From: steph@cs.uchicago.edu (Stephen Wilson Bailey)
Subject: Handicap racing (was Re: protests or using the rules)
Organization: University of Chicago Computer Science
	<1992Aug21.100900.13720@cs.brown.edu>
	<STEPH.92Aug21110148@candide.uchicago.edu>
	<1992Aug21.161859.19010@cs.brown.edu>
	<21AUG199214241650@jhuvms.hcf.jhu.edu>
Date: Tue, 25 Aug 1992 22:13:21 GMT

In article <21AUG199214241650@jhuvms.hcf.jhu.edu> ecf_stbo@jhuvms.hcf.jhu.edu (it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man...) writes:

>  In article <1992Aug21.161859.19010@cs.brown.edu>, jfh@cs.brown.edu (John F. Hughes) writes...
>  >Ok, having jumped in on one sid eof the fray, let me get into the other. 
>  >There's a problem with racing handicapped, too, of course, and it has to do
>  >with the rules. Not the *racing* rules, but the *rating* rules. The people
>  >who want to race the rules in Handicap Racing have to do it by buying a new
>  >rule-beater boat. Those who want to do it in one-design racing may have to
>  >buy themselves or someone else a new boat after a collision. Whatever
>  >rule you race under, there'll always be a rule-stretcher somewhere who
>  >considers winning more important than fair play. And Handicap racing has, over
>  >the years, led to some of the most hideously ugly boats ever built. I won't
>  >even get into seaworthiness...
>
>   Oversimplification. This may be somewhat or even largely true of IOR and now 
>ell, I'm glad I'm not a voice in the wilderness.
>
>   I think they could improve PHRF by having more than one number, like portsmith
>  and IMS, based on the wind velocity, and ideally, the type of course. Many of
>  the big, important races on the bay are government mark distance races
>  involving reach, reach, reach... Some of those big older boats with similar
>  ratings will just waterline you to death!

That's us, the old, waterline boat :^).  Seriously, a slightly more
sophisticated PHRF would be fine with me.

On the other hand, my experience suggests that good sailing can
overcome all sorts of handicap disparities.  We have been beaten
across the line in three out of eight Wednesday nights (short courses,
racing JAM), and we owe the next fastest boat in that fleet 42 s/m.

I just want to be that good, I don't care so much about collecting all
the silverware.

We have been having a great season, improving our crew work and
boatspeed.  It was recently realized that we were in the hunt for the
season championship, and, partially consequently, we had a miserable
weekend.  The crew was worried about beating all the other boats, and
demoralized when we didn't.

I was just being knee jerk about full contact fleet racing.  Some
people like it and power to them.  On the other hand, whenever I've
raced in large one design fleets (frostbite only), I've been so busy
trying to keep from colliding with other boats and trying to get a
lane of clear air that I've never been able to find boat speed.

Personally I think the first thing to work on in racing is getting
adequate boat speed, and for people who aren't committed to racing
several times a week and practicing several more times, one design
racing can be more discouraging than handicap racing.

Plus, you're more likely to pull out a lucky victory in handicap than
in one design, and that's encouraging.  Handicap racing is more like
backgammon, and one design is more like chess.

   >Still---I think that I've seen Airwaves (isn't that the boat you're on,
   >Stepen?) and she's quite snazzy. So I am not implying that *all* boats
   >bult for handicap racing are ugly. I wouldn't make a statement like that
   >without an asbestos suit. 

   If it is a big dark blue boat with big bendy rig and red logo, it's probably
   the one that races around here. Not the same one.

The Airwaves I race on is a big black boat with a red logo, which
hasn't been out of Lake Michigan since 1986.  It used to be owned by
the guy who owns the Airwaves you know, which is a Frers 50 footer, I
believe.

Steph