IOM Mid Week Handicap

Today we began a trial of an alternative handicapping system. The plan is to run this system for about 5 weeks (IOM only) then decide whether or not it is an improvement.

A North-Wester with gusts exceeding 25 knots made for challenging sailing today at the dam.

Appropriate rig choice was important today. All skippers chose either their B or C rig at first and those with the C rig probably had the best from the mornings sailing. The winds moderated over lunch and B rigs were far more suitable as those who persisted with the C rig were well underpowered. 

A rotating PRO was used throughout the morning but after lunch John Murrell took on the duty. Thanks John and to the others who performed this task.

Just finishing all the races was important to doing well today. The winner was Rick Price who was consistently at the pointy end of the fleet. John Cole-Cook and Phil Jackman took out 2nd and 3rd place respectively separated only by a fraction of a point. Congratulations to all.

The new resetting rules for next week’s starting handicaps can be understood as follows:
The first four place-getters starting handicap is increased by 10 seconds. So Rick Price, John Cole-Cook, Phil Jackman and Andrew Wardrop all receive a 10 second increase to their handicap.

The last four place-getters have their handicap reduced by 10 seconds (if possible). The tally table shows that John Hall finished last today but John did not finish in more than half of the races so his handicap does not change and it means that as far as handicaps are concerned the bottom four who did finish enough races were John Murrell, Martin Svensen, Rod Jackman and Peter Webberley. All have their starting handicap reduced for next week.

For those who wish to read more onthe handicap system, further explanation is below the results picture. If anyone would like any further explanation about handicaps, or has any feedback that they would like to give then please feel free to contact me.

John Short

EXPLANATION OF THE NEW HANDICAP SYSTEM

Each week the starting handicap for every skipper is in the range 0 to 70 and is a simple multiple of 10 seconds. That is: Either 0, 10, 20, 30 40, 50, 60, or 70 seconds.

Each race a 10 second handicap penalty is applied to all of the podium place-getters (1st , 2nd and 3rd). All the place-getters also receive -2 bonus points to their series total as a sweetener to prevent sandbagging.

A maximum (on-the-day) handicap of 90 seconds is introduced to eliminate the problem of scratch skippers winning themselves to a handicap where they can no longer be competitive.

Handicaps are tracked by each skipper having a ‘fridge magnet’ with their name on it on a magnetic board. The board is divided into columns for each handicap 0 – 90. Each race the PRO moves all place getter’s magnets one column to the right.

To reset the starting handicaps for the following week:
 
If the event’s winner is NOT a scratch skipper, (ie is a skipper with a starting handicap of less than 70), then

•       The first four place-getters have 10 seconds added to their current starting handicap for next week. (To a maximum of 70.)
•       The bottom four place-getters have 10 seconds subtracted from their current starting handicap for next week. (To a minimum of 0.)
•       All other boats retain their previous starting handicap.
•       A skipper must finish in half of the races to qualify for an adjusted handicap.

 
But if a scratch skipper wins the day there is a ‘shake-down’ of handicaps and

•       The winner stays on 70 sec.
•       Skippers who finished 2nd, 3rd and 4th also retain their previous handicap.
•       All others have 10 seconds taken away from their starting handicap. (To a minimum of zero.)

 
This system could bring the following advantages:
 
It maintains the best features of the current system in that it;

•       Is still quick to correct a generous handicapped we should still find that on any day most skippers will reach the podium at least once.
•       Is still understandable, (and the magnetic board will be a good physical reference of what is going on.)
•       It will be computer based and free from human judgment or human error.

 
In addition:

•       It will not be as volatile. A skippers handicap will vary week to week by at most +/- 10 seconds.
•       The race PRO can judge early starters. (There is a mini-start every 10 seconds).
•       It is likely that you will be starting the race with others which will give practice at race starts and it also adds a competitive ‘race-within-a-race’ situation.
•       The back-markers are not handicapped out of contention if they win several races.
•       Handicaps are determined by the performance of each skipper alone and not tied to the performance of some other skipper.
•       The use of the magnetic board means that the race PRO does not make errors involving adding positive and negative numbers in the calculating of new handicaps.
•       The 0 to 70 second range for start of day handicaps means that all skippers have ample time to prepare for their start.