Wouter's major improvement over the existing Texel formula at them time was to define two wind ranges. The idea was that if 50 % of the boats were trapping out going upwind then you would use the second rating and vice versa.
This appears to be a key element and as you say, it is already being used by RC’s in the US. I think two steps are sufficient until better supporting data can be collected.
My memory is that Wouter and I discussed the politics of bringing out a new rating system and since Texel had moved quite substantially towards the NMBR rating, it was not really worth it.
Only one software race scoring package will allow you to do this (Sailwave). The US is much happier using the best scoring program out there.. sailwave and we are used to using windspeed ratings for buoy races.
I think that trying to go worldwide with a change is impossible and not even part of this discussion. Ditto for US as a whole or even mandated to a region. This would just be an experimental option for willing Event Organizers and their RC’s to try, either parallel with DPN or standing alone. No pretense of anything beyond that.
So, Where are we at:
1) for any measurement rating system, we will need to measure some US specific boats... actual physical measurements are required.
What boats are not on Wouter’s list other than Frankenboats and one offs?
Seems simple enough to get the measurements or slot them in with W.A.G. provisionally.
2) the US Shark is a tough boat for a measurement rating system to deal with. It's such and old school boat that it doesn't rate well.
This is where my PHRF experience comes in: I would have a rating committee that could make arbitrary adjustments when there is a demonstrative anomaly.
3) A large amount of work goes into creating a portsmouth system or a measurment system and toes will be stepped on with any change from one to another
It's hard to see the value in a third rating system ... just because us Yanks wanted to be different.
We don’t want to ruffle feathers.
4) One feature that I think a system that the US would support uses at least two wind ranges for ratings. A single rating like the standard DPN should also be available for clubs that can't deal with a ratings table.
5) For what its' worth, I have a an easy to use finish time / sail number program that I use which makes recording and caluclating the results very simple. (It's used at Key West and on the Chesapeake for the big events.)
6)We should keep reporting to US Portsmouth since some clubs have a reason to score cat's with monohull dinghy's.
7) Even One design fleets benefit from seeing finish time deltas' rather then just finish positions. It lets a sailor have a real information as they try to improve their sailing.
Mark Schneider
Thanks for this info Mark and keep up the good work. I don’t know if this has any legs, but if folks are talking then I suspect it does.
