Racing Handicaps- help.

[dralex]

I know very little about racing handicaps for yachts and am currently trying to get a figure for my boat for a local regatta. I've never raced this boat before and don't plan on racing very often, and then only in local regattas. Do people think it's fair to use an IRC number for an equivalent boat and if so do I use the higher or lower one of the numbers I can find. Also, has anybody heard of the Irish sailing association version called ECHO and are these numbers representative and comparable to IRC numbers? I'd like to get the number correct, just on the offchance we do well ( unlikely, but possible)

Thanks in advance

Alex

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[halcyon]

Assuming Dehler 34 , PY number try 940 as a starting point, also try RYA web site for there rating list, may be on that list.
If racing IRC the club should have a boat with PY and IRC numbers, that match PY 940, or will issue a trial number that will be modified to how your results look.

Brian

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[dralex]

The IRC numbers I've found for a Dehler 34 are 0.934, 0.935 and 0.938. I see these eqate roughly to the PY.

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[Aeolus_IV]

No - it is pure coinsidence that the PY is 940 and the IRC figure is 0.934 to 0.938. IRC is a system where slower boats have smaller number, PY is a system where slower boats have larger numbers.

Regards, Jeff.

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[dralex]

Told you I know nothing about it! /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

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[simonwood]

Being a racing dummy, what do all this racing handicaps mean?
How do they work them out? How does the rating effected the corrected time?

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[AndrewB]

Well, now you know you want a small IRC number if possible! Essentially your time over the course is multiplied by this number, so the smaller your number, the less time you are rated as having taken, on handicap.

If this is a local 'club' regatta it's rather surprising that IRC is being used, rather than PY or a club handicap. The Portsmouth Yardstick system offers race officers the opportunity to give unrated yachts a provisional yardstick, or to use the yardstick from another yacht of the same class. But the IRC system is considerably more formal, requiring a proper application and certification by the RORC on behalf of the yacht (see <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.rorcrating.com/default.html>HERE</A>). You can't just find the figure for another yacht and call it 'your' IRC rating.

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[dralex]

That's the impression I got- they definately said IRC, but it's very low key racing and I'm not going to spend £60 for an IRC assessment as the entry fee is only £5. Perhaps they meant PY. I'll try giving them a PY. In response to Simon, I think IRC numbers are worked out on quite a few variables affecting the performance of the boat, and also take into account previous race results- eg things like a folding prop, size of genoa, keel type etc.

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[Neraida]

All you really need to know is that handicaps are cruel, depressing and downright unfair.

Its true, honest.

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[AndrewB]

Quite, quite true. But to correct one previous point, neither PY nor IRC handicaps adjust on the basis of past performance of that particular yacht. That is why 'club handicaps' exist, which generally do. This may make for more fun with owner/skippers of very different experience, but obviously for more serious racing would downgrade the importance of skill.

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[halcyon]

Our usual method with unlisted yachts is to do a internet search on the name, to try and locate one racing with a PY /IRC in a club and use that as a trial number. This means that you are starting with a number that is probably reasonable, as one assummes the skipper is not that but out with that rating. It is then possible to adjust it then depending on the results.
In passing our club races PY in the week, and IRC on Saturday, with the same basic fleet.

Brian

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[cruisingsam]

Hi
ECHO is an irish handicapping system that takes into account results, crew changes, new sails, equipment etc
More info can be found at http://www.sailing.ie/inside/default.asp?pageId=65
Cheers

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[capn666]

Try the CYCA site. There are huge lists of cruiser & racer type boats with H/cap expressed in minutes allowed per hour. These can easily be converted to IRC eg 6 mins/hr = 0.900 IRC (I think)
Capn666

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[dralex]

Thanks. I'll check that out.

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