Everything you've ever wanted to know about how your handicap and adjusted time is calculated, and less.
What handicap do we start with?
The handicap you finished with in 2008, or 100% for new entrants.
How is handicap calculated?
Handicap is calculated using a performance handicap system. A performance handicap system calculates handicap based on past performance. It does not factor length, sail area, hull shape, weight, name or colour into the calculation.
Can you be more specific?
The first race of the season, the handicaps are set as described above. Thereafter, handicap is calculated as follows:
(([Previous Handicap] * [Number of Starts]) + ([Fastest Actual Time in Previous Race] / [Your Actual Time in Previous Race])) / ([Number of Starts] + 1)
How is adjusted time calculated?
[Adjusted Time] = [Actual Time] * [Handicap]
Why don't we use a handicap system based on properties of the boat?
The following reasons:
- We don't have all the information about each boat at the beginning of each race to calculate a handicap that would be fair for everyone.
- A performance handicap encourages self-improvement, giving everyone an opportunity to be competitive, regardless of their boat size.
What happens if I don't start a race?
Your handicap is not adjusted. No points are awarded.
What happens if I don't finish a race?
Your handicap is not
adjusted. 1 point is awarded.
The reason handicap is not adjusted is because if the fastest boat in the fleet
breaks something that forces them out of the race, increasing their
handicap would give them an unfair advantage over the rest of the fleet.
How are points awarded after each race?
| Position |
Points |
| 1st |
5 |
| 2nd |
4 |
| 3rd |
3 |
| 4th |
2 |
| 5th and
lower |
1 |
| DNF |
1 |
| DNS |
0 |
When can we see the race results, adjusted time, accumulated points and handicap for the next race?
They will be published here immediately after each race (usually within 1-2 hours of the last boat across the line).
I was really surprised to win/lose on adjusted time, are you sure it's correct?
Most likely. This is common in the first 1-2 races of a season when handicaps fluctuate more. A poor result in the first race, can lead to a large handicap in the second. Handicaps become more stable over the course of the season.
What is the Time Matrix?
The Time Matrix is helpful to anybody that either doesn't understand the handicap system, or who doesn't have the time to calculate on-the-fly how many minutes they need to give to other boats while they're racing. It can be found on the second tab along the bottom of the race results spreadsheet.
The Time Matrix shows every boat and how many minutes in the hour it must give other boats.
For example:
The Four Winds currently has a handicap of 90.89. Fidji currently has a handicap of 96.65. If you have a look at the Time Matrix, and look up The Four Winds down the left hand column, then look across until you see Fidji along the top, and you will see the number 3.80. That means every hour of racing, The Four Winds can afford to give Fidji 3.80 minutes (3m
48s) and still win the race.
Another way of saying the same thing: after 1 hour of racing, on average, The Four Winds would expect Fidji to be 3.80 minutes ahead. If Fidji is less than 3.80 minutes ahead, The Four Winds is winning, if Fidji are further than 3.80 minutes ahead, then Fidji is winning on adjusted time.
Still don't understand? Print out the Time Matrix before the next race, and bring it along to the club - somebody will be able to show you.
