D-Zero

The simple fact is that 'your' choice of boat, whatever that may, will not substantially change over time.  However the handicap that is applied to it can and will change.

I'm far from being a supporter of the 'loose' ands informal approach to new boat introductions with regard to handicapping.  But in the (very) long term any class will find its 'natural' number - if the 'introduction' phase is survived.  That handicap might be very different indeed to the one you anticipate or is suggested at an early stage.

My own view, is that on balance if we have to live with a less than ideal system, it is better to start with a demanding number that rises over time to meet reality.  You can still get great racing, as we do with Icon and know as the numbers adjust things will get 'better'.  Consider the alternative ... you buy into a class with an easier number and then it gets quickly tougher and tougher.  This is not to say that a modified approach for new classes is not urgently needed as many have argued for some time ... But this will take time and careful consideration.

Bottom line is you need to think long term - Never buy or sail anything you do not enjoy and suits your sailing needs.   However if your 'need' really is more for a 'good' handicap number then just admit it and don't go for any new class and expect an easy number.  If that is your key driver look towards the long established classes, buy the best example you can and benefit from the dilution of that 7/8ths of the class 'iceberg' that are less good, with older slower examples everywhere.  These are the ones that haunt the back of many a local handicap fleet, don’t do championships, Sailjuice and rarely if ever  do  Opens  -  they are now your 'new best friends' and will ensure you enjoy that 'elusive' good number for a long long time. 

This is of course the result of a system obsessed with AVERAGES and basic club returns rather than one which is weighted towards POTENTIAL of each class to do well.  Of course it disadvantages new classes and you could hardly devise a better mechanism to do so if you tried.    Very often new designs are sailed by very capable crews as well, such is life.  They quickly show the potential of a new class and vice versa they will not be demonstrating the likely 'average' when later sailed by regular helms.   Peter Barton in the Aero and Dan in the D-Zero are naturally quick sailors .. and if YOU can learn to sail like them there should  be few problems at all with the PNs used at Southampton on Sunday.   After all suppliers are not going to show off their 'latest kit' with average crews on the stick at early outings !

But this perhaps unintended (if now institutionalised) bias is what we do face today.  So DON'T avoid any decent (mostly) modern boats simply because they have to face a period of PN 'pain' would be my own suggestion. 

I'd rather be idealistic about what I sail than be idealistic about its handicap number.... and just maybe then start lobbying  for a change in handicapping that ‘levels’ the field  by weighting  the results from  the FRONT of every single class ... in other words is biased towards the potential of boats universally for all classes rather than the far less useful crude average.