Dart 15 Forums

Just seen on the RYA website the new py numbers for
2014, Sprint 15 has been raised 15 to 933, Sport mode has
stayed the same at 860

Interesting (again).

Yes the plot thickens. It is good news but it beat me why they have not increased the sport mode PN after all the work I did on it last year.
For the Grafham icicle open meeting on 16 march I propose we keep the handicaps as per the rest of the winter series and the same as the NoR which we published some weeks ago.
This is consistent with the practice of previous years when we adopt the new PNs on 1 April for the new summer series.
It will also give the committee some thinking time.
Cheers
Bob

Last year I started racing the 15 again. Every time I went out the wind died to force 1. I did very badly. My club completed an RYA return. Handicap moves to 933

Makes me wonder what would happened to sport handicap if I attempt to race in sport mode this year

Hopefully you will have noticed our news posting on the subject:

"Following the 2014 RYA revision to the Sprint 15 PN to 933 your Committee has unanimously decided to use 897 for the Sport mode handicap in all the Class Association events. This effectively keeps the handicap ratio between the Sprint 15 and the Sprint 15 Sport at the same value as it was in 2012 and at a similar ratio it has been for the last 10+ years. In 2013 we effectively did the same by not adopting the 2013 RYA revision to the Sport mode PN to 860 and keeping it at 883, the 2012 PN. In the discussions we had at the AGM it was generally agreed that this ratio provides fair competition and we do not want to discourage the Sport mode sailors by using the latest RYA revisions which place them at a considerable disadvantage."

It helps for class racing but not for other handicap events.
Regards
Bob

I can hear George Stephen saying "I told you so" across the other side of London.................

Numbers schmumbers. The sprint 15 "Cat Boat" (unarig) is the ride of choice for the great majority and it enjoys a pretty fair PY rating. As such it is definitely worth taking along to larger events, such as the Colne Point Race or indeed to Abersoch, as Kevin Parvin is doing again this year. This also the case because the SCHRS rating is very favourable too.

Far fewer people these days seem to be taking up the jib and extra fun approach of Sport Mode during TT's and I'd be surprised if the Committee's right decision will be put into practice at all. The diehard Sprinters, however, do have Instow to look forward to this year. This is a great event and well worth the effort of attending. Anyone who has ever thought they might give the jib and trapeze a try should really give this one a go. It's a way of proving one is still alive and not looking to retirement with only one sail and no accompanying flying. Furthermore those who fly (by wire) often argue that slogging upwind becomes a thing of the past as they enjoy the ride towards the mark, rather than straining their backs and knees whist playing the traveller to stay upright.

The Sprint 15 has proved to be a fleet racing one design craft which rates alongside the Optimist, Mirror Dinghy and Laser as a multihull variant in the popularity stakes with the Sport rig appearing as a slight annoyance during races. On this dimension, PY Numbers seem to be of theoretical interest only. Fleets continue to race as fleets. Except, however, these fleets at club level are not as large and regularly sailed as in times past. Handicap racing has become a fact of life for many in club sailing. Fleet racing for members of such clubs takes place only at Class Events. Clubs where Sprint 15 fleet racing takes place regularly, with a decent number of boats, should be regarded as the vanguards of our Class.

The PY Number is good for the Unarig but as hard as Bob tries to improve it for Sport Rig I fear there may be a continued reduction in the racing of that mode unless the chronologically challenged begin to go slightly bonkers with the passing of time and start flying lessons as soon as possible.

Robert reminds me that I hold the "Sport TT Series" Mug as the last winner and the last person to sail 3 or more Summer TT events in any one year - 2011. As the most chronologically challenged of the (reasonably) regular TT attenders, I deny categorically the implication that I that was then, and that I an now, slightly bonkers! Nor do I need flying lessons.....

Will I sail Sport Mode this year? Will I sail the Sport Nationals at Instow? Most of you know my state of health is unreliable and that I am never sure about going to an event until shortly beforehand. Closer friends know these questions might best be phrased "Will I sail at all?" Certainly, I hope to sail at Instow. Certainly, I won't be at Carnac, though I'd love to go. At present I am trying to recover from the latest recurrence of ME, so it looks like I won't get to go to Marconi - this is really galling as I had just had the all clear 6 weeks after a surgical procedure in early February and was looking forward to resuming sailing after nearly 5 months since I had last sailed, and I like sailing at Marconi.

This leaves the way open for Sprinters to become Sportsters for the TT Events, with the hope of winning both the Sport Series Mug and doing well in the overall Series because of the handicap levels. But if you fancy this, take into account the following words based on my experience :

Rigging Sport Mode takes far far longer than Una-rigging. Not only is there about twice as much to do but some aspects, like getting rig and jib luff tension "right" are "fiddly", so you will have to arrive earlier to set up, and forget chatting with friends until you've finished. While you are setting up, some experienced travellers will arrive, fully set up their una-rig boats and be off for breakfast and a chat........ Work out in advance exactly what your rigging routine will be on the actual day, and make sure everything you need will be readily to hand in your sailbox/car boot when you are packing to go to the event.

There will be events when the disadvantages of Sport Mode are apparent, and sailing to handicap just won't be possible. These are predictable on the day, and often for the whole event; you will be tempted to sail Una-rig for that event in order to get a good series handicap result.

You have to try to get clear of the una-rig boats at the event or you will be sucked into their sailing lines and fail to make best use of the extra power of your rig.

There's not much Sport Mode competition at most TTs. Even if I do turn up and sail Sport Mode, surely you can beat this old geezer in a dodgy state of health and fitness.....

Go on - give it a go - you know it makes sense......

I'm just posting this link for your info:

http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/1 ... e-handicap

Quote it to your club - maybe it will help

Bob

I continue to sail in sport mode at Draycote and regularly sail against uni rig boats . On Sunday we started a sprint 15 fleet competition and got 8 boats competing on Easter Sunday - not bad ! Even though two sails and a trapeze look like a huge advantage , I struggle to beat good uni rig sailors regularly and if I do by a significant distance . I am an average sailor but cannot make the apparent advantage work regularly for me . Mixing Uni rig with sport mode seems to work at Draycote as on handicap I would be middle of the fleet which feels about right , maybe with a lower handicap I may occasionally get into upper end of fleet Trapeze sailing is what attracted me to the sprint 15 so keep on campaigning for a reasonable handicap
Cheers
Derek

Hi Derek,
I know your handicap expert (Chris Gandy) so I'll check out how the handicaps are working based on the Draycote Club results.
Watch this space......
Cheers
Bob
PS Don't forget it is the Sport mode Nationals at Instow on 6-8 June. No handicaps to worry about there (apart from the tricky tides*)
*a good place to follow a local.