bloody mary

Originally posted by Ross Originally posted by MRJP BUZZ 585 I thought all cherubs sailed off 975, that is the case at our club I have a small rig Cherub.

 

whereas the 5k has a real mans total sail area

The PY's aren't set in tablets of stone, but I would agree that at an open handicap event I would expect all members of a particular class to sail off the same handicap, be it the published one or another assigned by the race officers.

Yes but is it an RYA approved handicap - No it isn't we had same problem with Merlins, the class has an adjusted handicap for older boats but it wasn't aproved by every club so at handicap events you sailed off current rules.

 

unfortunately that is the perils of sailing a development class!  At the bloody mary i would probably be you would sail off 975!

Luke i am fully aware that the PY is what it is but it is what most clubs have to go off, you tend to find that boat PY's are adjusted at individual clubs!

Originally posted by JimC Originally posted by Ross If I was sailing a a symetric Cherub, would I sail off 975? Its completely up to the club... Their game their call. Back in the early days of asymmettrics I remember Hayling Island giving a completely different number to asymmetric and conventional rig boats, which was amusing because there was bugger all difference in speed. The trouble with having a non standard "generous" handicap is explaining it to the competition if you win...

 

Trouble is if you change the system for one where do you draw the line! Understandable for club racing but not for big handicap races such as the BM, GG, tiger etc etc

Originally posted by Merlinboy Understandable for club racing but not for big handicap races such as the BM, GG, tiger etc etc

I disagree: its always the duty of the race team to make what they see as the best arrangements, bearing in mind organisational difficulties etc. I don't think anyone believes foiler Moths should race off the same handicap as lowriders, and if say Kate, Merlin No 2, were to turn up for the Bloody Mary (don't do it mate, that boat's too precious for a barging match) it would hardly be right for her to start with the latest Merlins. On the other hand it would be a nightmare for the race officer to calculate equitable handicaps for 50 years of development in Merlins, Nationals, 14s and Cherubs, resulting in a different handicap for each boat. But somewhere there has to be a reasonable compromise, and the race team has to call it as they see fit for their circumstances. The biggest challenge of course is justifying custom handicaps to the Laser Sailors who are always ready to blame their handicap after they've luffed and covered each other to the back of the fleet!