Technical reference for the Flying Start Race Committee scoring engine. This page covers handicap systems, corrected time calculations, points, discards, tie-breaking, and penalty codes.
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Handicap systems allow different types of boats to race against each other fairly. Each boat is assigned a handicap number, and the scoring engine uses it to calculate a corrected time that accounts for the boat's speed potential.
Flying Start supports six handicap systems:
| System | Used In | Number Range | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| PY | UK (dinghies) | ~800–1500 | Higher = slower boat |
| IRC | International (yachts) | ~0.7–1.3 | Lower = slower boat |
| YTC | UK (cruisers) | ~800–1200 | Higher = slower boat |
| PHRF | North America | ~-30–300 | Higher = slower boat |
| NHC | UK (cruisers) | ~800–1200 | Higher = slower boat |
| Custom | Club-specific | Varies | Same formula as PY |
The RYA Portsmouth Yardstick is the standard handicap system for dinghy racing in the UK. Each boat class has a published PY number — for example, a Laser is 1100, a 49er is 740. The number is relative to 1000.
IRC is the global standard for yacht handicap racing. Each yacht receives a TCC (Time Correction Coefficient) after a physical measurement. IRC certificates are paid and confidential — the TCC is public but the underlying formula is not.
YTC is a free rating system run by the RYA and powered by the RORC Rating Office. It's designed for cruiser racing at club level — skippers of any skill level can get a certificate at no cost. The YTC number is calculated from simple measurements: sail area, displacement, waterline length, draft, and keel type.
YTC uses the same formula as PY — the number is in a similar range (typically 800–1200).
Free YTC certificates: rorcrating.com/ryaytc
PHRF is the standard handicap system in North America. The rating is expressed as seconds per nautical mile — a higher number means a slower boat. Unlike PY and IRC, PHRF requires the course distance to calculate corrected time.
NHC is the predecessor to YTC in the UK, still used by some clubs. It works identically to PY — the number is relative to 1000.
For clubs that maintain their own handicap numbers. Uses the same formula as PY. The race committee assigns each boat a number and adjusts it over time based on performance.
The scoring engine processes each race in this order:
Competitors who didn't finish (DNF, DNS, OCS, etc.) are ranked after all finishers and given penalty points.
The standard system used by most clubs. First place gets 1 point, second gets 2, and so on. Lowest total wins.
| Position | Points |
|---|---|
| 1st | 1 |
| 2nd | 2 |
| 3rd | 3 |
| Nth | N |
Awards extra points to the top positions to create bigger gaps at the front of the fleet.
| Position | Points |
|---|---|
| 1st | 0 |
| 2nd | 3 |
| 3rd | 5.7 |
| 4th | 8 |
| 5th | 10 |
| 6th | 11.7 |
| 7th+ | Position + 6 |
Flying Start supports all standard RRS (Racing Rules of Sailing) penalty codes. How penalty points are calculated depends on whether Rule A5.3 is enabled for the series.
RRS Rule A5.3 is an optional scoring rule that provides fairer penalties in series where not all boats race every week. It must be stated in the Notice of Race or Sailing Instructions. When enabled, it distinguishes between boats that came to the starting area and boats that didn't turn up at all:
| Code | Meaning | Points (A5.3) |
|---|---|---|
| DNS | Did Not Start (was at the starting area) | Boats at area + 1 |
| DNF | Did Not Finish | Boats at area + 1 |
| OCS | On Course Side (over the line at the start) | Boats at area + 1 |
| DSQ | Disqualified | Boats at area + 1 |
| RET | Retired | Boats at area + 1 |
| UFD | U Flag Disqualification (Rule 30.3) | Boats at area + 1 |
| BFD | Black Flag Disqualification (Rule 30.4) | Boats at area + 1 |
| DNC | Did Not Come (absent) | Entries + 1 |
| SCP | Scoring Penalty (post-race penalty accepted) | Place points + X% |
| RDG | Redress Given (average or fixed points) | As decided |
Boats at area = number of boats that came to the starting area (everyone except DNC).
Entries = total number of boats entered in the series.
Under the default RRS A5.2, all non-finishers receive the same penalty regardless of whether they attended:
| Code | Points (A5.2) |
|---|---|
| DNS, DNF, OCS, DSQ, RET, UFD, BFD, DNC | Entries + 1 |
| SCP | Place points + X% |
| RDG | As decided |
To enable Rule A5.3, tick the "Apply RRS Rule A5.3" checkbox in the series settings. See the RC User Guide for details.
In a series, competitors can drop their worst result(s). The discard profile defines how many results to drop based on the number of races sailed.
Discarded results are still shown in standings but marked with strikethrough and excluded from the total.
When two or more competitors have the same total points after discards, ties are broken using RRS Appendix A rules, in this order:
Series standings are calculated by:
Competitors who didn't enter a particular race score DNC (entries + 1 points) for that race.
In a pursuit race, boats start at different times based on their handicap. The slowest boat starts first, and the fastest starts last. If the handicaps are accurate, all boats should theoretically finish at the same time — so the first boat across the finish line wins, with no corrected time calculation needed.
For PY, YTC, NHC, and Custom systems (higher number = slower boat):
For IRC (lower TCC = slower boat):
Flying Start analyses corrected time performance across a series and suggests handicap adjustments. The system never changes handicaps automatically — it suggests, and the race officer approves or rejects.
Suggestions are only generated when: