PY Numbers for 2017

Oh, and I didn't stand a chance as my mates L3k was sailing....... (not actually true but it sounded like a good excuse)

Originally posted by Paramedic Originally posted by KazRob It is funny where it would seem all the changes in say the Solos over the last few years (3DL sails, FRP hulls etc etc) have been a waste of time for the 100 odd boats they build every year, as they are plainly, according to the PY numbers have gotten slower 😜 I wonder if this has more to do with the clubs (And the size of the water) making the returns than the boat. You would think with the second highest number of races that must be as good an average as you're going to get and have little choice but to declare the PY correct. I suppose more races doesn't necessarily mean good quality races and activity doesn't necessarily mean ability. There will be many more poorly sailed boats than well sailed ones and many hundreds more old boats, with knackered sails all contributing to this figure. It did strike me as odd though, i would have expected a similar move the other way. The Streaker has!

It's only impossible to explain to anyone who steadfastly refuses to even try to understand it or to actually learn about the flaws in the alternatives they are promoting.

Edited by Chris 249 - 06 Mar 17 at 9:56am

Originally posted by jeffers The problem is that if the data all comes from Inland clubs then the numbers will reflect that. So either contribute or stop complaining.

Both my clubs contribute, one thing I did achieve at Hythe was that much, but try explaining the inequities of this muddle to Streaker Solo and Laser sailors.

The Laser how much data do they need over the years to determine it's relationship with others? 48 thousand races last year only 26 or so this, with the Great lakes lot having now clearly established a point at which you can finally give it a big enough advantage to win on big flat water where two and three sail boats are sailing to their prime advantage. 1115 and the Streaker headed south at 1135 it won't be long before those two meet and can sail scratch, which to every level headed person is BS.

Without a common sense fixed point, or at the very east an ajudicator it dissolves into farce.

I look forward to competing a 3.90 single hander with an 8.5 sail against a 4.4 hull with an 8.6 main, a 3 mtr jib and a 12.60 metre spinnaker with a trapeze on the same handicap, well done team you're nearly getting there - Not.

Edited by iGRF - 06 Mar 17 at 11:26am

Originally posted by Simon Lovesey   Spot on A couple of years ago,  I did some analysis of the Solo data,  calculating handicaps for four different age ranges of solos.  The oldest boats returned a handicap of 1213 and co-incidentally the newest boats returned  1143.  This represents nearly four minutes in the hour. As you say the volume of data may not necessarily mean quality output,  with a number of factors that may skew the handicaps depending on the data sample and its context : Age of boats and their race quality Crew skill factor (CSF) Type of water Wind strength Tide/current Water state eg smooth or big waves Course configuration Size of fleet -  lots of boats on the race course may mean slower times Variety of boats in the race eg asymmetric v symmetric etc etc The good news and looking to the future,  the technology exists to produce more granular and context sensitive handicaps.  This could generate more participation,  particularly encouraging certain classes to turn up even if the conditions did not suit them and not to their optimum.