The Rygged Start

A personal handicapping system designed to encourage beginners and add excitement back into club racing was introduced by the Lee Valley Model Yacht Club, UK, in 1991. We are grateful for their contribution.

The Problem

Experienced 'model yachters' tend to forget that to newcomers, model yacht cruising can appear a pretty daunting experience. This can be particularly true at the start, when anarchy and overcrowding readily overwhelms the beginner. As a result, the 'fall-out' rate of newcomers can be very high.

To overcome this problem the Mawson Lakes Model Yacht Club introduced, in 2008, a personal handicapping system (the Rygged Start) that is designed to:

• Relieve the beginner of the pressures of crowded start lines, until such time as they are sufficiently experienced to cope.
• Give encouragement, by enabling some early wins.
• Eliminate the beginner's proneness to hanging around well behind the start line in order to avoid close contact sailing.

The Solution

The Rygged Start (Red/Yellow/Green/Black/Blue/White/Orange/Purple/Pink)

Every member shall be given a personal handicap based on past performance. Newcomers will automatically be granted a 'full' handicap (denoted by a Red ribbon) upon joining the club, unless they are of proven ability as a result of past membership of another club.

The handicap granted shall be determined by the awarding of Three points by achieving a first place, in a cruise, Two points for second and Three points for third.

Skippers will indicate their current starting position by flying a coloured TELL-TALE on the BACK STAY of their boat. The colour of the tell-tail will determine starting position. Any boats not carrying a Tell-Tale will be expected to start with those carrying a Pink ribbon.

1. Boats with a Red ribbon are allowed to cross the start line at the designated Start Time. The Race Officer will announce 'Reds Away'.
2. Boats with a Yellow ribbon are to cross the start line at the designated period after Start Time. The Race Officer will announce 'Yellows Away'.
3. Boats with a Green ribbon are to cross the start line at the designated period after Start Time. The Race Officer will announce 'Greens Away'.
4. Boats with a Black ribbon are to cross the start line at the designated period after Start Time. The Race Officer will announce ‘Blacks Away'.
5. Boats with a Blue ribbon are to cross the start line at the designated period after Start Time. The Race Officer will announce ‘Blues Away'.
6. Boats with a White ribbon are to cross the start line at the designated period after Start Time. The Race Officer will announce ‘White's Away'.
7. Boats with a Orange ribbon are to cross the start line at the designated period after Start Time. The Race Officer will announce ‘Orange Away'.
8. Boats with a Purple ribbon are to cross the start line at the designated period after Start Time. The Race Officer will announce ‘Purple Away'.
9. Boats with a Pink ribbon are to cross the start line at the designated period after Start Time. The Race Officer will announce ‘Pink Away'.

When a sailor has gained 'X' points (see table below) it will result in promotion by one colour.

No of points necessary to change colour:

Once a boat has moved up a colour they may not be moved back up at any time.

The colour applies to that boat.

No matter who sails the boat it will still start at the designated time. If the boat is being skippered by a visitor or a guest skipper the Sailing Master can override this rule and predesignate the start time for that start only. The boat will not accrue points if it being sailed by a guest skipper.

Optional Notes:

1. Tell-Tales are to be made available from the Sailing Master. Any 'promotions' from one colour to another can be announced by the Sailing Master at the end of a session and may be accompanied by a rousing cheer from everyone present.

2. We started by giving every member a Red ribbon. This has lead to an interesting and exciting year's cruising as members sort themselves out into their real ability levels.

3. Another benefit of the system is the way in which beginners are introduced to close quarter cruising 'gradually'. This occurs as the faster sailors catch them up after the start and try to overhaul them.

4. The advantages gained by the system is fixed in terms of time but the relative benefit will depend on the length of the cruises. The system has the benefit of naturally sorting itself out so long as a club aims for reasonably consistent cruise lengths throughout the season.