A Handicap race enables boats of different designs to race against each other but it is often difficult to know how well your boat is doing compared with the rest of the fleet until nearly the end of the race. In a Pursuit race the slowest boats start first and then the faster boats set off in pursuit with the time delay between classes of boats being determined from their handicaps. If boats of different classes are sailed by crews of equal ability then they should all cross the finishing line together.

In this situation it is relatively easy to know how well you are sailing compared with the other boats and, if you are sailing well, there is always the next boat to try to overtake. Although this type of race is more difficult to manage, some sailors prefer it as it enables all the helms to relate to each other more easily.

The normal SYS handicap numbers may have to be modified slightly in a Pursuit race to take account of the number of boats in some classes. Thus if a class has only one or two boats yet has to pursue a much bigger class it will be difficult to get through the larger class because of lack of clear air. Conversely if a big class pursues a small class the latter is likely to be swallowed up quite quickly. At present at SSC the handicap numbers are left unchanged but this is open to challenge.

Starting Times

Although occasionally a Mirror races at Sutton, it is normally the Topper that is the slowest boat and the length of our Pursuit races is based on a race duration of 56 minutes for the Topper. Thus the Topper starts first and it is then necessary to determine the starting times for the remaining classes of boat. This is determined for each class of boat by calculating how long it should take to complete the course and subtracting 56. The result is the start delay for that class. The time to complete the course is the Topper handicap/Class handicap multiplied by 56.

For example, the start delay for a Laser is determined as follows:

Topper SYS is 75%, Laser SYS is 92%, thus the time for the Laser to complete the course is

(75/92) x 56 = 45.6.

Thus it should take 56-45.6 = 10.35 minutes less than the Topper to complete the course. We round this figure to the nearest 0.25 minute thus making it 10.25 so the Laser should start 10.25 minutes after the Topper.

The start delays for the other classes of boat are calculated in a similar manner and the results can be seen on a spreadsheet by clicking here. This spreadsheet should be used by the OOD to set the start times of each class.

Flags for a Pursuit Race

Ideally we should use a flag for each timed start but this is not practicable as there would be too many. Instead we just use a No.1 flag to start the race and then manually sound a gun at each successive timed start. The start of the race is the same as that for a handicap race except that a No.1 flag is used instead of a 'V' flag. 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.

Results for a Pursuit Race

As the start times for each class are based on a particular race duration, the race should finish after that time has elapsed. As it is very unlikely that this will coincide with boats crossing the normal finishing line it makes the finish of a Pursuit race more difficult. However, as it is only the position of the first few boats that count in the series, the problem is reduced. At he end of the race duration, three guns should be sounded and the position of at least the first five boats noted carefully. Of course the helms of the other boats will also want to know their position thus an attempt must be made to note them all. This is helped by keeping a note on each lap as the boats pass the normal start line. Helms should also be asked to note the boats ahead and behind them when the race ends so that the OOD can check the recorded results if necessary.