Good post -thanks
We should be comparing the rating systems, the other method is to list race results in both Texel and Portsmouth for direct comparison which Sailwave scoring can do and post them here on Catsailor.
If race info was made available, individuals could build a database, obviously many are interested.
-Design knowledge, including info from such a database with conditions on the race course, helping us all understand and-creating better faster more seaworthy, SAFER -catamaran design should be of interest and priority to all.
--Do we best accomplish this with a rating system based on design features of L- B- W- SA Ar . as is part of the basis of ISAF and TEXEL RATINGS or should we be using Portsmouth based on average times.
The problem with av. time rating is it often reflects human performance {top skippers in the latest top class } as opposed to true potential of design.
This partial article below from S B today as an indicator of the sophistication of comp. simulation and quest for design knowledge. As this type of design application becomes more readily available and accurate it will be very easy to decide which type of rating system is best in the near future.
-From S B -
-To come up with USA71 and USA76 it has taken more than 300 sailboat races recorded on our Oracle database. The design team have tried and tested over 400 different hull combinations to derive the final product. Utilizing computer simulation, they have tallied several million races. This is an incredible feat and the feeling around here is electric." - John Cutler, Oracle, Racing, from a story in the NZ Herald,
www.nzherald.co.nz/sports/ -END
If there is a desire to rate skippers performance for club racing a combination Portsmouth and skippers individual handicap {as used in other sports } may be a better solution.
This is successfully used in several clubs.
-The historic problem with design based rating like Texel or ISAF which uses more design info in its basic calc. to arrive at a rating number is not enough info factored, but as we read design info and comp simulation performance programs are becoming more accurate and may be applied.
The other historic problem applied to any rating system has been to figure out ways to beat the system, {human nature }
as Sam jokingly suggested in Portsmouth by finding a rarely sailed -raced boat with a favorable rating.
The other problem has been designers looking for {rule beaters } often creating an undesirable feature or extreme type of design. -In catamaran ratings we counter this by favoring good basic seaworthy design features, as Texel ratings seems to do.
-Both rating systems may establish a similar base and definitely results from one should be used to modify the other, but believe the base priority should be on DESIGN, so we can learn and benefit from the knowledge as opposed to just handicapping racing for ourselves based largely on skippers performance which we all know and see varies greatly.
- Most catsailors prefer one design type racing and Formula type racing particularly for major championships and distance racing , but the need to rate boats in some form will always be needed to race smaller groups of different types together, its always fun too.-
Sail safe, have fun
Carl
