Deviant Hotlaps

[Jane Fossett]

Last week Cory Copeland raised an interesting question:
Should Hotlaps races use a constant wind speed and direction?

Currently most hotlaps race results are posted using a 'standard wind' for a particular startline that nearly always includes some deviation.
Most NYC B-1A hotlaps use wind settings with variance of DIR+- 15 and SPD+- 3.
This adds an additional challenge to the fleet races, since the wind speed and direction changes, and the skippers need to adapt.
However, in Hotlaps the wind deviation can provide an unfair advantage.
A lucky sailor could catch the most optimal wind conditions and run the course faster than other technically better, but unlucky, skippers.
The "Olympic Long Course" at SYC is a perfect example of this issue.
The lap time is highly dependent on how you catch the wind on certain legs.
The effect evens out in a fleet race, but it can have a major impact on hotlaps scores.

So here's the question:
Does it make sense to suggest we use constant wind settings for Hotlaps, with DIR+- 0 and SPD+- 0 ?

I mean, some of us lose sleep worrying about this stuff....

[Yuukie Onmura]

[Vin Mariani]

[M1sha Dallin]

I agree with Vin

[Slanty Uriza]

I am lost in two thoughts

[Nber Medici]

HEHEHE, Vin that was really funny

Since I don't do hotlaps (primarily because I have no interest in being publicly humiliated), I am fairly indifferent to what ya'all (said in my best southern belle accent) decide. There is one issue however...at SYC the wind setter "belongs" to Hollywood Insiders group. So only members of that group can change the wind setter.

Race Directors are members of that group...but it is not open enrollment.

[Jane Fossett]

[Vin Mariani]

I guess we're in violent agreement, so let me descend to nit-picking for a moment.

"Zero Deviance"?

Hey, I'm not going anywhere in SL that uses that phrase. (Saves 'em the trouble of ejecting me, I suppose.) That would make race wind what? The oxymoronic, "normal deviance"? Now I like as much normal deviance as the next sailor, but let's not scare off the newcomers, shall we? How about something more nautical, perhaps "Wind 11, steady" and "Race wind"? Other ideas, anyone?

Vin <-- suddenly, world's biggest target for "deviance" comments

[Nber Medici]

HEHEHE... can't resist that title...

I'd be happy to set the SYC start line at zero variability for wind direction if that is what ya'all decide you want. We can always change it back for a race series.

[Cory Copeland]

To make Hot Laps 100% fair (LL deviances not withstanding), we would have to have the wind set to zero deviance. I for one find zero deviance sailing a bit boring but, for beginners, it helps them over the hump as they learn the skills of sailing in SL. Remember, one of the reasons we have Hot Laps is for beginners to learn and grow by being able beat their best times, without the intimidation of fleet racing.

This being said, Hot Laps is mostly used by advanced and expert sailors trying to throw down their best times for the month.

Now, returning to the fairness theme, I think that setting the wind so it is fair for Hot Laps and easy for Beginners and FUN for enthusiastic sailors will be best. Let's look at the variables and think about what variables we have.


WIND SPEED:

Wind speed as a variable creates the greatest inequities in lap times. Beginner sailors who are trying to make their boats go fast get discouraged when they have "it all set right" yet they still go slow. I suggest that wind speed variability be set to zero at all hot lap sites.

Having wind speed changes in fleet racing doesn't even make sense to me but having fleet races at different steady wind speeds is fun.


WIND DIRECTION

Wind direction changes make sailing interesting and adds a level of skill to the sport. Anticipating which way the wind is changing adds a whole new dimension compared to setting your boat on a tack and waiting till the next turn.

Although having wind direction variability will make lap times unequal for Hot Laps, the inequality will be far less than with wind speed changes and it can be countered with skill. The sailor with the best skills will ultimately win because she has anticipated the wind, where to make her tacks and gybes and how to round each buoy. Because the windsetter is a random algorithm, even the best sailors will have to do a few laps to get their best times.


RATE

The rate of change of the wind direction adds to the skill level. Until we held the races at ACC, all windsetters I'd ever seen have been set to 1. Upping the rate to 2 creates multiple wind direction changes for each leg of most race courses and sailors need to be quick and alert. Increasing the rate of change improves "fairness" for expert sailors but is very difficult for beginner and intermediates.

Therefore, after all of my long windedness, i propose the following for all Hot Laps courses:

speed 6-11m/second too slow is boring and too fast makes it difficult for beginners.
speed +/- 0 zero deviance
direction X as required for your race course
direction +/- 15 to 45 degrees variation depending on course design
rate 1 maybe a specific start line and race course could have a rate of 2 for experts but i don't think it would be very popular.

[Yuukie Onmura]

[Jane Fossett]

[MarkTwain White]

[Jane Fossett]

[Pensive Mission]