Reforming the Portsmouth Yardstick System

Originally posted by iGRF So they do in fact come to clubs, we did all that, we then submitted results, we have two classes that win, either the Contender or the Laser and what does the 'system' recommend with it's 'confidence' after five more painful years? Slower numbers for both classes, it's f**ked, it doesn't do what it says on the tin. Great Lakes is an admirable attempt and does at least offer us a bit more enthusiasm, the only way I can race the Farr is thanks to them, but they're a particular type of water, smooth with big corners fast classes can stretch their legs so slow classes have to have slower numbers to 'ketchup' What's needed is a system that doesn't just respond to big numbers submitted by small clubs on ponds and great lakes but brings coastal clubs into play, we need a group, but we need to know who and what they are and they need to be accountable. A Handicap Racing Class of GB could include reps from inland coastal and great lakes, but be a bit more corinthian. Hell they wouldn't need to even drive to meet these days of Zoom.

Surely Great Lakes is simply (or not simply, as loads of effort is put into it) a manifestation of PY being used in the way the PYAG suggest it is, with enough returns to make valid decisions?

The trouble with age allowances is identifying those factors which are actually age related and not fixable. A lot of old boats are sheds. Why should I give time to old sails, crap foils and a pebble dash paint finish. A lot of old boat sailors are second division, keen people tend to have good boats. Other things can be strictly down to age, frp solos (although most are moulded from old designs I believe), wide bow fireballs etc.
The Merlin Rockets have been quite active in running age related handicaps, but now the early Canterbury Tales are nearly old enough to qualify and they are rather stuck on where to go next.
I think all in all,I am glad I am not going to be the man in charge

So how many factors should be taken in to consideration when allocating the PY for the day?

Edited by Mark Aged 42 - 16 Apr 21 at 11:50am

^ if the sample was big enough and the data from the returns detailed enough, I am sure you could have some app that would allow you to tweak the PY, but collecting the data would probably put clubs off from submitting any returns, and the volunteer RO would have to establish all of the factors in order calculate the results ... making the results more subjective, so he will take the flak instead of an anonymous RYA committee, so we would end up with no RO’s.  Suddenly the present PY system seems rather good.  I have done a couple of series, one in cruisers and another at Chichester, where a minute was knocked off our PY each week until we stopped winning, this seemed a good solution to banditry and presented an interesting challenge!