I sail at Chew  Valley where there's a wide range of boats who all sail in classes and also together for some trophies using a refined version of the PH system. The result is generally fair, though as you would expect specific conditions will favour specific designs, however over a series, for instance the Wednesday Night series, it all evens out. As usual the cream comes out on top, top guns win !
Have a look on at www.chewvalleysailing.org.uk and check out the results and handicaps  Interesting reading,so if I can beat a Rs200 over the line in my tin rig NSM4as a "classic" merlin  we are in with a shout, it makes it fun.

A lengthy preamble, but my request is that in addition to counting places the association considers asking the officiating RO at any MR open to record not only the places but also the times of the participants, then make the data available so that it can be processed to rate the handicap of the designs involved of whatever age or vintage.
This simple step could transform the racing prospects of older boats at their clubs whether in class or in handicap, and potentially also their value.

Not much to ask is it ? or is it ?

All best

Rick Knapp

Now that to me is a really good idea, and simple. 

Publishing the race timings will allow those that wish, clubs or individuals or groups, to apply whatever system of measuring they choose, for their own purposes. This would not affect any, first past the post, MROA race results. 

Nor does it differentiate between, old, classic and vintage.

That's a good suggestion...

Not in itself a bad idea, if the clubs are up for recording the times. Some will do it anyway, others will be reluctant to do it at all.
 
But you wont get much meaningful data from this years results if you want age based handicaps. 

Over this year I have traveled much more than I have for a very long time and it seem to me there is considerable inconsistency between clubs holding open meetings, this ranges from entry fees, prizes, availability of food after racing to published reports. Some clubs make much more effort than others. Perhaps the class should consider publishing a set of guidelines for running open meetings which could include the recording of race times as well?

 As the cvrda results person, I always ask for times and number of laps to be recorded because all our racing is handicap based and available to a wide range of boats and I use Sailwave to calculate the results. 
We also use the data to look at past performance when reviewing handicaps, so I think collecting as much data from as many races as possible is a really good idea and will support it and can contribute any data from past cvrda events where Merlins have sailed.

hi rick,johndonoghue yellow m/r 3574.sailed @ chew late summer + enjoyed the 2 sundays there,hope the weed is GONE? most clubs in area close over winter but hope to visit u few times

Can this, at least be done next season whenever there is a willing RO?

Nearly 600 views of this post and only 6 comments, would be interesting to hear from the hundreds of people that have read this proposal, whether they think it would affect any of them in a bad way, and whether they support it or not.

Surely it can only help, in gettiing more accurate figures for handicapping older boats, for use other than in Class racing.  

as recent race officer at several large fleet (70+) handicap events it is quite possible to record boat type, number, time consistently and accurately. Even with a fast and slow fleet split. It takes a little more recorder organisation but can be done.