How does a pursuit yacht race work?

[Rum_Pirate]

How does a pursuit yacht race work?

IMHO all yachts are given a handicap before the race.

Then they start at intervals according to their handicap.

The first yacht to cross the finish line is the winner.

With me so far?

OK so can anyone explain how after all yachts are given a handicap before the race.

And they start at intervals according to their handicap.

Then they race and the race committee declares the first boat to start (the one withe the lowest handicap), which crosses the line second, the winner.

When the yacht with the heaviest handicap, that started last in the entire fleet sailed through the fleet, rounded all marks correctly, finished and crossed the finish line first is then declared 2nd.

Please , please rational explanations.




NB THIS POST MOVED HERE TO PLACATE THE RANT OF ANOTHER FORUMITE THAT IT WAS IN THE WRONG FORUM.

 

[sailorman]

As with all things boaty
a place for everything & everything in its place

all start on a staggered times based on the boat handicap.
all should theoretically finish at the same time.
if nobody passes you you should win

 

[donm]

As with all things boaty
a place for everything & everything in its place

all start on a staggered times based on the boat handicap.
all should theoretically finish at the same time.
if nobody passes you you should win

Except that the staggered start times are based on a notional time taken (before the start) rather that the actual time taken (after the finish). Thus the need for some adjustment

 

[BlueSkyNick]

There is another method whereby the yachts start at one minute intervals regardless of handicap, and the times are taken at the end, handicaps then applied to calculate Corrected time.

 

[DJE]

Strictly speaking the committee should declare the finish time in advance of the start and then drop the finish line in front of the leading boat at the appropriate time. Obviously this isn't too easy in practice but I have seen it done in dinghy races. If the finish line was fixed and the race took a longer or shorter time than anticipated then the handicapping wouldn't work. What did the sailing instructions say?

 

[Cantata]

Strictly speaking the committee should declare the finish time in advance of the start and then drop the finish line in front of the leading boat at the appropriate time. ......

Exactly how it's done at our club.
Since the staggered start times are calculated on the basis of a certain length of race, that's the only 'accurate' way to finish it.

 

[ianat182]

At our club all is as stated above but the Pursuit fleet is split into two classes Cruiser and Sportier Yachts; the latter allows 707's and SB3's,Squibs etc to compete. There are separate Class courses. The Cruiser course usually somewhat shorter but generally around the same marks, and first starts are at 1830hrs finishing at 2015hrs precisely. At the 2015 finish each yacht tries to note the number of the boat in front and astern.Countdown is by VHF transmission.
Shortened courses tend to be at the same mark for both classes; but the committee boat fires the gun/hooter at the finish, or shortened mark, as appropriate.

We have a tradition of subscribing a one off £10 for each boat entered, which becomes a donation towards our local RNLI or Hamble rescue services.

The last race of the series is a Ladies Helm pursuit race, sometimes all female crew, or chaps with coloured wigs and skirts etc.

Gentlemanly racing is the order of the day,and penalties for early starting are severe. Handicaps are reviewed and can change during a series, resulting in a later or earlier start time.
Our turnout for this event is impressive.

Food is provided at the end of racing at the Club.

ianat182

 

[claymore]

Going back to the OP- the assumption is that all boats will be sailed to their handicap, which rarely happens. add an increasing breeze or favourable tide at the start or end of a race when some boats cannot take advantage and thats pretty much it.

 

[bbg]

It also depends if the rating system used is time-on-time or time-on-distance.

If the former, order of finish could be different than order of results, as others have noted above. If the latter, the place you cross the line should be your result.

Read the Sailing Instructions, and if that doesn't clarify the situation, ask the Race Committee.

 

[gardenshed]

How does a pursuit yacht race work?

When the yacht with the heaviest handicap, that started last in the entire fleet sailed through the fleet, rounded all marks correctly, finished and crossed the finish line first is then declared 2nd.

Please , please rational explanations.

there are a number of rational explanations to your question, but first, you understand pursuit racing as I have experienced it being run for bigger boats/keel boats.

explanation 1.
the "winner" is adept at deploying brown envelopes

explanation 2.
the committee don't like the owner and/or crew of the yacht with the heaviest handicap

explanation 3.
we're the committee and we choose to modify the rules as we and our friends see fit
.... now be a good chap and toddle off without making a fuss

 

[Moonshining]

Exactly how it's done at our club.
Since the staggered start times are calculated on the basis of a certain length of race, that's the only 'accurate' way to finish it.

Blimey, how does that work if the finish is on an upwind leg and boats are on different tacks?

 

[DJE]

Read the sailing instructions. Typically they would instruct boats to stay close to the rhumb line and or close to the leading boat if the final leg is a beat.