Personal handicaps have been the most requested feature for some time now, there have been many discussion on the topic.
I can see why Colin is reluctant to implement them as the task is daunting with so many handicap systems to try and replicate.
What I would like to propose is breaking down the problem into a number of smaller pieces, forming some small groups to address these pieces and report back with some definitive answers, formulas, and whatever else is required.
Personal handicaps have been the most requested feature for some
time now,
there have been many discussion on the topic.
I can see why Colin is reluctant to implement them as the task is
daunting
with so many handicap systems to try and replicate.
What I would like to propose is breaking down the problem into a number
of smaller pieces, forming some small groups to address these pieces and
report back with some definitive answers, formulas, and whatever else is
required.
what does everyone think??
Cheers
Darren.
Personally I would rather Sailwave calculated a PY return for selected
series using the standard RYA method, as this is a (relatively) fixed
formula. (I know that you can do in Excel, but hardwired would be a
lot easier, especially as for best effect it needs to be done during
the season.)
I would have thought that flexible coding for all the possible PH
methods would be a major headache; but I would be happy to be proved
wrong. Also, as one who has, in the past, used a fixed formula based
on previous race performance, I now prefer to trim handicaps
occasionally to adjust just the consistently good or poor performers,
and ignore the small(er) performance fluctuations of the majority of
competitors. Maybe not so transparent to the users as a fixed
formula, but I'd hope that we all recognise how weather conditions (to
name but one uncontrolled variable) affect relative performance
between dinghy classes.
Just my 2p.
When I was responsible for running personal handicap scoring (albeit
within a fleet system), I inherited a flat time allowance per race,
which favoured the slower crews in a short race and the faster crews
in a long race.
I changed this to an allowance based on percentages - adjusting the
PY down from the standard for the class by x%, initially to arrive
at the same 'flat' time allowance over a 60 minute race. This took
the race length inequality out of the system and seemed to work
well. The adjusted PY's were worked out manually at the start of the
season & applied for the series. (Improver's prizes were awarded
monthly).
Sailwave coped well with this approach, but I guess what would be
really useful would be the ability to 'back-calculate' a new PY from
elapsed times over a range of races. Do this for an individual to
arrive at a personal handicap, or a group of boats to get a class
handicap for your particular sailing location...
Sounds easy, but I bet it isn't.
Sailwave is still the best bit of free software I've ever come
across - many thanks.
When I was responsible for running personal handicap scoring (albeit
within a fleet system), I inherited a flat time allowance per race,
which favoured the slower crews in a short race and the faster crews
in a long race.
I changed this to an allowance based on percentages - adjusting the
PY down from the standard for the class by x%, initially to arrive
at the same ‘flat’ time allowance over a 60 minute race. This took
the race length inequality out of the system and seemed to work
well. The adjusted PY’s were worked out manually at the start of the
season & applied for the series. (Improver’s prizes were awarded
monthly).
Sailwave coped well with this approach, but I guess what would be
really useful would be the ability to ‘back-calculate’ a new PY from
elapsed times over a range of races. Do this for an individual to
arrive at a personal handicap, or a group of boats to get a class
handicap for your particular sailing location…
Sounds easy, but I bet it isn’t.
Sailwave is still the best bit of free software I’ve ever come
across - many thanks.
The avebcr(x) function is a simplistic option for Personal Handicapping and there are clubs using this as the basis for their personal handicapping. BCR is the Back Calculated Rating in an individual race for each competitor that they would have had to had to come equal first in that race.
Here in the UK the RYA publish a method in a document called YR2, which can be obtained at http://www.rya.org.uk/KnowledgeBase/technical/pys.htm, for calculating the rating of each competitor in a race based on a statistical analysis of corrected times. The RYA also make available for download a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, “Basic Results and Number Adjustment” worksheet link at http://www.rya.org.uk/KnowledgeBase/technical/pys.htm. This is the method that underpins the RYA Annual PN ratings return, but those wishing to make a return have to take the information from the individual race spreadsheets and manually combine into a form that can help determine the rating value for a class to be sent back to the RYA each September/October.
The method described by the RYA is what quite a few Sailwave users here in the UK would like to see Colin implement.
When I was responsible for running personal handicap scoring (albeit
within a fleet system), I inherited a flat time allowance per race,
which favoured the slower crews in a short race and the faster crews
in a long race.
I changed this to an allowance based on percentages - adjusting the
PY down from the standard for the class by x%, initially to arrive
at the same 'flat' time allowance over a 60 minute race. This took
the race length inequality out of the system and seemed to work
well. The adjusted PY's were worked out manually at the start of the
season & applied for the series. (Improver's prizes were awarded
monthly).
Sailwave coped well with this approach, but I guess what would be
really useful would be the ability to 'back-calculate' a new PY from
elapsed times over a range of races. Do this for an individual to
arrive at a personal handicap, or a group of boats to get a class
handicap for your particular sailing location...
Sounds easy, but I bet it isn’t.
Sailwave is still the best bit of free software I've ever come
across - many thanks.
For an individual, is this not what the avebcr(x) function within sailwave already does?
This can then be applied in the Tools/Apply personal handicap/expression…
Regards
Mal
Just to expand a bit on this comment re: PH (Personal Handicap): after
each race I plot BCR/(actual PH) ratio for each competitor in
finishing order. I then review these plots to see if any one
competitor is consistently at either end of the plot. Note that this
is subjective, especially as I take the weather into account e.g. in
F4+waves I'd expect any half competent Contender or Laser2 to do well
on their PH, whereas in F1+flat sea I would not.
Mike Croker
Lancing SC
I now prefer to trim handicaps
occasionally to adjust just the consistently good or poor performers,
and ignore the small(er) performance fluctuations of the majority of
competitors.
I now prefer to trim handicaps
occasionally to adjust just the consistently good or poor performers,
and ignore the small(er) performance fluctuations of the majority of
competitors.
Just to expand a bit on this comment re: PH (Personal Handicap): after
each race I plot BCR/(actual PH) ratio for each competitor in
finishing order. I then review these plots to see if any one
competitor is consistently at either end of the plot. Note that this
is subjective, especially as I take the weather into account e.g. in
F4+waves I’d expect any half competent Contender or Laser2 to do well
on their PH, whereas in F1+flat sea I would not.
Mike Croker
Lancing SC