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How Scoring Works

This page explains the end-to-end scoring pipeline in Sailboat Racing - from recording a finish time to generating series standings.

The Scoring Pipeline

Race Entries → Finish Times → Elapsed Times → Corrected Times → Race Points → Series Standings

1. Finish Times

The race officer records when each boat crosses the finish line (or each lap in a lapping race). See Recording Timings.

2. Elapsed Times

Sailboat Racing calculates elapsed time by subtracting the start time from the finish time. Each start line has its own start time, so boats on different start lines are calculated independently.

3. Corrected Times (Handicap Racing Only)

If the series uses corrected time scoring, elapsed times are adjusted using the boat's handicap value. The formula depends on the handicap system in use.

For example, with PY (Portsmouth Yardstick):

Corrected Time = (Elapsed Time × 1000) / PY Number

4. Race Points

Boats are ranked by their corrected time (or elapsed time in one-design racing). Points are assigned based on the scoring system:

  • Low Point: 1st = 1pt, 2nd = 2pts, 3rd = 3pts, etc.
  • High Point: Points decrease with position

Boats with circumstances (DNF, DNC, etc.) receive penalty scores.

5. Series Standings

Race points are totalled across all races in the series. Discards are applied - each sailor's worst result(s) are dropped. The scoring key determines how entries are matched across races.

Final standings are ranked by total nett points (after discards).

See Also