2016 PY Predictor

If you have close marginal planing reaches Lasers will dominate Solos.

If it is dogs off chains then 420's or Fireballs may dominate.

If it is beat and running Merlins should beat 400's.

It the wind dies in a pursuit race it will favour the slow boats and visa versa.

You get the picture.

So by all means go PY racing, have fun, but don't take the handicaps or the results too seriously, or you will get seriously screwed up.

Won't say that I am a fan, but I have had a little success in the past including Grafham Grand Prix and Chichester Snowflakes, my point is that you shouldn't take handicap racing or PY numbers too seriously.  PY does not effectively deal with the type of course, changing wind conditions or classes where there is a large proportion of good or bad sailors ... Let alone consider tidal gates, as at this year's Steamer.

One other relatively new phenomenon to think about; the PY for an Aero or D-zero will be determined by club returns, where the PY will be established from data across a range of conditions, mixing the good and the bad.  Yet at one off events someone can turn up with the complete set of rigs and pick their "club" to suit the prevailing conditions but benefit from a PY established from data that is sub optimal.