2013 Handicaps...

As you will no doubt have heard, the RYA have dropped the PY handicap scheme for 2013. While it is probably a good thing that PY has been dropped, it might have been better if clubs had been given some notice and their views had been taken into consideration before launching a replacement.

However we are where we are. They have introduced a new scheme going by the name of NHC (National Handicap for Cruisers) which it is intended clubs run alongside IRC.  Their hope is that NHC will encourage more casual sailors to participate in club racing while the IRC rating system will cater for the more serious racers.

A brief explanation of the NHC is probably needed.  

The primary objective of  NHC is to increase participation at clubs with struggling memberships and poorly supported race series, primarily by spreading the silverware about.  

This is to be achieved by altering participant's handicaps after each race in a series depending on their performance. The alterations are made automatically within the results scoring system with the aim of arriving at a situation by the end of a series where every boat in the event has exactly the same chance of 'winning'  irrespective of crew ability or skill. You may or may not think this is good thing. It should be noted that the RYA recognise that this will not suit many clubs which is why they're pushing IRC as the way forward for clubs with well supported competitive racing fleets.

The sailing committee are very aware that going down this road will dramatically change things at Castle Cove, if only because many boats would prefer to race (in the traditional sense of the word) and will therefore be obliged to pay for an annual IRC certificate. We have therefore decided that the first series will be scored under last years PY numbers while we try to reach a consensus on the best way forward.  

Your views are important in this process. Please take a little time to think about the options and let us know which way you'd like us to go.

The options are as follows:

Option 1: Go the RYA way eg: IRC and NHC.

The pros are: 

• IRC is considered by many to be the fairest of all ratings systems

• NHC is free to participant and to the club

• Occasional racers and visiting boats have a known rating and can participate on that rating without argument or question.

• Likewise Castle Cove members can race at most other clubs and participate on a known rating (for example Weymouth Sailing Club who are now using this system)

The cons are: 

• IRC has a small ongoing cost implication (average £120 pa) to the participant.

• NHC does not generate results based on ability or merit. By the end of a series it is possible to be one of the worst sailors in the event and still 'win'.

Option 2:  Continue to use PY numbers and adjust as we go 

The pros are: 

• It's there and we know what we have

• It's free to participant and to the club

The cons are: 

• Many members are either unhappy with their handicap, or unhappy with somebody (or everybody) else's.

• Occasional racers and visiting boats will not have a known rating. A handicap will need to be established before they can participate.

Option 3: Use an alternative rating or handicap system.

There are numerous possibilities, two of them, Byron and Linda Wolstenholme's system, use formulae to arrive at a PY style number. 

Byron is not a plausible possibility, the formula having been dismissed by the writer as being too flawed to be useful. There is also a cost implication if you want a 'personalised' handicap. 

If we wanted a measurement based 'PY' number a better bet might be Linda Wolstenholme's system. Linda is Professor of Applied Statistics at Cass Business School in London and has put considerable resources into this project. The formulae is much more complex but free for all to see. There is no charge for the use of her system.

There are also numerous club based measurement systems around (Poole's for example) but it seems in many cases the calculated results are subsequently massaged to make them 'seem right' - which makes the calculations, and therefore the scheme, rather worthless!

The pros are: 

• We could eventually arrive at a handicap system tailored to our club and waters

• Depending on which system we go there might be no charge to club or participant.

The cons are: 

• All these alternatives require specific measurements to be taken, occasional or visiting racers will need to provide these measurements before they will be able to participate

• Our club handicaps will have no value when racing elsewhere

• The RYA data returns are reduced still further significantly reducing the possibility of arriving at a meaningful national system for the future.

As I said earlier, your views are important - we want to end up with a system that most of us are happy with. If you have any views please email them to me at zclassnews-sailing@yahoo.co.uk and if you like add them as comments below.

Bon vent!


Gary Warr
Z Class Captain

Tel: 01929 463265