Re: [Paddlewise] hull speed

On Wed, May 21, 2008 at 4:17 AM, John Winters <jdwinters_at_eastlink.ca> wrote:

>
> Unfortunately the answer is no. No matter what simple formula you use it
> will be unfairly punitive  to some and unfairly beneficial to others.
> Resistance is just to complex.


Not only that, but if you do come up with a formula and if the races are
important enough to the racers, someone will design boats that use loopholes
in that formula to gain an advantage. In the 1970s the IOR produced bizarre
hull shapes that were only useful if the boat raced to that rule (which is
no longer in style). And a boat design (or designer) that successfully finds
a rating loophole can become more in demand and therefore more valuable.

Your post described some interesting rating systems that I've never heard of
but the common thread in rating systems seems to be that, just as you say,
no matter what you use someone will gain and someone will lose; and a lot of
them will cheat. It seems that you can't fool human nature.

Thanks for those illustrations. I particularly liked the one where the
leader who rounds the mark first discovers that everyone who was behind is
now in front. Talk about a dis-incentive to be first to the mark.

Craig
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