PY Numbers for 2017

For most youngsters learning to sail there is no other option other than starting to race in the club handicaps....

Originally posted by transient Originally posted by Do Different Transient. Of course you are correct, slower boats are always disadvantaged in tidal conditions (it is simply maths and can be proven) , I know I've done ten years at a coastal Club in the past in a slower and quicker boat.  The point is, you have identified a clear and accepted issue at the extreme end of the speed range, change the number to reflect your circumstances. I have been vocal at the club in suggesting we adjust locally over several years. The sailing com and sailing sec are just not interested. Local adjustment just isn't going to happen for our club. A fairly typical scenario me thinks. You and many others do accept the issue but there are others who don't either understand it or don't want to rock the boat. The PY system is a fundamentaly important issue and it needs improving drastically quite soon IMO. It's alright for Simon to post us " the technology exists to produce more granular and context sensitive handicaps" what the hell does that actually mean?......nothing in  real terms. They've been talking about this for several years if memory serves. It sounds like they haven't gotten past the talking stage yet For most youngsters learning to sail there is no other option other than starting to race in the club handicaps. As adults face more time and resource pressures handicap racing becomes more and more important to the sport.....do the RYA see it that way though? They may do or they may not do, who the hell knows?

Originally posted by Fatboi For most youngsters learning to sail there is no other option other than starting to race in the club handicaps.... That is not true, there is plenty of class sailing to be had wherever you are in the country. The RYA zone squads do a great job and have a brilliant group of coaches! There is also regional training and opens for all junior classes!!

So youngster says to dad "can I have a boat" and then registers for an open? I don't think so. these kids might not win anything but they do need to know how they're doing. Some certainly are capable of beating adults who did their 1&2 last year.

 In my experience it takes at least a year (probably longer) for youngsters to reach the open event stage. you can probably think of examples that contradict this but I'll stick by my statement as a general.

Originally posted by jeffers Your clubs needs a PYS online login. Then it is a simple enough matter to upload race results (even easier if you use SailWave, I believe you can do it directly from the program). The tech exists but people don;t want to use it.

 

I've been suggesting that system, no joy. The club will not use anything other than the published list.

Originally posted by Do Different "As adults face more time and resource pressures handicap racing becomes more and more important to the sport....." It's one view to take. You could just as easily say though that this situation is crying out for "pay and play" class fleets Aye, very true. It might suit some. I don't see why or how everyone (not really everyone by any means of course) has to be a victim. The power is with the punters, vote with your feet, make decisions, control your fun. Indeed, I suspect a few do by selling their boat and taking up casual cycling.

Originally posted by Simon Lovesey What I am talking about is deriving handicaps based on the conditions for each race eg wind,  water type,  tide, sea state, course configuration etc.  so each class would have a dynamic handicap within a given range. We have 4 years + GPS data across several thousand races,  with leg times and speeds for 100+ classes.  The next stage is to start processing all this data in a handicapping context

Thanks for that Simon.

Is this still at the feasibility study stage or is there a firm commitment to make this happen. If it is going to happen any idea of schedule.

I appreciate that these might be tricky questions to answer.