How do I ensure that a boat that does not finish gets the correct
number of points?
Appendix A of the Racing Rules of Sailing sets out ten situations in which a boat
is given points other than for achieving a place in a race. They are listed below.
|
DNC |
Did not start; did not come to the starting area. |
|
DNS |
Did not start (other than DNC and OCS). |
|
OCS |
Did not start; on course side of the starting line at her starting signal and failed
to start. |
|
BFD |
Disqualification under Rule 30.3 (Black Flag) |
|
DNF |
Did not finish. |
|
RAF |
Retired after finishing. |
|
DSQ |
Disqualification. |
|
DNE |
Disqulaification (other than DGM) not excludable under Rule 89.3. |
|
DGM |
Disqualification under Rule 69.1(b)(2); not excludable. |
|
RDG |
Redress given. |
The actual number of points a boat receives for each of the status codes shown above,
apart from RDG, depends on how the series was set up
in the Race Schedule part of HAL's Race Results.
The points for each of the codes is set in relation to either the number of starters,
or the number of finishers, or the number in the class (i.e. the number
entered), or the number in the series (i.e. the number that took part in
at least one race in the series). Thus you might set the score for DNF to be the
number of starters plus 2.
You can also set an absolute number of points by making the score relative
to a base of zero. Thus the points for DNC might be Zero plus 50 (i.e. 50 points
no matter how many boats entered or took part).
The default for all codes is the number of boats in the class (i.e. entered) plus
1. However race organisers frequently alter the allocation. They might give more
points for DSQ than for DNF or RAF, for instance, in order to encourage the resolution
of disputes before they reach the protest room.
In a club situation, there may be many more boats in a class than are likely to
take part in a particular series. A club might have 50 Wayfarers on its books, for
instance, but might know that it was very unlikely that more than 20 would take part
in the Wednesday evening series. In that case it makes sense to set points
relative to either the number of starters ( which is likely to vary from race to
race within the series) or to the number of boats in the series (i.e. boats with
at least one non-DNC score in the series).
