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Pursuit Races

In a pursuit race the slowest boats start first and faster boats start later, so in theory everyone arrives at the finish together. The handicap is built into the start times, so the result is simply the order boats finish in: the first boat home wins.

Before You Start

  1. The series must use a handicap list (corrected time scoring). Pursuit start times need the class numbers.
  2. Set the race Duration in Edit on the race page. The duration is how long the slowest boat is expected to sail, and it sets the gap between starts.
  3. On the race page, open the format menu (it shows Standard) and choose Pursuit. The option is greyed out on series without a handicap list.

Customising a Boat's Start

Each boat starts according to its handicap. To change one boat's start time, change its handicap on the entry:

  • Use the Ability buttons (shown for pursuit races only). +10% means the sailor is expected to be 10% faster than their class, so they start later; -10% means slower, so they start earlier. 0% goes back to the class handicap.
  • Or switch on Override handicap and type a number.
  • To set many boats at once, use bulk edit and turn on the Ability column.

The override is copied when entries are imported into later races, so check it before a normal handicap race.

The Start Sheet

Click Start sheet on the race page for a printable list of start times. On a phone the tables scroll sideways if they are too wide. The Print button is not available in the home-screen app (the phone blocks printing there); open the page in your browser to print.

  • There is one section per start line. Each start line is its own pursuit.
  • Times are marked planned until you record the line's start time (the first gun). Reprint after the gun to get the actual times.
  • Race date and time is the planned first gun. Change it here and the sheet updates straight away; it is the same value as in Edit race.
  • Duration (minutes) is the race duration the start times are worked out from. Change it here and the sheet updates straight away; it is the same value as in Edit race.
  • Bulk edit (top right) opens the bulk entry editor for this race.
  • Round to sets the start times to whole minutes (the default) or seconds.
  • Reference boat picks what starts at the first gun. By default it is the slowest boat in the race. You can pick any boat in the race, or any class in the series handicap list, even one with no boat racing today (useful for a club rule such as "the Topper starts at the gun"). If a slower boat signs on late, keep your printed reference: the late boat then starts with the first group. If the chosen boat is removed from the race, the slowest boat is used again.
  • Boats with a custom handicap are marked with *.
  • Your rounding and reference choices are remembered in this browser only.
  • Click Print. Only the race details and start times are printed: the menu, breadcrumbs and controls are left out. The list starts on the first page and a page break only falls between two starts, never inside one.

On the Day

  1. Record the first gun on the start line, with the start button or the starting sequence. In a pursuit race the start line section is headed Start Lines ยท First gun.
  2. Stamp each boat as it finishes, at the finish line or at a mark when time is up, using the finish queue and the spacebar.
  3. If a boat has been lapped, stamp or edit the finish times so they are in the order boats are on the water.

Results

  • Boats are ranked by finish clock time. Boats stamped in the same instant share the place.
  • There is no corrected time. Results pages show each boat's Finish time instead of Elapsed.
  • Circumstances (DNF, OCS and so on), discards and series points work as in any other race.
  • Lapping settings on the series are ignored for pursuit races.
  • Pursuit races do not count towards personal handicaps or RYA PY Online returns.

See Also