Conference unifix::sailing

    1) Handicapping is not all that hard but requires some work.  You can
       obtain from the United States Sailing Association former USYRU the
       portsmouth (???) numbers for various boats.  This is a handicap
       system set up to allow different types of boats to race.  To do it
       perfectly requires a fair amount of work but with the data sheet and
       some simple math you should be able to work it out.  A back issue in
       the last year or so of American Sailor had a article about this
       system.  


    2) Rules you do not need to apply the full racing rules you can
       condense and grow your own.  If you do this you will not be able to
       get support from USSA if you need a ruling.  Not a problem this is
       supposed to fun racing right....  After the form feed is a simplified 
       set handed out by the the old USYRU.



    3) Courses set what works for you nothing says you have to follow
       something drawn in a book.  Just make sure what you choose is easily
       understood by all.


    	I wish more places used portsmouth system locally. I would like to
    buy a boat that I have used and enjoy but with 0 local representation. 
    Without a place to race it buying one is less appealing.  To the best
    of my knowledge none of the racing fleets locally use the portsmouth
    systems for races.
    
    Forrest
    







                                        USYRU

                      YACHT RACING RIGHT-OF-WAY RULES IN BRIEF
                           Simplified,Condensed,Unofficial
          Below are the basic racing right-of-way rules in simple, brief
          form. They are intended as an aid to newcomers to the sport and
          not as a substitute for the official rules.  All racers should
          have their own copy of the Official Yacht Racing Rules.


          1. PORT-STARBOARD. When yachts are on opposite tacks (booms are
          on different sides), port  tack  (yacht with boom on the
          starboard side) keep clear.  See rule 36.

          2. WINDWARD-LEEWARD. When yachts are on the same tack (booms on
          the same side), the windward yacht keeps clear, or the yacht
          astern keeps clear.  See rule 37.
          3. CHANGING TACK. When you are tacking or jibing, keep clear of
          other yachts.  After you  tack or jibe and suddenly get
          right-of-way, give the other yacht room and time to keep clear.
          See rule 41.

          4. LUFFING BEFORE STARTING.   Before clearing the line you may
          luff a yacht to windward, but you must do it slowly.  See rule
          40.
          5. BARGING. At the start, don't "barge." That means don't try to
          squeeze between a yacht close to leeward of you and a starting
          line mark (which probably is a race committee boat).  See rule
          42.4.

          6. OVER EARLY. If you are over the line early at the start, keep
          clear of all yachts that started properly as you return to
          restart.  See rule 44.
          7. BUOY ROOM. When you are about to round or pass a mark or an
          obstruction, give all yachts overlapping you on the inside room
          to pass the mark or obstruction.  See rule 42.

          8. LUFFING AFTER STARTING.  When another boat tries to pass you
          to windward you may luff her until her skipper hails "mast
          abeam" (means her skipper is even with or ahead of your mast).
          Then you must stop luffing and bear off to your proper course.
          See rule 38.
          9. TOUCHING A MARK. If you touch a mark, you may continue racing
          only after getting completely clear of other yachts and then
          making two complete 360� turns (720� ) in the same direction,
          including two tacks and two jibes.  See rules 52 and 45.

          10. RULE INFRINGEMENT.  If you infringe a rule while racing (you
          are racing from your preparatory signal until you clear the
          finish line), you are obligated to retire promptly. Sometimes
          the sailing instructions permit an alternative penalty such as
          the "720 Rule" or a percentage scoring penalty. See Fundamental
          rule D and Appendix 3.  Even when you have right-of-way it is
          your duty to avoid collisions.  See rule 32.

    I suggest you start a One-Design Class at Bare Hill Pond.  You could
    choose a class and build interest.  A Snipe or 470 might be a good
    place to start.
    
    Frank
    

    	I hate to disagree but from the tone of the base a one-design fleet
    is not what they are after.  Looks like a bunch of folks who each
    have a boat that suits their needs and see each other on a regular
    basis.  They would like to do some racing without investing much money
    or time.  Building a one design fleet would involve both time and
    money....  All they need is a fair way to handicap each other and some
    minimal rules.  All of these can be covered with a couple of phone
    calls to USSA, a calculator and a stop watch.  If they want to get
    fancy a chart to accurately determine the length of the course.


    	Don't get me wrong one-design is a good way to go if you are
    willing to build a fleet, join an existing one or chase around to
    regattas.  I keep wishing that a regular dinghy handicap series were
    run locally.  I like to race, I do not want to buy a large two person
    dinghy, and I do not fit the common one-design single handers.  Instead 
    I sit back and don't race much.  I work at a sailing program I teach a
    little, help run the Wednesday night fun series, and some other
    programs events and occasionally race.  Keeps me out of trouble but
    does not satisfy my urge to race more.  

    	I look at a regatta like the old Red Lobster Cup.  They get a large
    one-design draw but they also get a large run what you brung fleet. 
    People have fun get to race and it grows and grows....  In talking to
    other FL sailors many of the FL regattas have a run what you brung fleet
    and it works... I believe that in order for sailing to grow and prosper
    we need to do the following:

    	1) Promote low cost learn to sail programs, clubs, community
    	   sailing programs etc.
    	2) Promote Fun Fun Fun
    	3) Provide easy access, N.E. seems to fail that based on my limited
    	   experience when compared to FL....
    	4) Promote racing as a fun activity (not a megabuck cut throat
    	   exercise) for all no matter what they sail.....


    Forrest
    Ps.		This strayed from the base topic sorry but I want sailing
    		to grow.  Telling people fit this mold is the only way to
    		go is not the answer.
    PPS.	If you want some help dealing with the USSA let me know.  I
    		know a few people from USSA from my involvement with a
    		community sailing program.

      The Portsmouth Rating system of handicapping is worked on on the 
      "average" boats for certain classes. This means that in your own 
      small local fleet you might have some people with a newish boat that 
      doesn't compete fairly with some of the older boats....

      You could easily create your own handicaps.

      Have a race. Time each boat around the course. Calculate the number 
      of seconds each boat took.

      Divide the 420's time by a handicap of 115, and this will give you an 
      approx "corrected time". (Why 115? - 'cos then your numbers will 
      match approximately with Portsmouth nos).

      Use this corrected time to calculate the other boats handicaps, using 
      the formula:

      	      ACTUAL TIME
      	      -----------     = HANDICAP
      	      CORRECTED TIME

      Then round the handicaps of each boat to the nearest whole number.

      Then in the future you just have a race, record the finishing times 
      of each boat, and then calculate the corrected time as follows:

      	      			ACTUAL TIME
      	      CORRECTED TIME =  -----------
      	      			 HANDICAP

      (remember the actual time is in seconds, so on the calculator enter:
      Hours * 60 + Mins * 60 + Seconds / Handicap = ).

      Record the results over the season and give the winner a bottle of 
      champagne.

      Also record the actual times of each race, and you can then 
      re-calculate the handicaps based on the season's average, ready for 
      next year.

Cheers, Chris

    
    	Some numbers:
    
    Sunfish		105.5
    Force 5		95.4
    Zuni		????
    420			97.5
    Snipe		93.8
    Boston Whaler 16	????
    Day Sailer		99.8
    Butterfly		108
    Hobie	14	87.2
    
    	They are out of date and they are the average the actual break outs
    are for wind ranges.  But could help give you a starting point if you
    do not want to try and get the latest official numbers.  The values are
    constantly being refined with actual race data.
    
    
    Forrest

Gosh! Thanks for the input guys. This is what I was looking for. Perhaps someone
has a number to contact USSA? 

re. One-Design vs Mixed Fleet - I'm at the feasibility study stage of this
project. Right now, there's just me and one other guy. Now that I have a rough
idea of how to setup rules and rate the boats I'll run an add in the local
weekly to find other racers. I'm not interested in getting into one design but
we may find enough others who are to build a fleet. Who knows? I don't see the
two as mutually exclusive. In fact I think they complement each other. (All you
Type-As to the left, Type-Bs to the right.)

re. Promoting sailing - I try to do this all the time. I've only been sailing 
for a couple of years but I try to encourage people at the ramp, (which is next
to the Town beach in Harvard), to look at the boat and ask questions. It's fun
and you often meet interesting people. The town has a sailing program for kids
which uses Phantoms and I will be contacting them about this project as well to
see if there is any cross fertilization possible, (and to head off any potential
concerns/problems).

Thanks again for the help. I'll keep ya posted on how it goes.

Mike H

    
    	The number is 401-849-5200.....
    
    
    Forrest