The Joint Regatta Committee has unanimously decided that West Highland Yachting Week will change from using the CYCA handicap system to the RYA AERA YTC handicap system this year. The event has seen a steady increase in competitor numbers over recent years, with many boats travelling from Ireland and England to participate. There has also been an increase in entries of more contemporary yacht designs. It is felt that the variety and scale of our fleet required a new and more dynamic handicap system.
Gavin Marshall, Chairman of the Joint Regatta Committee says:
“We feel that this is a very positive step forwards – as our event grows in popularity, and we welcome boats from further afield, it is appropriate that we use a national system, and a system which benefits from the wider database and support, which such a system offers.
We would like to thank our friends at CYCA, for all of the help which they have provided over the years, and we look forward to the competitive racing that we are confident the YTC system will create.”
Principal Race Officer John Readman added: “Sailors have been trying to work out improved handicap systems since the invention of yacht racing two centuries ago. In this evolution, YTC seems the logical next step for handicapping boats racing in West Highland Yachting Week. I hope that this will prove attractive not just to Scottish owners, but sailors from Ireland, the south coast and the American boats expected to visit our wonderful sailing waters on the West Coast of Scotland this summer with the Cruising Club of America.”
AERA YTC is powered by the RORC Rating Office and the RYA. It is an initiative that seeks to promote club level participation in racing by cruising yachts and cruiser-racers. The objective is to provide a simple rating assessment so that skippers of any skill level may feel encouraged to race their boats. The ethos throughout the process of establishing a boat’s YTC number is to develop the number in a fair, open and transparent manner, bringing the yacht’s skipper into the discussion where appropriate. The application process is free, and most of the data required will already be available to YTC through the RORC Rating Office standard hull data. Full information can be found here. Applications are expected to open in late February.
Key points to note:
- Boats wishing to apply for a YTC number are to complete and submit a web-based YTC Application Form
- There is no charge for a YTC certificate, though there may be one-off associated costs if you require sails to be measured.
- YTC uses the following boat data to calculate a YTC number:
- Hull length overall (metres)
- Waterline length (metres)
- Boat weight (displacement), empty/dry (kilograms)
- Draft (metres)
- Total upwind sail area (metres2 ) Sum of mainsail and headsail (genoa or jib) area.
- Total downwind sail area (metres2 ) Sum of mainsail and spinnaker area
- Propeller type and keel configuration
- Sails may be measured using the in-house certification system outlined in the supporting documents (see link below), an RYA sail measurer, or other measurer approved by the RORC Rating Office or YTC Main Committee.
- Boat weight and other hull data will be based on the RORC Rating Office standard hull data. If that is not available, then boat brochure data or other available data will be used.
If you would like introductions to any of Scotland’s sail makers the please drop us a line. We would be more than happy to put you in touch with someone who will be able to help with sail measurements.
We will, of course, provide you with regular updates and guidance on the changes. If you have enquiries at any point during the process then please do not hesitate to get in touch and one of our committee members or advisors will provide assistance.