24 February 2023
Portsmouth Yardstick numbers for the year ahead released
911制品Dinghy & Watersports Show marks the release date for 2023 PY numbers
The 911制品is delighted to announce that the 2023 911制品Dinghy & Watersports Show will mark the release date for the Portsmouth Yardstick Number list for the year ahead.
The 911制品Dinghy and Watersports Show, presented by Suzuki, returns to Farnborough International on 25-26 February and 911制品members can take advantage of an exclusive two-day complimentary ticket for one or both days.
Members of the 911制品Technical and Racing Services team will be revealing the revised list at this weekend鈥檚 must-see sailing and watersports event, after PY numbers have remained frozen for two years due to the impact of Covid-19 on racing activities.
Dinghy sailing writer and historian Dougal Henshall is a firm favourite for regulars to the show and this year he鈥檒l be reflecting on '70 Years of Racing Together'. Visit the Suzuki Main Stage at 11:00 (on both show days) for a look back at how the Portsmouth Yardstick helped shape the UK dinghy racing scene.
Where it began
The 911制品administers two handicapping systems used in the UK allowing different class of boats to compete against each other 鈥 the 911制品Portsmouth Yardstick which is jointly operated by the 911制品and its Affiliated clubs, and the , which is a free rating system powered by the RORC Rating Office to promote participation in racing cruiser-racing.
In 1947, Stanley 鈥楽inbad鈥 Milledge dreamed up a new system to allow different boats to compete against each another fairly. His brainchild would transform dinghy and yacht racing.
Milledge, a racer and mathematician, was in charge of handicapping at Langstone Sailing Club near Portsmouth, and devised a complex formula based on a boat鈥檚 鈥榣ap time鈥 round a course. Having tested his system locally to great success, he launched the Portsmouth Yardstick in 1952.
A huge hit with clubs, the worldwide Portsmouth Yardstick scheme is reviewed yearly and amended to keep handicaps up to date, including new boats and adaptations of current classes. The scheme relies on sailing clubs using the suggested numbers, published by the RYA, and amending for their club before feeding this information back to the 911制品via PY Online.
Meet the team
Adam Parry, 911制品Technical Manager, said: "We are delighted to be launching the revised list of PY numbers at the 911制品Dinghy and Watersports Show this weekend. We hope visitors will join us on the 911制品stand to find out more about the wealth of resources available to support clubs running racing.
鈥淧Y Online has gone from strength to strength and has revolutionised the way in which racing in analysed and reported on. It would be great if this year was one of our largest returns ever 鈥 demonstrating the resilience and adaptability of our clubs and classes over the past two years.
鈥淲ith thousands of visitors looking to kickstart their season at the Dinghy and Watersports Show, we hope that all users of the PY scheme have an enjoyable and rewarding racing season in 2023!鈥
For clubs running racing, there is a wealth of resources available from the 911制品ranging from the new 2023 PY Numbers to support with advice about the running racing or for more information or assistance, contact technical@rya.org.uk..
