Race Management: Discards

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Discards

Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Race Management
Forum Discription: For race officers and competiors to discuss the topic
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1095
Printed Date: 27 Jun 25 at 2:44pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Discards

Posted By: Harry44981!
Subject: Discards
Date Posted: 10 Oct 05 at 6:16pm

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?

Replies:

Posted By: 49erGBR735HSC
Date Posted: 09 Nov 05 at 5:15am

Using discards is always a positive thing. The discard system allows for worst results to be eliminated. If a really good sailor has a bad race, the discard system recognises this and discards that race(s). We have won many series/regattas on discard systems where we would have finished below our positions on average scoring systems. If you have a bad race, discards compensate for that better than average systems if you are the top of your fleet.

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Dennis Watson 49er GBR735 http://www.helensburghsailingclub.co.uk/ -
Helensburgh S.C
http://www.noblemarine.co.uk/home.php3?affid=560 - Boat Insurance from Noble Marine

Posted By: Scooby_simon
Date Posted: 09 Nov 05 at 9:26am

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.

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Wanna learn to Ski - PM me..

Posted By: gordon
Date Posted: 09 Nov 05 at 3:44pm

If there are no discards there would be astrong case for changing the rule on redress. Otherwise a boat that has a bad result due to another infringing boat would inevitably be out of the competition...leading to much ill feeling and fascinating opportunities for team efforts -getting a friend to take out the competitor!

There would therefore be more protests and requests for redress - this would be a good thing as it would rekindle interst in this much neglected aspect of our sport and provide exciting career prospects for protest committee members!

Gordon

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Gordon

Posted By: 49erGBR735HSC
Date Posted: 12 Nov 05 at 4:34am

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!

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Dennis Watson 49er GBR735 http://www.helensburghsailingclub.co.uk/ -
Helensburgh S.C
http://www.noblemarine.co.uk/home.php3?affid=560 - Boat Insurance from Noble Marine