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Are handicaps busted ?
Posted 9 months, 18 days ago
Are handicaps busted ?
Yachting Victoria has released it's latest yardsticks, and there are now three moth related entries: MOTH SKIFF 103.00 More results required Moth - Foiler 83.00 More results required Bladerider X8 79.00 New Class more results required Now last time I looked, there wasn't a "Moth Skiff", a "Moth Foiler" or a "Bladerider X8" class, there is just one, a Moth, so there should be one yardstick for all 3. Now what should that yardstick be ? Well YA Victoria's own document has the following to say: USE OF THE YARDSTICK The aim of the yardstick is to provide a basis for yachts of different ratings to compete fairly when sailed well. the yardstick is not intended to compensate for differences in skills or competence of individual sailors. The yardstick is calculated and maintained on a statistical basis and within broad limits remains valid for a variety of wind strengths and courses sailed. Comparison of yachts of different classes sailing different courses is thought to be outside the scope of the current rating system. So since the Bladerider is a Moth, it shouldn't have a lower handicap just because Rohan sails one. To be fair though, the moth covers a huge performance difference from the slowest scow to the fastest foiler. To have a single number that covers all moths, you would either never win, or win all the time. Which just doesn't work. So, is the whole concept of a sailing handicap busted ? As long as it is class based, probably. So what should a moth yardstick be? How about 88 which is the average of all three which should represent. Applying the Bladerider number we are faster than everything other than: 18" skiffs, F14s, F16s, F18s, Hobie 18s, NACRAs, Tipans and Tornados. That just doesn't feel right to me.
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