by Capt. Flak » Tue Feb 03, 2009 10:46 am
Just so everyone knows, the Florida EC-12 Association is voting now on two issues. The first is whether to keep or drop the bonus points awarded to the top 5 skippers. We reviewed the results of this year and last and found that the standings did not change for the top 15 to 20 skippers, the scores would just be one or two points closer. The other issue is whether or not to go to the low point system. If this vote wins out, the first issue is moot.
We (the advisory board) also looked at several scoring systems including a modified high point system that set a fixed high score for all the regattas regardless of number of boats. In the end we decided that the vote would be restricted to just a choice between high and low. With the low point system we would also have to give Did Not Compete "DNC" points to skippers who miss regattas so that the scores in the standings reflect who is really in the lead. These DNC points can be discarded after a skipper has sailed the required 4 regattas towards the Championship. Points a skipper earns while competing are always counted first before DNC points. This is so a skipper does not discard a last place finish in a 30 boat regatta but keeps his DNC points from a 20 boat regatta.
The issue of how to break ties has also been discussed and will be done by giving more weight to the bigger regattas. A skipper who wins a 30 boat regatta will win the tie over a skipper who wins a 20 boat regatta.
Also of major concern to the Florida group is the Two-Fleet system we currently use. The bonus points were also awarded to the top B-fleet skippers to help them earn more points so as to move up in the next regatta. We found that this was working too slowly so last season we added to our rules that the first three skipper in B-fleet got an automatic trip to A-fleet for the next regatta. This turned out to be much more effective than the bonus points. We also found out that the bonus points for B-fleet skippers did not effect the fleet makeup because the top three skippers from B were getting the spots. So far not one skipper got into A-fleet because of bonus points helping their score. This of course was only the result for this past season and had a lot to do with who entered a regatta. Time will tell if more changes are needed.
This is a work in progress. But for the past three years now, the progress has been record turnouts for our regattas, so something is working right.
I will not discuss the vote right now. But I will post the results when the time comes.
Joe Walter #24