So, just how important is a Boats PY yardstick?

Farr be it from me, to wind this place up to another Frenzy, but the back ground to this question is the Jolly little Farr 3.7 and it's acquisition by, I'm going to guess a young chap about to try and do battle at a club called Netley (No I've never heard of it either, but I think Dougaldog must have some sway there). Anyway the long and the short of it is the boat is quite challenging to sail to it's handicap. Wether that be the 1063 I'm using ex Great Lakes, or the 1039 the class at some stage must have suggested, or the 1035, that Lyme put in place for an ex hot shot Contender guy. Either way Netley in their wisdom have decided to stuff the poor chap with some thing quite impossible.

I've long since given up on any thought that the system currently in place is ever going to do the 'right' thing for embryonic classes, quite the contrary, in fact, we all know it is often used to suppress any new class unless it is supported by the 'right' people.

So, I wonder how many of you folk here are really that concerned about the yardstick rating your particular current ride enjoys?

And, do we think the current system really serves our best interest, given the broader scope of handicap racing that exists these days, over class events?

Or do we just enjoy the ride and to hell with the spreadsheet results?

So, consider the blue touch paper well and truly lit.

The difference in speed between two boats from the same class with one sailed by a normal club sailor and the other by a "superstar" is much more than any adjustment in PY introduced each year.

Yardstick racing is based on timed results. 3 boats, in 3 different places, sailed by 3 different standard helms... Of course the yardstick won't be correct. 3 different guesses is all you have.

Originally posted by davidyacht I have found that I tend to end up in much the same position on PY whatever class I am sailing over a SERIES ... you really need several races in a range of conditions to make it work.  A one-off PY Race cannot really be taken too seriously.

Not at all fussed.

I smile at the benefits of the 2000 Handicap.

I laugh at the ludicrous 970 for the 300.

I wonder at how the Tasars Py can seem so harsh in the light and good in the breeze.

Bovvered - not at all!