Post by Camelot on Jan 27, 2011 0:20:13 GMT
At a recent Bristol Channel Yachting Association meeting it was decided that the sailing secretaries of all Bristol Channel Yacht Clubs would not adjust the Byron handicap number of any boat.
So if the example of your boat on the Byron site is a fin, and you've got the bilge keel version, you'll be stuck with the fin's handicap. There is a way around this - apply for a handicap specific to your boat.
It's not expensive, you just have to give a donation (I'm told £5-£10 is the going rate). You simply take a few measurements and fill in the form on the website.
Another reason to do so is to ensure that you have the most accurate handicap possible for your boat to give you the most accurate idea of how you're doing; the number on the site is for the first boat of that type to apply, for example, it might not necessarily have had the original sized sails (or you might not), it may have a folding prop - compared with your three bladed brake, etc.
This will apply for the 2011 regatta which will be on 4-5th June.
So basically we're encouraging everyone to get their own number, though you're still welcome to take part in the regatta with the number straight off the site, you just might not be as competitive, but if that's not your thing then there's nothing stopping you enjoying the weekends racing with the standard number.
See:- www.byronsoftware.org.uk/bycn/byboat.htm
To explain for those who aren't so in to racing, in the past if someone had a bilge keel yacht with a three bladed prop, and the only number on the byron website was for the fin keel version fitted with a folding prop, the sailing sec would adjust the handicap to give that person a fairer chance. However, they could then beat someone else by the narrowest of margins, with questions being raised about how accurate the adjustment was. It's therefore fairer to leave the adjustments for an outside agency.
So if the example of your boat on the Byron site is a fin, and you've got the bilge keel version, you'll be stuck with the fin's handicap. There is a way around this - apply for a handicap specific to your boat.
It's not expensive, you just have to give a donation (I'm told £5-£10 is the going rate). You simply take a few measurements and fill in the form on the website.
Another reason to do so is to ensure that you have the most accurate handicap possible for your boat to give you the most accurate idea of how you're doing; the number on the site is for the first boat of that type to apply, for example, it might not necessarily have had the original sized sails (or you might not), it may have a folding prop - compared with your three bladed brake, etc.
This will apply for the 2011 regatta which will be on 4-5th June.
So basically we're encouraging everyone to get their own number, though you're still welcome to take part in the regatta with the number straight off the site, you just might not be as competitive, but if that's not your thing then there's nothing stopping you enjoying the weekends racing with the standard number.
See:- www.byronsoftware.org.uk/bycn/byboat.htm
To explain for those who aren't so in to racing, in the past if someone had a bilge keel yacht with a three bladed prop, and the only number on the byron website was for the fin keel version fitted with a folding prop, the sailing sec would adjust the handicap to give that person a fairer chance. However, they could then beat someone else by the narrowest of margins, with questions being raised about how accurate the adjustment was. It's therefore fairer to leave the adjustments for an outside agency.