variable laps in handicaps

We run handicap racing, as we have a varied fleet. We work this by using PY, and by giving
the slower PY boats (generally toppers) 1 less lap to sail. When not using sailwave, the OD
gets the time from the last mark to the finish, and adds this onto the last lap - hailed as
significant when the last mark is a long way from the finish. I have to say, I never quite
understood this, as all the other boats have to sail this leg as well. But, in putting some
results into sailwave, I have found a slight discrepancy in times if I don't do this. Is there a
way of doing this 'last mark to finish' addition in sailwave automatically, or should I accept
the slight discrepancy, with the knowledge that it will trip me up at some point?

Is this to compensate for the start and finish lines being different
(e.g. the first lap is shorter, or something)?
Can't quite see where you are coming from with this. As I read it,
boats sailing 1 less lap get an artificially longer last lap time -
correct? Is it a 'you can finish earlier but you will get a time
penalty for doing it', type of thing?

Well, no, that's not the way it has been explained to me, and it seems that everyone in the
club thinks that it should be done this way. In truth, I'd been ignoring it till today, when I put
in last weeks results. This gave a swap of 8th and 9th place by doing this manually as
opposed to me ignoring it and just putting it into sailwave.

···

--- In sailwave@yahoogroups.com, "Mike Croker" <mdcroker@...> wrote:

Is this to compensate for the start and finish lines being different
(e.g. the first lap is shorter, or something)?
Can't quite see where you are coming from with this. As I read it,
boats sailing 1 less lap get an artificially longer last lap time -
correct? Is it a 'you can finish earlier but you will get a time
penalty for doing it', type of thing?

Well, no, that's not the way it has been explained to me, and it seems that everyone in the
club thinks that it should be done this way. In truth, I'd been ignoring it till today, when I put
in last weeks results. This gave a swap of 8th and 9th place by doing this manually as
opposed to me ignoring it and just putting it into sailwave.

···

--- In sailwave@yahoogroups.com, "Mike Croker" <mdcroker@...> wrote:

Is this to compensate for the start and finish lines being different
(e.g. the first lap is shorter, or something)?
Can't quite see where you are coming from with this. As I read it,
boats sailing 1 less lap get an artificially longer last lap time -
correct? Is it a 'you can finish earlier but you will get a time
penalty for doing it', type of thing?