Interesting Stats

I keep some of the racing class review stats on a spreadsheet...

Some interesting numbers...
The Laser 5000 has apparently unbuilt 11 boats since 2002 when the latest sail number was 5318, so that now the latest number is 5307.
The Fireballs are generous with sail numbers, they've shared out 28 sail numbers between 21 boats, while the Wayfarer is quite the opposite, with only 50 sail numbers shared round 82 new boats!

you must be in Shetland, or somewhere else with equally long dark cold winter nights to spot that type of thing!!

Hi everyone,

Like Jim, I look at the statistics, every year, and see many errors, particularly on 'numbers of boats built in the last year', 'latest sail number' and with P.Y. numbers

I suspect that alot of it is to do with duff information from the class associations and also dealers such as Laser. I also suspect that some of it is through laziness, negligence or just a con to give the impression that classes are more active than they are or more boats are being sold. As, in another thread being discussed, there is no doubt, also, that Y & Y make mistakes when they are 'proof reading'. An example would be the Laser Vortex class (which is a popular class at my club).  The PN for the standard rig (which is 960) and the assymetric rig (which is to be 930)  is shown as the same (960), the secretary/contact does not live at the address shown and I have no knowledge of a Vortex with a sail number above about 1222 but it shows 1249 (apologies to the Vortex class for quoting their class as an example, no offence intended). Duff information like this does not help any prospective newcomer to the class.

As Jim implies, I, too,  don't understand why proper, up to date and precise information cannot be provided.  I would add that this is not a new phenomenon and has been going on for years. 

Finally, I can never understand why some classes do not submit any information at all, or the fact that it has to be chased after by Y & Y.  If people really cared about their class of boat then the class association and retailers should be only too willing to provide information.

Ian  (Yorkshire Dales S.C.)

 

Surely each year there is very little data to update for the classes - unless it is a development class with a major rule change all that should change is the latest sail number, number of boats at the nationals and the address of the class secretary...can't be that difficult to be accurate...

But then again, according the RYA lists, the 505 only has 12.5m2 of white sails and weighs 45kg so maybe it is!

My biggest whinge is weight - there are two relevant weights, minimum as laid down in the rules, and the all-up weight for dragging round the dinghy park, please can somebody give an honest answer to these...

Originally posted by iansmithofotley I suspect that alot of it is to do with duff information from the class associations and also dealers such as Laser. I also suspect that some of it is through laziness, negligence or just a con to give the impression that classes are more active than they are or more boats are being sold. As, in another thread being discussed, there is no doubt, also, that Y & Y make mistakes when they are 'proof reading'. An example would be the Laser Vortex class (which is a popular class at my club).  The PN for the standard rig (which is 960) and the assymetric rig (which is to be 930)  is shown as the same (960), the secretary/contact does not live at the address shown and I have no knowledge of a Vortex with a sail number above about 1222 but it shows 1249 (apologies to the Vortex class for quoting their class as an example, no offence intended).

While we do occasionally make mistakes , in this instance the address
published was that supplied by the class as was the latest sail number.
The PN is that published by the RYA for the standard Vortex, we mention
in the information on the class that there is now an asymmetric version
for which we do not publish a PN.

Every year we have to go through every bit of information with a fine
toothcomb - you really would be surprised how some classes send in
information which is patently incorrect, we weed out as many obvious
errors as we can and have been refining the information each year for the
past few years, but with over 160 classes that's a whole lot of facts...

The PNs are cross referenced with those published by the RYA... it takes
us an enormous amount of time to process the information, and many
hours are spent chasing up the returns. We'd love to get it 100 per cent
accurate and will keep on working to get there - the classes that send
their information in on time are a real help in this quest...

While on the subject of class returns, all the forms for the guide to the
dinghy show went out with exhibitor packs earlier this month, we need
those back by January 7 so we'd love to be alble to cut down the time we
need to chase the information and aim to get the guide as
comprehensive and accurate as possible.

Edited by Gael