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Race Scoring Processes

Single Races

Race scoring is done utilizing a modified low-points system similar to one described by US Sailing. 

Competing boats are awarded points based on where they finish when sorted by corrected elapsed time (CET):

  • First place boat is awarded 1 point.
  • Second place boat is awarded 2 points.
  • Third place boat is awarded 3 points.
  • Etc.

Boats that start the race but do not finish (DNF) are awarded the number of points equal to the number of boats competing in that race.

Boats that do not start (DNS) or do not compete are awarded 1 plus the number of boats that competed, or 8 points, whichever is greater. (This is done to encourage race attendance among competitors.)

Boats that are disqualified due to a rule infraction or penalty (DSQ or DNE) are awarded 2 plus the number of boats that competed. Note that, per the Racing Rules of Sailing, some of these penalties cannot be excluded as a “throw out” for series totals (DNE).

Series Race Scoring

For a race series consisting of three or more races, each competitor is allowed to throw out the worst results of between 25%-33% of the number of races in that series. For the FLYC Summer Series, this means that the highest two scores for the summer will be discarded when computing series totals. For the FLYC Fun Race Series, the highest score (1 race) will be discarded.

In the event of a tie, standard tie-breaking processes as defined by US Sailing are employed. The steps below are utilized until the tie is broken:

  • The boat with the most first place finishes will be ranked ahead of the other.
  • If there is a tie, then the boat with the most second place finishes will be declared the winner.
  • If there remains a tie, then the boat with the most third place finishes will be declared the winner.
  • If there is still a tie, then the boat with the best finish in the most recent race will be declared the winner.

Any score resulting from a non-excludable disqualification (DNE) cannot be used as a throw-out.

FLYC Scoring Conventions

Time Limits

Unless stated otherwise at the pre-race Skippers' Meeting, each club race has a time limit of three (3) hours. Any boats not finishing within this time are scored as DNF and will receive points as described above. In addition, if none of the boats in a race can round the first mark within one (1) hour, the race will be either postponed, abandoned, or cancelled, as determined by the Race Committee.

Race Day Requirements for Competitors

Skippers’ Meeting

Each competing boat is required to send a representative to the pre-race Skippers’ Meeting. (Attendance by the entire crew is encouraged.) Failure to attend the meeting will result in the boat not being scored. The purpose of this Skippers’ Meeting is to accomplish the following tasks:

  • Registration of all competitors.
  • Crew assignments, if needed.
  • Description of the course to be sailed.
  • Special race instructions, if any.
  • Review of VHF communication procedures.
  • Description of the starting sequence, signals used, and start time(s).

Equipment Requirements

All competing boats must satisfy USCG and New York State minimum equipment carriage requirements to compete.

All competing boats must have a working marine VHF radio. All on-the-water communications is done via marine VHF on a channel announced at the pre-race Skippers’ Meeting. The VHF radio is also how competitors notify the Race Committee when they cross the finish line at the end of a race.

It is highly recommended that each competing vessel have a GPS or other timepiece that can be synchronized with the official clock used to record race start and finish times and to help them start each race properly.

General Race Policies

Unless stated otherwise in the Race Instructions, there is a time limit of 60 minutes for a boat reaching the first mark and a limit of 180 minutes to finish the course.  The Race Committee will determine if a race will be abandoned or rescheduled to another date or time.

The Committee boat has the authority for maintaining the flow and safety of the race. The race can be shortened if wind and lake conditions change.

Per US Sailing Racing Rules of Sailing, a race can be shortened, but it cannot be lengthened.

Finishing A Race

Standard racing rules define a boat finishing when any portion of its hull or sails “breaks the plane” of the finish line. FLYC practice, however, is that a boat finishes when its helmsman (or the position where the helmsman would normally be) crosses the finish line. This practice is to accommodate vessels being single-handed when finish times are being self-reported (i.e., when there are no race officials monitoring the finish line).

All start and finish times are recorded to the nearest second for scoring purposes.