HUGE changes in the Portsmouth ratings have just been announced. LARGE DPN changes from last year have occured. Just one example...the G-Cat 5.7 jumped from 75.1 to 72.0, 2.5 full points!

Even more significant is the removal of the weight hits. Be sure to look over the modification page. Solo sailers are about to get squashed! My buddy who solos a Dart 20 with a large main and large jib will change from 71.1 to 65.7, 5.4 points!!! He has to sail 7 minutes per hour faster than last year.

He might as well give up racing if he holds any hope of winning. IMO....this SUCKS!

This is a train wreck. What happened here?

I don't know. Some of the changes are a little more realistic. Considering that my 20foot double handed factory equipped Nacra 6.0 rates a 62.5 (down from 62.9) it still sounds like a single handed Dart 20 has a heck of an easy rating with 65.7 - although I have never seen nor sailed against a Dart 20.

The Supercat 20 TR (which is roughly the same weight, with 6 more feet of mast and gobs more sail area, same length, but with a FOUR foot wider beam as my 6.0) also came down 2 points but is still rates a little slower than me. However, this seems a little more realistic.

There were some conversations about taking a look at the "dead boat societies" that have experienced rating creep. I'm not sure what direction the Portsmouth committee took but with the exception of the Dart 20 rating (just because I don't know) the changes seem to be reasonable. Those G-cats have been known to have incredible ratings (I know, I sail against a bunch of them all the time).

Spreadsheet comparison of all the boats which got a lower D-PN number 2003 compared to 2002 shows that D-PN number change % is much greater than the % change for a given wind range.

Specifically, the GCat 5.7 numbers for the last 4 years from the US Sailing site :

G-Cat 5.7m G5.7 72.0 78.0 74.3 72.0 66.2 2003
G-Cat 5.7m G5.7 75.1 78.0 77.2 73.0 68.7 2002
G-Cat 5.7m G5.7 74.7 [ 78.0] 77.2 ( 73.0) [ 68.7] 2001
G-Cat 5.7m G5.7 73.8 [78.0] 76.4 (73.0) [68.7] 2000
I would say that the D-PN number for the GCat5.7 had crept upwards for some reason, and has now been corrected back to its original range. I don't know why the committee changed the number, maybe someone who raced GCat5.7 in the last few years suddenly got significantly better, and this performance based system is reflecting that.

When I use to race a NACRA 5.2 in 1988-1992, it rated 72, and we used to race against a GCat5.7, which also rated 72 at the time. Both boats were about the same speed around many diferent courses. Current Portsmouth numbers for both boats are the same, again.

We probably needed some adjustment as these boats are faster than their rating. How much? Dont know.
The ratings have probably been changed because of our fleet og G-Cats racing here in Columbia SC. We have been active locally, and numbers have been submitted.
Its hard to beat a G-Cat

David Mosley
www.seacats.org

Hi Dave,
You will probably be next with your numbers.
LOL See you at the Causeway.

Boats that add spinnakers really get walloped. I always thought it was outrageous to use the Spinnaker on Distance Races (a really big hit). Well, the eliminated that, but now all spinnaker mods are really hit hard.
Is this a way to get rid of spinnaker boats and get back to main and jib boats? Hmmmm?
Rick

Yea those guys are out of their mind. I am going to call in a few weeks after everything settles down and ask a few questions of my own. More than a few of the rating changes are just nuts.

I wont say anymore.... I know this thread could really get out of hand.

I feel your pain!

AJ
Express 6.0

I'm just wondering, Why do we use this system? Are there any races in in the U.S. that anyone knows of that use a different system.

I will say this, I emailed them about about some issues I had regarding the rating of the Mystere 6.0 as compared to the XL version and about why adding wings gave such a big hit.(the Hobie 18, same rating with or without wings) They got right back with me and we had a good discussion. The newest changes have addressed that. So this year I'm happy.

About the spin. hit. As long as your sailing in a spin. class there shouldn't be a problem.

Mike

It's nice to hear they're responsive when you ask. I know it's a lot of work, and I admire the fact someone does the work.

I wonder if the folks griping on this forum have ever been involved in collecting Portsmouth data, collating & sending it in. I would suggest that griping about US Sailing Portsmouth numbers require the following :
a) membership in US Sailing
b) membership in an organization that has collected & sent data in to US Sailing Portsmouth Committee.

They actually post the list of organizations that sent in data, so if you're not properly credited, speak up!

Guess in about 8 days we'll see who's the real "King of the Cats", New G-Force 21 Guy.
Maybe you can set the standard for the G-Force 21 all by your lonesome. I'll help ya drag yer boat up on the new beach after you finally get back to shore. I owe ya a beer anyway.
CARY

Cary
Did you change to #252? That is my orignal sail number.

Barry:
I stole your Number. Did it with malicious intent and malice aforethought.
OR MAYBE it went like this. . .
Hey I screwed up, new boat and an odd angle on the sails to read the numbers that I have only in a picture. It's #232. (I was close) Picking the boat up Sunday.
Can't wait.
Cary

JAKE:
One wonders where the Supercat 20 TR Portsmouth comes from. As I remember, Allen told me Bill Roberts just gave them some kind of estimated #, based upon the old Supercat 20 #'s.. I question it's accuracy. You and I both sailed against that Super 20 TR, and when he finally learns to sail it, he'll be tough to beat. Somebody needs to bring a fast boat in there to teach him some humility, Jake. Any Volunteers besides you on your NACRA 6.0, Me on my I-20, or David on his new G-Force 21? One of us has to have the kryptonite for that Supercat.
I'll make a point to ask Bill Roberts about it next weekend. You missed Fleet meeting, but he's doing a Presentation on sail design at Columbia Sail Club Friday, May 16th at about 8PM at our Tommy Whiteside regatta for the Supercat Nationals.
www.seacats.org
CARY

Kryptonite......... Hmmmmmm!!!

I'm there...

AJ
Nacra 6.0 Express

A.J.
Didn't you just sail against those guys at the Mug?

The SC 20 unfortunately even finshed 1st against 3 INTER 20's. The SC20TR would have done MUCH better except he broke a sidestay clevis pin and had to finish the race on a single tack from the last bridge. And he still did well. I beat him a couple races at Spring Fever on my 5.5SL before I blew out my mainsail, but he was just learning and there were some rigging problems, he still took 2nd in Open class. I love the guy, sail with him regularly, but we're all going to 20 foot fastcats just to keep him off the finish line. Would love to have ya at the regatta, $30 for all you can drink, a 180 pound hawg who has gladly sacrificed himself for the nourishment of our fair sailors, free camping and a HUGE facility with electric hookups. We need all the Kryptonite we can get, especially with 2 SC20TR's, 3 or possibly four standard SC 20's, and maybe the Russian Olympic team on one of them. Bring on your Kryptonite, heck I think we need Lex Luthor on this one.
Race Details at
http://www.seacats.org/official_notice_of_race_twm_2003.htm

CARY

Cary,

Yea we had our chance at the Mug and I blew it. I will be a a lot of races this year so I am sure I will see them again. I was sick as a dog the entire race and the finish shows. We actually did pretty well until I made a tactical error (with my splitting headache and messed up insides) that cost us. We actually let 2 boats pass us at the finish just because I was not up to it. Details are in the Mug Results.

AJ
Nacra 6.0 Express

I still remember you finished in the early pack. I had just sold my 5.5SL, Was boatless for 2 weeks waiting on the new INTER 20. Came down just to enjoy the race from the sidelines and help do some ground crew for our fleet.
I have one criticism for the Mug Race. You would think that after sailing 40 miles up the St John's River, they would put the finish line on the North side of the bridge where you could see it instead of on the invisible South Side where you can' t tell anything about how it turned out.
Just my .02
CARY

What were they thinking? Where did all the changes come from? I'd like to see the race results that warranted these changes.

Nacra 6.0 Express was 59.7, now is 58.5 --- Where are the race results that say it is faster than an I20 (59.2)? Somebody check what's in the water cooler!

And, who thought it was a good idea to drop the weight (heavy weights) corrections? If you have a minimum weight requirement for classes, how can you not have a heavy weight correction? That is contradictory. They are admitting on one hand that it is an advantage to be too light and not a disadvantage to be too heavy? I thought the ratings are to help even the palying field.

This discussion can probably go on a long time. I will be complaining to my rep. Who wants to play the rating game? These latest changes appear to be discouraging race participants and hurting the sport we all enjoy. It looks (to me) like politics are raising their ugly head. I just want to sail and have fun. These new tables really stink!

Just my opinion..............

Don Cook
ARC22

ohhhh...don't get us started on the fat boy rule...

I'm wishing I was a fat boy with the new boat. Gotta make some BIG friends.
CARY