This is intended to be a guide to the computations which the Assistant Sailing Secretary undertakes, resulting in the appearance of results sheets on the notice board and eventually trophies being presented at the annual prize giving dinner. It reflects the accumulation of sailing instructions, word of mouth and committee decisions as passed on in 1989 and clarified since. It does not in any way take precedence over any formal bits of paper such as the sailing instructions or any related rules.

1. BASICS
1.1 Scoring
The points allocated are, unless otherwise defined:
1st = 1
2nd = 2
3rd = 3 etc…
Retirement = Number of starters + 1
Disqualification = Number of starters + 2
Not signed off = No score
Only paid up club members may sign off. Please sign off legibly, even if you retire, as the long suffering Assistant Sailing Secretary has to be able to read it for your result to count.
1.2 Series Winner
The series winner, runner up etc. are decided on the lowest score taken on the number of races counted in the series. Ties are resolved by the position in the last race in which both helms sailed and counted towards the series.
1.3 Yardsticks for Handicap Races

In handicap races all the boats are started together and the finishing times corrected. The Portsmouth Numbers (PN) are used to handicap boats. The PNs to be used are displayed in the doghouse. There are also some calculation tables for the likely classes and race times. The formula to use if you need to work out a time is:
Corrected Time = Finishing Time (in seconds) x 1000 / PN
1.4 Pursuit Races
In pursuit races boats are started at intervals designed to compensate for boat speed and finish them together over a race of fixed duration, all other things being equal. Individual finishing times are not relevant in pursuit races as the finishing sequence defines the race positions but the overall race time is important. The pursuit running times are displayed in the doghouse for all PN’s valid at RDSC and are printed on the reverse of the race sheet for all likely classes.
1.5 Class Races
In class races all boats of the same class start together and only race against those of the same class. Finishing times are not corrected as separate results will be derived for each class. The only exception to this occurs when there is a menagerie class the finishing times for this class are corrected as per handicap races.
1.6 Starters
Each race series or class within a class race needs a minimum of two starters to qualify, which is why it is important that you sign off, even if you retire early.
1.7 Results Year
The results year is defined by the need to have results for the D & D. It normally runs from the start of the Frostbite to the end of the Autumn Trophy, water permitting.
2. SHORT SERIES
2.1 Pennants
1 The pennants are normally run as four handicaps with three out of the four races to count. Novices get a Two minute head start in the handicaps, with the corrected times for all the competitors calculated from the main race start.
2.2 Easter Trophy
Four handicap races with three to count.
2.3 Centenary Cups

Four races run as handicaps with three to count. To test the OD’s arithmetic skills the results are calculated by , boat handicap and by personal handicap from the summer series to date. The best handicap position from these is used to derive a winner and runner up of the Half Centenary Cup, the best summer series position is used to derive a winner and runner up of the Quarter Centenary Cup.
3. LONG SERIES
3.1 Handicap Based Series
The Frostbite, Earlybird, Noon, Handicap, Autumn Trophy and Gannex are all handicap races calculated on boat handicap and scored normally.
3.2 A M Trophy
This is run at the same time as the Noon series, with only novices qualifying for the trophy.
3.3 Novices, Ladies, Juniors, Veterans

This is four races run in parallel with a challenging game of guess who qualifies for what built into it, especially as many of the people taking part haven’t heard about signing off as they are new to the club (ODs please note). The basic notion is that novices are people who have yet to win a major trophy (i.e. anything except the pennants, ladies, slow fleet, veterans, half centenary, quarter centenary, griffin, open meetings, Easter trophy pre 1984, phyllosan, 40th anniversary, single handed, bertie finke, juniors or crewing trophies), ladies are female, juniors are under 18 and veterans are over 60 at the start of the sailing season each year.
3.4 Summer Series
This is a lot less complicated than it is made out to be, It is a handicap race with the boat PN modified by a personal handicap when the corrected time is worked out. The personal handicap varies through the season, based on the table below, and is carried forward to the next season. If in doubt, leave it for the Assistant Sailing Secretary to work out.
Finishers Winning adjustments Losing adjustments
1st 2nd 3rd 4th Last 2nd
last
3rd
last
4th last

Not signing off, being disqualified or retiring result in no change to handicap.
3.5 Class Based Series
The championship is class based.
3.6 Pursuit Series
The pursuit series has a pursuit start with personal handicaps added to the boat handicaps to determine starting time. These vary through the season and start again from scratch at the start of each season. The personal handicap is awarded for winning position and varies according to novice or expert status:
Position Novice Expert

Position                                  Novice                                                   Expert

Handicap                                              Handicap

1st                                           1 min                                                      3 min

2nd                                         1/2 min                                                  2 min

3rd                                          0                                                              1 min

The handicaps are limited to 3 minutes for novices and 10 minutes for experts.
4. DERIVED TROPHIES
4.1 40th Anniversary Trophy
This is derived from the best five results out of the twelve pennant races taken as a series.
4.2 Phyllosan Trophy
This is derived form the handicap series placing for helms over 40 at the start of the season.
4.3 Crewing Trophy
This is derived from the number of wins by any crew in any race. Note that in the novices, juniors, ladies and veterans only the overall winner counts for this trophy.
4.4 Junior Crewing Shield
This is derived from the junior crew’s best results on a number of wins basis, with 2nd and 3rds also recorded as an incentive to improve. Note that in the novices, juniors, ladies and veterans only the overall winner counts for this trophy.
4.5 Bertie Finke
This is derived from the number of wins by any helm. Note that the novices, juniors, ladies and veterans do not count towards this trophy. In the unlikely event of a tie, the helm with the greatest percentage of wins will be deemed the winner.
4.6 R Hamblin Cup
Most races completed during season.