting. We have reasonable Laser and Solo fleets along with the usual menagerie all around that sort of speed. The Phantom has taken a big hit given the nosedive its PY has taken over the last 5 years or so.

Look on the bright side.... D-Zero...enough said! :-D