Discards

I know this is a n old topic, but having used average points etc. I still think discards is the best option, what do you guys think? Any alternatives?

IMO that basic reason for the discard system is to allow you a get-out-of-jail card when kit breaks; this nhappens.  It also helps you get out of the dung when you have a bad race.

We were once involved within a  youth keelboat competition which included both yacht clubs and school entries. Obviously the main competition was going to come from the yacht clubs and every race we were in was against YC boats, comprising of some of the best sailors in our country, we scored straight firsts bar a second in one race and a fifth in another race. The race we scored fifth was because we didn't have any battens in our sails and the caretaker of our boat told us to race the boat without the battens because there was nothing that could be done about it. We called redress and failed. That one race we came in fifth, was the only race in which we were racing against our main rivals, who were always in heats against the school teams. All the races which we came in first we finished over a minute ahead of the second boat. We finished equal first overall but on race countback finished second. We contacted various sailmakers who said our call for redress was acceptable, we lodged our complaint with the RYA and heard nothing back..... but at the end of the day we knew we performed the best and being dinghy sailors, just concentrated on getting back into our high performace classes and winning our local series..... which we did!

Edited by 49erGBR735HSC