Development = faster?

I think the point of Javelin's arguement is that the PY system doesn't appear to be working. Whether it is because there are too few returns from clubs or simply not enough boats of certain classes taking part in handicap racing is almost immaterial. Unless the organising clubs modifiy the PY's for their particular conditions it is unlikely to work.

This is especially apparent when you attend the bigger handicap events (Bloody Mary, Grafham GP, etc) where it is very much horses for courses. Andy Rice even wrote an article about handicap racing which could have been re-titled as "How to abuse the PY system"

If these bigger clubs can't be bothered to modified the numbers, do you think the smaller club with its menagerie of boats will bother?

Perhaps the classes should re-evaluate their positions in the PY debate. For example, it appears to be acknowledged that most of the top Merlin sailors don't take part in handicap racing, and nor does their contribution to the Merlin's PY. Is it fair to other competitors to allow them to race? Or should the class suggest that fairer and more competative racing will be enjoyed by all if they provided another PY for the high achievers?

One interesting point from these exchanges was that someone actually believes that the Merlin's haven't gone forward in the last 6 years. Very strange for a development class....

"The advantage of this is that we are at a stage in the class where you can buy a 6 year old second hand plastic boat and have exactly the same boat speed as a brand new one. This has resulted in seriously close racing in the fleet where it is very difficult to split the top 20 sailors."

I think at the end of the day we are trying to pick holes in a class that is extremely successful. Their annual 100 + turnout at Salcombe and good past champs attendance is down to not only a good boat that has progressed steadily to appeal to other class sailors, it is also down to the fact that the Merlin fleet are a really good bunch of people who are always keen to help. I used to sail one and admittedly I don't now because I have commitments elsewhere, but I know for a fact that I will always return to the fleet. That is where their strength lies - people want to go back for more!

At the end of the day, Winder boats can produce a competitive Merlin and have in fact been mass producing the damn things for the past couple of years - for a good price! The Merlin is a better looking boat and more appealing to sailors than they used to be. They are also much easier to look after now too! If you have the money then you can opt to have a hand built custom Merlin - the ones who win and go fast are because the helms and crews are very good! not because of the amount of money they have thrown at it.... Some of these top 20 sailors have been doing the circuit for 20 years + so please don't expect to jump in one and win. And DON'T blame the boat for being old/ not expensive enough/ the wrong design!!! 

Stop trying to find floors because a fleet is not all about the boat, it is the kindness and atmosphere generated by the sailors too!

OK, to pick up on a couple of points above......

But this is true for the top sailors in almost every seriously competitive class.  How much handicap racing do you think the top Laser / 49er / Fireball / whatever crews do?  The PY is merely reflects the performance of the average sailor in any particular class.  For example, I'm sure Ben Ainslie can consistently sail his Finn below the recognised PY for that class, but does that mean the Finn PY is wrong?

There are other flaws with the PY system.  Take the fact that certain boats perform much better in certain conditions, eg the National 12 in a drifter, or the 420 in a blow.  If you have one PY for all conditions, how can the racing be totally fair for all competitors?

The Merlin is a restricted class rather than a development class.  As such, the rules are framed to encourage gradual development whilst preventing older boats becoming outclassed overnight - evolution rather than revolution.  The most popular design at the front of the Merlin fleet is the Canterbury Tales, a design which actually dates back to 1988.  Since then the class has adopted carbon rigs and the materials used for the hulls may have moved on from wood to FRP. 

It is fair to say that the latest generation of Merlins are a touch quicker than those of ten years ago, but it is not a huge difference in performance.  In fact I managed to sail my ten year old Merlin into the top third of the championship fleet last year.  Not quick enough to win the champs, but not totally off the pace either (just like ten year old boats in most other classes!), and surely demonstrating that things haven't really moved on that much.

Also, how many other classes are undergoing 'development'?  Many so called one designs allow builders to tweak hull shape within the tolerances, Fireball, Enterprise and Hornet to name a few.  The materials and techniques which have recently transformed building within the Merlin fleet were developed by Winder boats in their very successful Fireballs.  And lots of one design classes are experimenting with carbon rigs and kevlar sails.  Even strict one designs such as the Laser see development - consider the new rig controls which make the boat easier to sail, hence faster around the course.  Of course, developments in these other classes will eventually be reflected with revised PYs.....as will changes in the Merlin Rocket.

To finish this rant, just remember that PY handicap racing can never be completely fair, so don't take it too seriously.  The answer is to buy an example of a popular class at your club and get out fleet racing.  Better still, rather than moaning about the Merlin PY number, why not come and try sailing one yourself and see what a superb boat it is with such a friendly and highly competitive circuit!

I've never sailed a Merlin but I recognise a class which has contirbuted greatly to the developement of dinghy racing.  I have sailed a RS 400 and love it and I'm usually beaten by one of these each weekend at my reservoir.  I don't care thougn because I sail a Laser 4000.  This boat is so much fun, I'd rather lose the racing and sail this boat than win in something slower and more competitive.

Yes the PY numbers are a poor guide but they are the best we have.  We don't change ours since we wouldn't get that glow when we win.  If we win in the 4000 we know we really have sailed well, if we lose we don't care we have a bigger grin than anybody else on the pond.