Club Racing Formats

Depending on who has been the sailing sec. we seem to have applied different ideas. As I have been the Sailing sec for about 9 of the last 15yrs, I have never applied a qualification criteria to any of our series. If I did, the winners wouldnt have changed, the only thing is we might have only had to buy a prize for the winner!

Like Jim, we allow people to sail multiple boats, so someone might sail some of the races in their 800 but when its too windy for them to venture out in that they take their Buzz out instead. If we didnt allow it then they simply wouldnt sail and we'd all miss out. I've long argued that Sailwave and PYS ought to be able to take this into account in a better manner than current as its a pain trawling through results that you move from Sailwave to PYS to rename the boat used for a particular race.
As for series length, I have no evidence either way. We have tried small series of 8-10 races (2 races back to back each Sunday) and we have tried 20 race series. Turnouts were not really any different. People tend to turn up when it suits rather than to make a concerted effort at a series. The keen lifers like me tend to turn up every weekend unless there is a really really important event taking place that is deemed more important by the family, but I think in current society dedication to a sport week in week out is not the norm, instead people dip in and out as and when the urge takes them.

+1 for half plus one

Joining fee is currently £100 up front with £50 discount off 2nd year's membership - works out as £50 joining fee which is not untypical in the area. Seems to have worked this year but will be up for discussion in next month. Why not PM with what you would like to see?

Thank you Time Lord- PM will be sent this evening

The 1000 lower limit on handicap was set in the days (not long ago) when the Merlin rating was 1040 and was only intended when it was brought in to apply to the Menagerie fleet.

When it mysteriously dropped below 1000 last year, there was surpringly little opposition to the Merlin fleer continuing to sail at the club as they have done since the early 1950s.

On our water, it is very difficult to sail to this handicap anyway compared with the sea and large reservoir clubs where you can set big courses to take advantage of the spinnaker.

As for a discussion on other boats which hover around 1000, why not PM me as always happy to talk. I reckon the Phantom (we have one in the club) is the next obvious candidate for the drop.