Heat Racing

April 2010

By Mike Eades

Commodore, West Valley RC Mariners, Litchfield Park, Arizona

Secretary, SeaWind Class Owners Association

Successful yacht classes and clubs sooner or later reach the point at which the number of entries for an event exceeds the number that they feel comfortable accommodating in one race and some form of heat system is needed. In Model Yachting Magazine Issue #134, published in 2003, there are three excellent articles describing the most commonly used Heat Systems:

- Promotion/Relegation (Sometimes referred to as EORS, Equal Opportunity Racing System and now, officially, in its most up to date form as Heat Management System 2007, HMS 2007, endorsed by ISAF Radio Sailing Division for international competition.)

- Odds-Evens

- Matrix Systems

Since that time a considerable body of experience with heat systems has been accumulated and I believe it is fair to say that the vast majority of US radio sailing regattas requiring heat racing use either HMS 2007 (or earlier versions) or Odds-Evens systems today. Excellent computer scoring systems have been developed and tested under field conditions for both these systems making each of them viable options for Race Committee use. Matrix systems, although occasionally still used, are not favored as they are more cumbersome to set up and use, somewhat inflexible, especially if skippers drop out during an event and more complex to set up for computer scoring.

At what point should a Regatta Committee consider splitting a fleet into heats? The answer primarily depends on local conditions such as visibility, distance of marks from the skipper control area etc. However somewhere between 10 and 20 boats per heat will be a practical limit beyond which mark roundings become a nightmare for skippers and Race Committee alike. The actual maximum fleet size set affects each system differently. For example, if the fleet maximum is set at 15 boats, HMS will accommodate up to 27 boats before requiring three heats whereas Odd-Even will accommodate up to 30 boats.

HMS 2007 (Promotion/Relegation)

This system is the international standard and is used by the IOM Class and several others. Our club used the full system recently for the first US Micro Magic Class NCR. Whether the scoring is done manually or using a computer-based system it is recommended that a Fleet Control Board is used to display and manage the heat promotion/relegation visually for all skippers to see. The principal current system administrator is who provided the following system documentation:

Simplified overview - How HMS Works

Running a Fleet Control Board Under HMS

Heat Management System 2007 (effective 1 January 2007) includes a section "Advice to Competitors and Race Committee"

Instructions for Using HMS 2007 (v2.2)

HMS 2007 Scoring (v2.2t5) Blank Excel workbook suitable for Excel 97 − 2007 versions.

Comments:

Pro − Arguably the most rigorous in determining absolutely a top to bottom finish order for each race. Can handle a large number of entrants if you are prepared to go to multi-fleets (>2). The voluminous Instructions which cover a wide range of eventualities, while seemingly complex, in practice can be run quite smoothly. Skippers will sail against skippers with a similar skill level.

Con − The system procedures do modify RRS somewhat especially regarding handling of protest and redress hearings which, if they potentially impact promotion or relegation, need to be dealt with promptly before the next heat can begin. It is possible for skippers who find them selves "on the bubble", continually being promoted and relegated, to sail a significantly greater number of heats than skippers who predominantly stay in one fleet or another which can be a burden. Can foster an "A" fleet versus "B" fleet mentality that some skippers resent.

Odd-Even System

This system, introduced from Europe in the early 2000´s was first used by the US Laser Class for the 2002 NCR and has since been adopted by the SeaWind Class as its favored heat system and used successfully in the 2007, 8 & 9 NCR´s and several Regional Championships. Our Club has used it for club events as well as major regattas. The system can be run quite easily in manual form but recently an excellent TWEAT (TWo-hEAT) computer scoring system has been developed by and used successfully at several major regattas. The primary version TWEAT deals with two heats but a new version TWEAT ABc is now also available that can deal with one, two or three heats.The following documents describe the current system:

Odds and Evens − System description by Steve Lang (from MY #134)

Odd−Even Score Sheet

Tweat Scoring Detailed system description and instructions

Tweat Excel Workbook

Tweat ABC Scoring Instructions

Tweat ABC (1 to 3 Heat Capability) Excel Workbook

Comments:

Pro − The manual system is very easy to run for small fleets using the special score-sheets. The line−up for each heat is called from the score sheet from the previous race. The new TWEAT Excel scoring system has been used successfully now in several events although minor updates are still being made to improve functionality and ease of use. Printed line-up and scoring sheets for the next set of heats were ready for RD use approximately 2 minutes after completion of the previous set of heats. The system shuffles the fleet from top to bottom based on the previous heat placings so each heat has a full range of skipper experience. It tends to foster an inclusive culture. All level skippers get to compete against the best and between heats can watch some of their peers and learn from watching what the top skippers do.

Con − Skippers of different skill levels will be grouped together. If the overall fleet size is such that it exceeds two comfortably sized heats then HMS is probably the way to go although there is now a version of TWEAT available that splits 1, 2, 3 finishes etc into three heats and can accommodate three fleets.

Pond-side computer scoring

Many clubs are afraid to trust pond-side computer scoring because of concerns about system reliability, battery life, screen visibility issues, date entry errors etc. Both of the above described systems have built-in verification safeguards to recognize and flag data entry errors and take care of tie-breaking, discards and boats that withdraw or add in, after an event has begun, quite seamlessly. A few simple precautions can yield a nice operable reliable system that can reduce arithmetical errors, provide Race Committees with smooth production of line-up sheets and even provide each skipper with a table of results to take home with them, very well received!

System requirements:

Laptop computer with Excel (ideally 1997 or later)

Simple printer (B/W or preferably color) & paper

12v battery (hook-up to a conveniently situated car power outlet {max 100w!}or battery or use a portable RV heavy duty battery)

DC/AC inverter with cables and connectors for either car power outlet or direct to a battery. 2 AC outlets are desirable (Xantrex 851-0400 or - 0401 Power Plus 400W, $36-53 is an excellent example.)

Light shield box (wood or cardboard) capable of holding an open laptop with the open end facing the operator and not facing direct sunlight.


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In Model Yachting Magazine Issue #134, published in 2003, there are three excellent articles describing the most commonly used Heat Systems: - Promotion/Relegation (Sometimes referred to as EORS, Equal Opportunity Racing System and now, officially, in its most up to date form as Heat Management System 2007, HMS 2007, endorsed by ISAF Radio Sailing Division for international competition.) - Odds-Evens - Matrix Systems Since that time a considerable body of experience with heat systems has been accumulated and I believe it is fair to say that the vast majority of US radio sailing regattas requiring heat racing use either HMS 2007 (or earlier versions) or Odds-Evens systems today. Excellent computer scoring systems have been developed and tested under field conditions for both these systems making each of them viable options for Race Committee use. Matrix systems, although occasionally still used, are not favored as they are more cumbersome to set up and use, somewhat inflexible, especially if skippers drop out during an event and more complex to set up for computer scoring. At what point should a Regatta Committee consider splitting a fleet into heats? The answer primarily depends on local conditions such as visibility, distance of marks from the skipper control area etc. However somewhere between 10 and 20 boats per heat will be a practical limit beyond which mark roundings become a nightmare for skippers and Race Committee alike. The actual maximum fleet size set affects each system differently. For example, if the fleet maximum is set at 15 boats, HMS will accommodate up to 27 boats before requiring three heats whereas Odd-Even will accommodate up to 30 boats. HMS 2007 (Promotion/Relegation) This system is the international standard and is used by the IOM Class and several others. Our club used the full system recently for the first US Micro Magic Class NCR. Whether the scoring is done manually or using a computer-based system it is recommended that a Fleet Control Board is used to display and manage the heat promotion/relegation visually for all skippers to see. The principal current system administrator is who provided the following system documentation: Simplified overview - How HMS Works Running a Fleet Control Board Under HMS Heat Management System 2007 (effective 1 January 2007) includes a section "Advice to Competitors and Race Committee" Instructions for Using HMS 2007 (v2.2) HMS 2007 Scoring (v2.2t5) Blank Excel workbook suitable for Excel 97 − 2007 versions. Comments: Pro − Arguably the most rigorous in determining absolutely a top to bottom finish order for each race. Can handle a large number of entrants if you are prepared to go to multi-fleets (>2). The voluminous Instructions which cover a wide range of eventualities, while seemingly complex, in practice can be run quite smoothly. Skippers will sail against skippers with a similar skill level. Con − The system procedures do modify RRS somewhat especially regarding handling of protest and redress hearings which, if they potentially impact promotion or relegation, need to be dealt with promptly before the next heat can begin. It is possible for skippers who find them selves "on the bubble", continually being promoted and relegated, to sail a significantly greater number of heats than skippers who predominantly stay in one fleet or another which can be a burden. Can foster an "A" fleet versus "B" fleet mentality that some skippers resent. Odd-Even System This system, introduced from Europe in the early 2000´s was first used by the US Laser Class for the 2002 NCR and has since been adopted by the SeaWind Class as its favored heat system and used successfully in the 2007, 8 & 9 NCR´s and several Regional Championships. Our Club has used it for club events as well as major regattas. The system can be run quite easily in manual form but recently an excellent TWEAT (TWo-hEAT) computer scoring system has been developed by and used successfully at several major regattas. The primary version TWEAT deals with two heats but a new version TWEAT ABc is now also available that can deal with one, two or three heats.The following documents describe the current system: Odds and Evens − System description by Steve Lang (from MY #134) Odd−Even Score Sheet Tweat Scoring Detailed system description and instructions Tweat Excel Workbook Tweat ABC Scoring Instructions Tweat ABC (1 to 3 Heat Capability) Excel Workbook Comments: Pro − The manual system is very easy to run for small fleets using the special score-sheets. The line−up for each heat is called from the score sheet from the previous race. The new TWEAT Excel scoring system has been used successfully now in several events although minor updates are still being made to improve functionality and ease of use. Printed line-up and scoring sheets for the next set of heats were ready for RD use approximately 2 minutes after completion of the previous set of heats. The system shuffles the fleet from top to bottom based on the previous heat placings so each heat has a full range of skipper experience. It tends to foster an inclusive culture. All level skippers get to compete against the best and between heats can watch some of their peers and learn from watching what the top skippers do. Con − Skippers of different skill levels will be grouped together. If the overall fleet size is such that it exceeds two comfortably sized heats then HMS is probably the way to go although there is now a version of TWEAT available that splits 1, 2, 3 finishes etc into three heats and can accommodate three fleets. Pond-side computer scoring Many clubs are afraid to trust pond-side computer scoring because of concerns about system reliability, battery life, screen visibility issues, date entry errors etc. Both of the above described systems have built-in verification safeguards to recognize and flag data entry errors and take care of tie-breaking, discards and boats that withdraw or add in, after an event has begun, quite seamlessly. A few simple precautions can yield a nice operable reliable system that can reduce arithmetical errors, provide Race Committees with smooth production of line-up sheets and even provide each skipper with a table of results to take home with them, very well received! System requirements: Laptop computer with Excel (ideally 1997 or later) Simple printer (B/W or preferably color) & paper 12v battery (hook-up to a conveniently situated car power outlet {max 100w!}or battery or use a portable RV heavy duty battery) DC/AC inverter with cables and connectors for either car power outlet or direct to a battery. 2 AC outlets are desirable (Xantrex 851-0400 or - 0401 Power Plus 400W, $36-53 is an excellent example.) Light shield box (wood or cardboard) capable of holding an open laptop with the open end facing the operator and not facing direct sunlight.