To me, that sounds even more complicated than the existing system!
ISAF really need to ask themselves whether sailing is for the sailors or the spectators.
I don't think changing the scoring system is going to draw more spectators, particularly if it is becoming more complex! The only way to make watching sailing more enjoyable is to change the racing format. Shorter races (5-15 mins, four or so back to back), more requirements for close quarters manoeuvring to keep dull periods of racing to a minimum.
I understand the argument of boat breakages but there are other ways to get around it, or you can just deal with it (look at what happens when a rowing shell breaks down during a race...nothing, you just lose). If the crews are supplied boats, having spares is not a problem.
If a tonne of short back-to-back races are conducted, don't have any drops(throw-outs), if they think that drops are confusing.
An alternative proposition for an Olympic regatta with say 30 boats...
- Divide into 6 fleets of 5 boats.
- Have rolling starts for 5-15 min races. (About 4-5 races per fleet per day, have a number of courses to suit)
- 1-2 umpires per start. (generally speaking, 1 umpire would be able to deal with a fleet of 5 boats after they clear the start line)
- Race like that for a day with boats collecting points (drops or not can be determined after a couple of events like this are held)
- After a days racing, the top three boats from each fleet go to the next days racing.
- Divide into 3 fleets of 6 boats.
- Rolling starts again.
- Top 2 boats from each fleet to go through to next days races again.
- Race off for the places (points starting from 0 each day)
- On-water interviews between races.
- Smaller courses means they can be closer to shore.
- Windward leewards for skiff/apparent wind boats, triangles for slower boats.
- Have plenty of on-water spectating options...how about a floating spectator stand on a barge!
This is similar to current Olympic events like athletics and rowing, except that athletes in these events only get one chance to go through to the next round, gear failure or not.
Instead of having spectators care about the points, just give them a relegation style event.
From a spectators point of view, this might be more interesting. From a sailors point of view the current system with everyone racing together for 10 or so races is better (in my opinion).
...end of rant...
