Racers how would you react?

[higgs]

I don't race my cutter rigged cruiser much, but the club does a number of there and back races in the 5-6 mile range and I do them. I took a third in one of these race - good enough to win a flag. One boat was sailing on an old PHRF rating and when the new rating came in it was placed into my class, where it had not previously been. Retroactively, results where recalculated and I was bumped out of the flag place. Each class has its own start and I never knew I was racing against this boat that started 5 minutes after I did. What do you racers think of this?

 

[Stu Jackson]

"When" did the new rating come in? Between the start and finish of the race? higgs, if you reread your post, you may see the confusion.

 

[higgs]

The new rating came in mid season after several races had been run and scored.

 

[finding41]

Next year.
I've been place with a bunch of planning hulls in the regattas I've taken place in. Just because I have a high Portsmouth rating near there #'s. I want to race against the displacement hulls.
I'm told there's one way to get around it. Get 2 other boats like mine to make our own class to race.

 

[Richard Bryer]

Higgs- I would be pissed. I have raced for 20 years and I have never seen that sort of thing happen. This boat was in a different start than you- how can you re-calculate the results when a boat is racing in a different race than you? Handicaps can be recalculated BUT at the end of the season. Who the heck is running the handicapping over there?

 

[JRacer]

You have been "pencil whipped". Retroactive scoring, never.

 

[Jackdaw]

That's BS. They started AT A DIFFERENT TIME. It's not the same race. And if they still claim so, then point out that he crossed the starting line 5 minutes late. Add the 5 mins to his time and see how that figures.

Do you have a formal protest procedure?

 

[Ken13559]

Could it be that this other boat is the sponsor of the club events? I came across a club here who prescribe a better PY rating to sponsor's boat. Most of us don't complain ....free beer, finger food, goodies ...

 

[Rick D]

No Way

Ditto retroactive scoring... nonsense! You sail race by race with the handicap then current (in my world).

 

[Manureva]

the main thing for me is not winning or loosing, it is participating and having fun, i win some and loose some but we are all having fun! I can understand your deception but my question is, did you enjoy the race?

 

[higgs]

The race took place last May and I found about the change this past weekend when I wasn't awarded a flag during trophy night presentations.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Did the dinner cost you money? Maybe ask for a refund if you weren't going to go otherwise. It doesn't sound like you are all that much into racing. If it helped the other guy with his self-esteem, then by him a beer and say congrats!

 

[Winkfish]

then by him a beer and say congrats!

Better yet, make him buy you the beer (or two or three).

 

[RichH]

You just listed why PHRF racing has declined almost into dust in the past 20-25 years -'political' racing. This is totally unfair and should be 'argued' (with courtesy) with your fleet if this is a 'serious' fleet; otherwise, sail your boat 'to its numbers' and forget about the obvious politics. If that isnt satisfactory to you, simply find another fleet with which to race.

Will they 'go back' and recorrect all the race results for the past few years ????????

Regardless, its not the 'arbitrary rating' that counts in racing; but, a crew being able to sail a boat consistently 'to its numbers' that counts.
Also I would suggest that you 'single out' this boat (without hurting your placement results) for 'special treatment' on the course .... if indeed this is a 'serious' fleet.

 

[Steve Ord]

Had it happen twice at different clubs

All with my previous boat a 1980 Hunter 30 (not a normal racer)

First Club
I was a long term member (8 yrs) and started winning races when I got new sails. After 3 years of winnning boat of the year, the race committee decided I should be in a different class. They created PHRF class with only my self and 2 other boats that rarely raced. I fought it but just could not win as the committee was made up of previous winners. On our last race we beat everyone including the fastest boat in the club across the finish line even though he had a PHRF that was half ours. The race was over 30 miles:dance:

Second Club
I did not belong to the club but they held an International Regatta (US & Canada). I came second in my class (Cruising One) but they decided that the final results would be the best corrected times of Cuising One and Two even though we had start times 30 minutes apart. The race was over 115 miles and weather played a major role as storms passed through during the race. We protested but the majority of the organizers were not sailors and did not understand that it is not just a time / distance thing.

We no longer race but are preparing for long 5 yr cruise

 

[Benny17441]

You have two options, "forget about it" or address the club administration about the arbitrary, unfair and unusual decision made by the racing committee. Depending on their ruling you may opt to go racing again or not. The incident is not important enough to continue to pursue and create animosity with other members but let them know you are aware of what was done and willing to protect your rights as a member of the organization.

 

[Todd Smith]

Did they recalculate a) the individual races or b) the season series ?

I don't see how they could do 'a', if so, I would protest. If they did 'b', I would probably not worry about it.

Todd

 

[Gail R]

Retroactive re-scoring for a rating change ain't right. I'd be bummed, too.

We've raced for years and have experienced a couple issues over PHRF rating discrepencies. Without getting into specifics, one of those problems either kept us out of the silver or cost us a place on a few races, and might well have changed our season standing, too. the discrepancy didn't come to our attention till the season was over. We didn't bother to raise a stink -- didn't want to be seen as unsportsmanlike. Racing should be about fun, not winning trophies.

 

[Kerry3417]

I think I would read through the rules posted by one or two of the major sailing organizations, like US Sail, to see how they would handle it. I don't believe they would agree with going back and recalculating the results for a part of the season which had already past, however I often don't understand how they come up what they do. My point is, if it is an accepted practice, your group will point it out, and you really have nothing to say about it. If the rules say it can't, or shouldn't be done, then you would have the rules the rest of the world lives by, on your side. Just a thought.

Fact of the matter is, do you enjoy the sailing with other competitive boats and people.

 

[higgs]

Thanks for the comments and the support. It did not seem right to me, but I will let it go. i just was curious to see how it hit others. I hold no grudge against the other boat, it was not their decision. It was a fleet captain decision. What gets me, if this decision had been made against this fleet captain, she would have raised hell. I won't do that over this - it was just a 3rd place finish and was the only race I did with my boat this year. hopefully I get the boat out for more races next year. Thanks for letting me vent to someone.