PY Numbers for 2017

Originally posted by giraffe

If you read the article it tells you that the numbers are based on data from the winter events = big fleet.

Anyone that has raced in the SJ series knows that many races ARE Pursuit and many others are events where fast/medium/slow start divisions are used.  The point is that vast majority of say Solo or Ents will not be racing off the same line at exactly the same time as 505s or similar for virtually all of the time.   In pursuits everyone should also get a relatively clear air start as well .  However the events do attract a high(er) proportion of good examples of many classes - and they do race on the same water on the same day .... and that is the key point.  The large fleet 'explanation' still holds overall as the sub-divisions themselves are large with 50+ on each sub start being common.  And the hypothetical Ents and Solo's etc mentioned above get to race against boats of broadly similar speed capability.   

These events often / usually max out in terms of entries.  They do enjoy good event organisation and the GL system does result in close competitive racing so they are doing something right for sure.    The PN and for that matter other handicap systems could be better still  - but the PN system in particular seems far less able to adapt given its basic methodology.   It is seemingly incapable of evolution .... and some numbers are really way off - hence GL in part.   We can discuss the underlying causes and the impact of their method and sampling strategy (the"all you can get" approach ?) but without any sampling change it really will remain a 'blunt knife'.   

It doesn't reflect the potential at all. It is simply a narrower sample of sailors. There is nothing to say that entries in any one class are of equal ability to another.

Originally posted by Rupert It doesn't reflect the potential at all. It is simply a narrower sample of sailors. There is nothing to say that entries in any one class are of equal ability to another.

Fair enough .. so PN is fine as it is for you.  Nothing wrong with that either. 

Many others, possibly even the majority, want a system that more closely negates the impact of the choice of 'boat' and instead emphasises crew impact.  So that results are more based on the crew input in any particular race.  Don’t get me wrong the GL numbers will not always reward those who have sailed very well, that would be expecting too much,  but it will be more likely to do it just a bit more often.

Want to see the difference ?  Try running your local result timings under both sets of handicap figures.  You might be surprised, or then again maybe not.....