Multiple divisions for racing

[Olaf Bleck]

Hi All,

Haven't been to active for various reasons, but definitely missing it!  I should make it the LBRW at least.

Anyway, this topic has come up here and there before but I couldn't find much in the search.  Specifically, as the class grows, more hot shot sailors show up, a relatively sizable number of people regularly are on or near the podium, and a similar large number of sailors who never are fall further back, it seems to me that it'd be nice to have two divisions.

Here's approximately how something like this is done in a Bay Area V15 fleet:

"Open" is for the hotshots.
"Corinthian" is for the others.

You can sign up for either, but once you get on the podium in Corinthian, you get bumped up to Open from then on. 

I'd say this would be for serious caliber events of course, things like NA's, well attended NOODS, CRW, Bacardi, Heineken, Long Beach, etc.

At the Marblehead NA's a couple years ago Justin did have "Pelleton Awards", which as I recall were awarded to the 25%, 50%, and 75% boat.  But that's just kind of luck if you fall there.  i.e. you can't really compete for that.  (Hmmm... maybe you can calculate you're going to be 55% on the fly unless you let one boat by you...?  I can see a match race of sorts where five boats are trying to force someone over the finish line so the next guy can win the Pelleton Award.)

I can't imagine this isn't a topic that hasn't come up in almost every class, but anyway, a thread for discussion.

[Peter Beardsley]

It's an interesting discussion and if it was something enough people really wanted, we could support it.  My only objection is in the proposed naming by Olaf -- semantics, but important to me, since as it is used by other classes, "Corinthian" means "amateur."  If we are bumping people out of the Corinthian division who do not have pros on their boat, it may be confusing to some over time to see a smaller "Corinthian" division -- I wouldn't want outsiders to assume that all "non-Corinthians" have pros on the boat, since that will not likely be the case. 

But something like a bump out if you've either won a certain level of event, or received two non-bullet podium places in a certain level event, yeah, why not?  If people want more trophies, fine, and there are a lot of teams in the class who have improved a ton over the years or who have superlative events and deserve recognition for those results. 

[Olaf Bleck]

I agree on the "Corinthian" thing.

I double checked and for the V15 fleet I was referring to they actually have it as "Junior Varsity" and "Varsity".  I think that's kind of hoakie sounding for post collegiate racing, even though the V15's are all of that.  *something* and "Open" would be better.

[Tim Carter]

I am intending to award a Perpetual Trophy @ this years NA's to the top Corinthian Team.  That would be the top placing boat sailed without Cat 3 sailors aboard.

my .02

Timbo

[Drew Harper]

I am intending to award a Perpetual Trophy @ this years NA's to the top Corinthian Team.  That would be the top placing boat sailed without Cat 3 sailors aboard.

my .02


Timbo

Kevin Taugher is the BEST Cat 1 money can't buy!!!

Flam, Gollison, Carter aren't slouch Cat 1's either...LMAO

[Justin Scott]

We have 3 cats on my boat.

They are cool cats but they scratch purr and fight.

[Tim Carter]

Cat Scratch Fever Kings