A Handicap race is one in which all classes of boat can race together but their inherent difference in speed is adjusted for by using a handicap system. This results in the skill of the various helms being pitted against each other rather than against boat design.

The handicap system used at most sailing clubs, including Sutton, is based on Portsmouth Numbers (PN) as supplied by the RYA. A PN represents the time for a class of boat to cover a standard distance, and they are expressed as whole numbers. They are called Portsmouth Numbers because they were initially devised by sailing clubs from the Portsmouth area.

As the sailing conditions at each club vary it has been found that the PN is not always ideal and figures supplied each year to the RYA from many clubs has resulted in a Primary Yardstick (PYS) evolving which gives fairer handicaps. In addition to this some clubs have developed their own handicap figures which more closely reflect their own sailing conditions. Sutton Sailing Club has developed such a set of figures for our handicap races, known as the Sutton Yardstick (SYS). The PYS is given as a number relative to 1000 whereas, to make things slightly simpler, the SYS is given as a percentage. Both sets of figures are given at the back of the club handbook but, in addition, there is also a column headed % which gives the PYS as a percentage for direct comparison with the SYS.

The corrected time for a boat to complete the sailing course equals the elapsed time to complete the course multiplied by the handicap number from whichever system is chosen. Thus, in our case, the corrected time for a boat is given by:

Corrected Time (C) = Elapsed Time (E) x Sutton Yardstick (SYS)

For example, the SYS for a Laser is 92% so, if it took a Laser 45 minutes to complete the course, the corrected time would be 45 x 92% = 41.40 mins

For an Enterprise, the SYS is 91%. If the Enterprise also took 45 minutes, its corrected time using the same method would be 40.95 mins so the Enterprise would come first on handicap. This is correct as the Enterprise is a slightly slower boat and it would taken more than 45 mins if the helms had been equally as good as each other.

Flags for a Handicap Race

A 'V' flag is used to denote that the race is a Handicap race. Apart from this, the '1st Sub, 'x', and the 's' flags are used as in other races and as described on the start sequence page.

Flag Start Sequence for a Handicap Race

Recording and Calculating the Results

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