Quick PY Question

Originally posted by pondmonkey One simple solution 'if' PY is so bad.... Don't do it anymore.

It's not bad, it's a really great part of the dinghy racing scene, it inspires more fun and is an essential ingredient, it just needs managing better than it currently is, with just a little tweaking it won't be perfect, but it would be a more even playing field.

You don't have to pay it any attention if you don't want to, in fact the only time I do pay it any attention is when absurdities occur and you just wonder how they could ever have happened. But it's better to have it than not, half the reason sailboard racing never prospered was the lack of it, we could never make it stick.

Originally posted by iGRF Originally posted by pondmonkey One simple solution 'if' PY is so bad.... Don't do it anymore. It's not bad, it's a really great part of the dinghy racing scene, it inspires more fun and is an essential ingredient, it just needs managing better than it currently is, with just a little tweaking it won't be perfect, but it would be a more even playing field. You don't have to pay it any attention if you don't want to, in fact the only time I do pay it any attention is when absurdities occur and you just wonder how they could ever have happened. But it's better to have it than not, half the reason sailboard racing never prospered was the lack of it, we could never make it stick.

Well why not get in touch with the PY Group at the RYA- lend your time and support?

I actually think it's as good as a could get from a management perspective- the software, RYA attitude, expert involvement etc; but the system fails at club level- lack of returns, most clubs don't use it properly anyway, general distain and suspicion if they do etc. (And ultimately it can fail at individual level too- giving someone a reason why their boat is unfairly handicapped can cover a plethora of sh*t tacks and bad calls- some sailors would openly admit that too!)

The odd thing is, when/if you finally no longer care for PY racing and whether the RYA cut it overnight, you actually acknowledge some of the nicer things it brings to the table- the opportunity to train locally for your circuit for example. Or and to participate in festivals of sailing and summer regattas; that's cool- very 'cool' this weekend!!! but as for doing it week in, week out as the only form of racing on offer... sod that, it's not real racing no matter how much tweaking, moaning, analysing, interpreting, adjusting and sail wave uploading anyone may care to throw at it, not in my opinion anyway.

Edited by pondmonkey - 10 Jan 13 at 9:21pm

Originally posted by rb_stretch Well I have to say that nearly all my racing is PY racing. When you learn what conditions suit your boat you start to know when you are sailing well, irrespective of the PY issues. It's just a reference point. For example in a drifter I will never beat a Solo, sometimes they even beat on the water. That's fine cause I know that. However I would be disappointed if I couldn't beat a Solo in force 2/3, the Phantom sweet spot. And I should add that I really enjoy racing against a 300. It's PY is close enough that we are often in shouting distance of each other (small reservoir).

Fab, good job on what is often, a thankless task, but helps us all get an enjoyable race or three in, more often than not

spot on post...thanks Chris