Keelboat Performance Handicaps 2002-2003

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KEELBOAT HANDICAP RULES 2003/2004

PERFORMANCE BASED HANDICAPS - VYC

VYC handicaps are based on analysis of performance in accordance with an agreed set of rules. The main characteristics of the VYC system are -

It's free and requires no measurement

It requires constant administrative support by analysis of race results and adjustment of the individual boats handicap.

It only remains valid on an interclub basis if club fleets mix on a regular racing basis, otherwise the handicap relativity from club to club may vary and results in open competition becoming inconsistent.

A change of skipper, crew or equipment can cause significant fluctuation in results.

The validity of the handicap system relies on the honesty of skippers to inform Handicappers of equipment changes.

Most handicaps are generated from circuit races (same start and finish) with significant windward components, thus purely off wind courses will give significantly different results.

VYC Handicapping Rules - by relative performance

1. Divisions

1.1 Performance handicap racing will be divided into three divisions depending on the performance of boats and may be reviewed and revised periodically.

Div 1 0.850 & above

Div 2 0.750 to 0.849

Div 3 0.749 & below

Boats with a handicap of less than 0.010 above or below the divisional break points at the beginning of the new season may choose which division they race in for that season and remain there for the season even if the handicap moves above or below the divisional break point during the season.

Boats outside this 0.010 range cannot choose to sail in a higher division, even if they agree to sail on the minimum for that division.

Five or more boats of a recognised class (eg S80’s, Diamonds, Adams 10’s) may race as a class in a selected division if some their handicaps are below the divisional minimum on the condition they start on the minimum handicap for that division (740 and 840) and their handicaps cannot then fall below 730 or 830 respectively.

2. Conditions for the Issue and Maintenance of a VYC Handicap

The VYC Handicap is the measure of performance achieved by a boat/crew combination. To qualify for a VYC Handicap, the boat concerned must have finished in five races with a fair result, and with her hull, rig and crew substantially unchanged.

Any substantial change in hull, rig or crew combination which is likely to change performance, must be notified to the Club Handicapper at least 24 hours prior to the race.

Interpretation of such substantial changes will include:

change of helmsman

more than half of crew who have not competed in past 5 races

hull or rig changes

new sails

changes to ballast

2.4 Failure to notify of such changes may be considered to be "unfair practice" and may result in protest and subsequent disqualification.

2.5 The host club may require owners/skippers to declare that these requirements have been met.

3. Abbreviations

AH Allocated Handicap (Handicap allocated for a race)

BCT Base Corrected Time

BCH Back Calculated Handicap

LBCH Limited Back Calculated Handicap

LBCHU Limited Back Calculated Handicap Upper (105% of the Allocated Handicap)

LBCHL Limited Back Calculated Handicap Lower (96% of the Allocated Handicap)

LBCHD Limited Back Calculated Handicap Discard (Discard results less than 90% AH)

CH Calculated Handicap

IPH Initial Provisional Handicap

P Provisional Handicap for explanation see paragraph 8.

L Local Handicaps - for explanation see paragraph 9.

LDH Long Distance Handicaps. - for explanation see paragraph 10.

4. VYC Handicap

4.1 Handicaps are issued and updated by the VYC Handicapper of each club.

5. Method of Calculation of VYC Handicap

5.1 Select the Corrected Time of the boat positioned 45% of the way down the fleet from the winning boat on Corrected Time. This then becomes the "Base Corrected Time" for that particular race.

Back Calculate the handicaps for each boat by dividing the Base Corrected Time by the boat's Elapsed Time: viz:-

BCH = BCT / Elapsed Time (for each boat)

Discard BCH values that are less than LBCHD (ie 90% of the Allocated Handicap).

5.4 Apply Limited Back-Calculated Handicaps

If the BCH is between 90% and 96% of the Allocated Handicap then the recorded LBCH shall be LBCHL (ie 96% of the Allocated Handicap).

If the BCH is above 105%of the Allotted Handicap then the recorded LBCH shall be LBCHU (ie 105% of the Allocated Handicap.

All other BCH values to be recorded as calculated without applications of limits (ie between 96% and 105%), in these cases BCH=LBCH.

Maintain a record of the BCH's and LBCH’s achieved by each boat on the Club Register.

From the last 5 valid LBCH values recorded for each boat, calculate the new handicap by averaging these 5 values.

This new handicap is the Calculated Handicap.

At the discretion of the Handicapper, the Calculated Handicap becomes the new Allotted Handicap.

6. Alterations to a VYC Handicap

A boat may cease to qualify for a VYC Handicap and revert to a Provisional Handicap at the Handicapper's discretion if the boat has less than five VYC Handicap analysed results in the preceding 12 months.

7. Class Marks

7.1 A list of Class Marks shall be kept by the VYC Handicap Committee and the list is to be updated by the Handicap Committee prior to the beginning of each season. Class Marks are to be based on the performance of the boats racing on the waters of Port Phillip Bay during the previous summer season.

8. Provisional Handicaps

8.1 An Initial Provisional Handicap will be allocated at 1.5% above the VYC Handicap Sub-Committee's list of class marks and may be adjusted at the Handicappers discretion.

8.2 The Provisional Handicap will be recalculated during the boat’s first 5 races, using its valid BCH’s as follows:

After the boat’s first race the Provisional Handicap shall be recalculated by averaging its recorded BCH and its IPH x4.

After the boat’s second race the Provisional Handicap shall be recalculated by averaging its two recorded BCH’s and its IPH x3.

After the boat’s third race the Provisional Handicap shall be recalculated by averaging its three recorded BCH’s and its IPH x2.

After the boat’s fourth race the Provisional Handicap shall be recalculated by averaging its four recorded BCH’s and its IPH x1.

After the boat’s fifth race the Calculated Handicap shall be the average of its five BCH’s.

8.3 A win or a discard for a boat on a Provisional Handicap should be reviewed by the Handicapper and the Provisional Handicap changed if required.

9. Local Handicaps

9.1 Handicaps not calculated according to the complete application of the foregoing rules and band limitations shall be designated "Local" handicaps. (These would chiefly be used for social type races within a single club).

Local handicaps shall not be used for inter-club racing.

Long Distance Handicaps

Long Distance Handicaps are separate handicaps that may be used for circuit races greater than 20nm or passage races. Handicaps to be calculated as per para 5, but the 5 races may be taken over a 24 month period.

Recalculation of Performance Handicaps at Regattas

When a yacht club runs a Performance Handicap Division in a Regatta, the Performance Handicaps shall be established and then recalculated as follows.

The race committee shall establish initial handicaps for the Regatta based on available Established Handicaps for boats with current VYC Handicaps, and handicaps established by the Club handicapper from the best available information for other boats. This handicap is then the Allocated Handicap for the first race.

The Allocated Handicaps shall then be used for calculation the results of the first race.

Limited Back Calculated Handicaps should then be calculated from the first race.

The Allocated Handicap for the second race shall be calculated by taking the average of 3 values of the initial Allocated Handicap plus 2 values of the LBCH of the first race.

This Allocated Handicap is then used for calculating the results of the second race.

Limited Back Calculated Handicaps should then be calculated from the second race.

The Allocated Handicap for the third race shall be calculated by taking the average of 1 value of the initial Allocated Handicap plus 2 values of the LBCH of the first race and 2 values of the LBCH of the second race.

This Allocated Handicap is then used for calculating the results of the third race.

Limited Back Calculated Handicaps should then be calculated from the third race.

The Allocated Handicap for the fourth race shall be calculated by taking the average of 1 value of the initial Allocated Handicap plus 1 value of the LBCH of the first race plus 1 value of the LBCH of the second race plus 2 values of the LBCH of the third race.

This Allocated Handicap is then used for calculating the results of the fourth race.

Limited Back Calculated Handicaps should then be calculated from the fourth race.

For all further recalculations of handicaps, a single value for each race LBCH should be used for recalculation of the new Allocated Handicap.

12. Query on VYC Handicap

12.1 If a handicap is queried then it is to be resolved by the club Handicapper and if necessary referred to the Sailing Committee of that club.

12.2 In the event of one Club having reason to question the validity of a VYC Handicap of a boat from another Club, resolution should be between the Handicappers of the Clubs concerned.

12.3 Should agreement not be reached in 10.1 and 10.2, the Chairman of the Handicap Sub-Committee is to be contacted for a ruling.