Only thing is, you need to come to the prize giving, for two reasons: 1stly show your respect to the winners and the organisers, and, 2ndly maybe collect a prize.
The system is based loosely on the RYA's general handicap system and that used successfully by the Darts but is based on finishing positions rather than time. I am no mathematician and there may be better approaches (suggestions on a spreadsheet welcomed).
The
helms personal handicap (PH) for the start of 2010 was based on their performance in the fleet over the past year or 2 as appropriate and is listed on the 'RS800 Personal Handicaps 2010' document under 'Other Documents' at
http://www.rs-association.com/index.asp?fleet=RS800&selection=Documents This list includes with your most up to date PH which will be used this weekend at Stokes Bay which takes account of performances to date this season. I'm not going to go into the details of how your initial handicap was calculated other than to say it takes your best, worst and average results into account but excludes shockers resulting from for example: equipment failure.
Those in the top 10% of the fleet essentially race off scratch (0-100) and are likely to be fighting it out for the main chocolates rather than handicap prizes. Mid-fleeters have PH's of around 500 and those in the lower half of the fleet PHs from 500 to 998.
Newcomers to the fleet are given a PH of 999 for their 1st event unless they are known to the committee as "Stars" from other fleets when they will sail off scratch (0) for their 1st event. After each event your PH is recalculated it going up or down by 20% of the difference from your PH at start of the event.
Prizes are awarded on the basis of the difference (%) between a helm's handicap coming in to the event at the end of the event. Helm(s) with the most improved handicap(s) win the handicap prize(s). Those in the chocolates or sailing their 1st 800 event are excluded from the handicap results.
At the end of the series the plan is to take overall positions and compare to individuals worst PH during the series (will be sanity checked to avoid rigging) with prizes going to those who have improved their PH most over the series that are not in the chocolates overall.
With regard to major events, we have not yet decided how this will work but it could include using the first 3 races as the basis of your "championship" handicap with major anomalies corrected.
Clear as mud?
Good, there will be no questions then ;-)
Cheers
Derek Buchanan
(1127 - Mines Awareness Group)
