Changes to Pursuit Racing

Change to Pursuit race from 12th July 2025

What is Changing?

From the 12th July the way pursuit races are scored is changing to be based upon corrected times. The implication of this change is that your race result may no longer be the same as the position you cross the line on the water. All other aspects of the pursuit race, the staggered starting sequence and shortening of the course to meet the Race Time (85 minutes for Saturday afternoon pursuit races), will remain the same for competitors and the Race Team. If you are part of the Race Team you don’t need to do anything differently.

Why is the change being made?

The Race Committee has made this change as the staggered start times of pursuit races are designed for the race to finish exactly at the specified Race Time. The way we shorted courses week in and week out from Marks of the course make it very difficult to finish pursuit races at, or very close to, the Race Time. Different Classes of boats are disadvantaged whether the race is run short, or run long, depending on the prevailing conditions on a given day. The change to using corrected times will adjust the results for the race being run too short, or too long, and reward boats based upon how well they are sailed relative to their Portsmouth Number (or Club Number). The other benefit of the change is that adjustment will be made during the period of time it takes all the boats to finish the course, so for example slower boats overtake by faster boats after the Race Time may not lose their position at the Race Time if they are sailing to their Portsmouth Number.This change applies to all pursuit races, including the ILCA Class pursuit.

If you want to find out more about the change:

The Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions have been updated accordingly in the on-line Handbook, and the changes are posted in the Clubhouse Foyer.Please do speak to the Sailing Secretary or your Class Captain if you want any more clarification.