{Ed Note: The AMYA does not recommend or support any particular handicapping system.  However for those interested, here is a description of one such system used elsewhere around the world.}

Here is an example of a handicapping system from our colleagues in Australia.

Ken Dobbie, National Secretary of the Australian Radio Yachting Association (Inc) describes another system:

His club (the Risdon Brook Radio Yacht Club in Hobart, Tasmania) runs a series starting in February and finishing November where on the first Sunday of the month they have combined long distance racing for all ISAF-RSD classes. Their sailing site is well suited for this type of event.

Races take up to 30 minutes, sometimes longer in light winds, where they race pursuit style with the faster boats giving around four to four and a half minutes to the first boats to start. Handicaps are set based on known performance and they are adjusted, if necessary, after each race. Up to 8 long distance races are run in a day's sailing. The aim of course is to have everyone finish together and sometimes they will have as many as 10 to12 of the usual fleet of 15 finish within 10 - 20 seconds of each other. Sounds like fun!

Thanks to Ken Dobbie for the description of his club's system.
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Larry Robinson
November 27, 2000