David,
I'm aware of the issues with the width that is why I'm trying to find a person who wants to spend a few hours looking up all the widths. It is not difficult but it needs to be done. Note how the 2.44 mtr are printed in FAT characters indicating that these are the unconfirmed default values. So anybody want to help us (David, Mark, Peter, Jake, myself and an anonymous) out here. Only a few hours of looking up / acquiring the width data on boats listed ?
Most newer North American boats are 2.6 meters (8.5 feet)
But we need to know exactly as I think Inter 17 is 2.55 mtr and the FX-one is 2.5 mtr.
Width is a fundemental component of your calculations (I think) so don't go using NMBR on races until you're sure all the specs are right!
Width is not an input factor fro the sub trapeze group of ratings so these can be used without any problems and this group is already more accurate than the two other measurement ratings systems as I have eliminated a few "problems' that these systems suffer from.
It is only the "trapezing" group dat suffers PARTIALLY from the incomplete width data. Ofcourse the factors like crew weight (double hander / single hander) and differences in sail area time mast height ARE accurately included. So I dare say that the NMBR trapezing group is also more accurate than the two other measurement rating system already. From tests it appears that it also beats yardsticks systems.
So what am I arguing here ? First we are already "accurate" to "more accurate" than others despite the fact that we haven't reached full possible accuracy yet. Secondly why choose to NOT use a more accurate system even though it has not reached it maximum accuracy yet. There are already benefits in using it now and there will only be more benefits in using it later.
I would love to start with all the specs right but for that I need a volunteer that looks up all the width data.
I'm hoping that we can get a few widths taken at Tradewinds so that least all the regulary raced boats all have highly accurate ratings.
And then of course during 2005 we will get out that last bit of accuracy by fine-tuning the system. By this I mean things like :"IF we find that spi's improve performance more in light winds than in heavy THAN we can adjust the ratings accordingly" . But truly by this time we are talking VERY high accuracy levels.
Ohh before I forget that is why I posted the message about the nacra, prindle and hobie boat. Just to get a head start.
Wouter,
