I would like to start a discussion on the race format of our National Titles. I want to start now so that maybe some ideas can be implemented at the next nationals. A few topics have been tossed around at and after the last nationals and I'll try to summarizes them here. Please let me know if I have forgotten any.


1. At the Paynesville nationals in 2000 we had a 10 race series with relatively short races (about 1 hr). At the AGM this was discussed and it was agreed that the 10 race series worked well and that we should do this in future. In fact since then we have had 7, 7, 10, 10, 7, 9 and 7 race series in that order. It seems we are roughly alternating between long and short series, so the 2008 nationals should be a long series.

2. I have seen other classes state in their program that "up to 4 races will be sailed on a race day" and then they leave it up to the race crew to run as many as they think appropriate for the conditions, and no set total number of races is specified. This seems sensible as it's very rare that scheduled races are run as per the schedule.

3. This year many races at Christies Beach had a short tight reach first followed by a broad reach (almost a run) to the bottom mark. It was not far off a windward-leeward course. Nobody seemed to mind, so why don't we formalize this next year and mix the races. Some genuine windward-leeward races and some with proper reaches (60 degree or more). How about alternating the race format with the days, so we have a windward-leeward course day followed by a reaching course day, etc.

4. This year we only had 3 days of actual racing (not counting the invitation race). This may be necessary to keep the costs down, but if we are going to spend a week at the venue I would prefer to see 4 or even 5 days of real racing. Otherwise we may as well just hold the nationals over a long weekend (which would save on accomodation costs at least).

5. With only a grand total of 30 boats on the water, why do we need to start the cats and sloops separately? The start photos would look a lot more impressive in the magazines afterwards. It will also be more obvious on the water how well the cats and sloops are going against each other (some may not want to go there !!!)


Any other suggestions?

It just occured to me that some of these ideas apply just as much to the State Titles (windward-leeward courses, cats and sloops starting together, UNscheduled races), so lets include the states in the discussion.

Windward leeward races are a lot more tactical than 60 degree triangles.
I think a mix is good.
I think up to 4 races a day is also good.
I think that it should be run over at least 4 sailing days.
Maybe schedule a triangle race with a 80 degree reach for the morning race and have 2 windward leeward races in the afternoon.
If you lose some races you could go to 4 a day when the weather is good.
Here is a plan. Measure sunday, invitation monday morning, 2 short races in afternoon. Tuesday: 1 triangle race in morning, 2 short winward returns in afternoon.
Wednesday: 2 short races in morning, 1 triangle race in afternoon. Thursday: rest day with resails provision. Friday: 1 triangle race in morning, 2 short races in afternoon. Saturday: 2 short races in morning, 1 triangle race in afternoon. Saturday night dinner, Sunday: Go home.
14 races. 1 Drop after 6 races, 2 drops after 12
Try hard to get 14 races by running up to 4 on the last couple of days.

Regards
Chris.

Tim,

I believe that the invitational race could be run as a combined start since it wouldn't count to the series. This would provide great coverage in newspapers etc. The media don't really want to cover a whole series so having them there for the invitational race would really be a huge bonus and potentially get the desired result with further interest from the public throughout the rest of the series.

Regards,

Peter

But is there any reason not to have all the other starts combined? I don't think anyone could claim they would be particularly disadvantaged in this case. It would just mean more competition on the start line, which sounds like a good thing to me (my starts definitely need sharpening up).

It would also make life easier for the start crew and would make it more attractive to share the course/event with another class.

Tim,

I'm just trying to keep a positive outlook on the subject. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Maybe there are some that are definitely opposed to combined starts and feel that they could be disadvantaged in overall position after being blocked by a separate division boat. For those racing for sheep stations it might make a big difference but to people like me it would make no difference at all.

It would be good to hear some other opinions.

Regards,

Peter

One start would be ok by me. We could also have overall places as well as cat and sloop rigged.
We used to do this in Nacra state heats and it worked well.
More boats on the start line is allways good.

Chris

Just my "two bob's worth"

Combined start should not really give anyone an advantage (or disadvantage), don't we all sail off the same yardstick????

As for spectators....much better spectacle.

And a variety of courses, absolutely. As for the number of races, more yes but not sure if I am up to the 14 Chris suggests...maybe time to take the fitness thing seriously.

From the spectator's view, would be nice where possible to bring the fleet close inshore on at least one leg, spectators bring interest, interest brings new sailors and with that the class continues to grow.

Great ideas and well thought out to all.

DD

Just a question: where do you set a cut off point for separate starts 30, 40, 50 ? We regularly have 25 on the start line in our division club races and it's very crowded. It would be great to have 50 Mozzies on the start line in any event but may be a problem. Where do they have cut off points in international events and what is the rational ?

Regards,

Peter

Not many classes reach a point where they need to split the fleet. The Lasers do, but they can still have over 100 boats on the start line.

Most classes (if not all) have much smaller numbers than they had 20 years ago, and back in the 70s and 80s it would not be unusual to have 100 boats on a start line. That's one reason why gate starts were used a lot more in those days.

We have been a bit spoilt over the last 10 years with plenty of room on the start line. If the starts get too crowded then the line can be made longer - up to a point.

Guys,

Define crowded....larger fleet numbers will sharpen everyone up and there is the line length (without looking in th "Blue book) that says something about line is to be 1.5 times the total length of boats starting....so it is all relative.

Must admit tho', big fleet starts are not for the faint hearted and the potential to be over increases too....line sag and all that.

Bring on the day that we have so many boats on the line we revert back to 2 starts, or more.

DD