National Handicap For Cruisers (NHC)

   So We are almost halfway through the season and now would seem like a good time to see how people are getting on with he National Handicap For Cruisers??
Please post here with your practical experience.

To be honest I am not sold on the system and we are having some interesting post race discussions in the Bar.  

We are getting an average fleet turn out for our Evening series of about 15 boats.  

Generally the fleet are fairly inconsistent with their performance with the winner one week being Mid fleet the next.  The result being their handicaps have not changed too much.  On the reverse we have two boats in the fleet which have been sailed consistently well and as a result they have had regular top 3 results throughout the series.  As a result their handicaps have got progressively quicker to the extent that one started on 0.997 and is now1.044 and the other started on 1.020 and is now 1.051.

Both of these boats are now finding it almost impossible to win and instead the top results are going to the in consistent performers who have seen little change to their base no.  

In summary to win under NHC you clearly need to have a few good results but make sure you have some down the pan days to keep the adjustment of your handicap in check.  If you do consistently well then your handicap becomes out of line with the wider fleet and very difficult to sail to.

It would be interesting to hear the RYA's thoughts on this and anyone else out there who is using the NHC this season

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sailorman Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 04 Apr 09 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 3	Post Options Post Reply Quote sailorman Report Post Quote Reply Topic: National Handicap For Cruisers (NHC) Posted: 11 Jul 13 at 10:41pm
	So We are almost halfway through the season and now would seem like a good time to see how people are getting on with he National Handicap For Cruisers?? Please post here with your practical experience. To be honest I am not sold on the system and we are having some interesting post race discussions in the Bar. We are getting an average fleet turn out for our Evening series of about 15 boats. Generally the fleet are fairly inconsistent with their performance with the winner one week being Mid fleet the next. The result being their handicaps have not changed too much. On the reverse we have two boats in the fleet which have been sailed consistently well and as a result they have had regular top 3 results throughout the series. As a result their handicaps have got progressively quicker to the extent that one started on 0.997 and is now1.044 and the other started on 1.020 and is now 1.051. Both of these boats are now finding it almost impossible to win and instead the top results are going to the in consistent performers who have seen little change to their base no. In summary to win under NHC you clearly need to have a few good results but make sure you have some down the pan days to keep the adjustment of your handicap in check. If you do consistently well then your handicap becomes out of line with the wider fleet and very difficult to sail to. It would be interesting to hear the RYA's thoughts on this and anyone else out there who is using the NHC this season

Gritts Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Newbie Joined: 29 Mar 04 Location: UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 10	Post Options Post Reply Quote Gritts Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 21 Aug 13 at 7:05am
	At the Colne Yacht Club we use the RYA system and IRC. They produce 2 sets of results. I own Panic (1/4 tonner) and we only take any notice of the IRC results. We have boats that are bigger than us but don't wish to be involved the IRC side of things. On the basis that there is a lot of IRC information out there, then any club should be able to allocate an IRC number to any boat that doesn't have one or wish to get one. Personal handicap, is I believe aimed at "getting people racing" is the reason we are suffering the RYA thing. A few years ago I had an SB20 (3) and when I first got it nobody said lets give him a personal handicap number..NO I had to go out and practise to get better... What has happened to that school of "the more we practise...The luckier we get" Geoff.