Post by Admin on Mar 2, 2014 10:36:02 GMT
With the racing season imminent I would like to get skiffers views on racing categories and the types of race they would like to see at Regattas. We have the facility to run a quick poll where after discussion members can vote on various options put forward in those discussions, giving us a broad outlook on what constitutes a good Regatta format or indeed if crews prefer a lot of variety.
With new categories introduced last year we now have 10 categories with Women's, men's and mixed races in each category, giving Regatta organisers a bewildering choice of 30 races to whittle down to a manageable number.
Current categories are open, 40+, 50+, 60+, U17, U19, New club, Novice, Fresher, Intermediate.
My first thought would be that the New Club, Novice, fresher and intermediate classes could be run as part of the other races with honours going to the overall winner and also the highest placed New Club, Novice boat etc. This could reduce the number of races required but may mean that in established clubs with large membership novices etc do not get a race at all. With the growing number of clubs and boats, Regattas open to New clubs, novice etc only would perhaps solve this and give new crews more racing and closer racing.
In view of the fact that teams are formed with the older categories in mind, hopefully leading up to good performance in the next World's, dropping out 40+, 50+ or even 60+ ( we are all getting older) in favour of more restrictive classes seems a bit counterproductive, especially as these classes cannot by their very nature retain their crews as they gain experience, win medals etc.
Another factor that can help with giving traveling crews plenty of racing and getting as many categories as possible is keeping races short. A 1km course can be raced in well under 10 minutes, give close, exciting and fair racing and is easy to set up and adjudicate. Lesser distances can be just as fun and challenging where clubs are limited by space but longer races around single buoys inevitably turn into a procession in line after the turn and rigging individual buoys for each boat as in the Worlds is a big ask for most clubs.
No doubt many of you out there have your own views on this subject or if holding regattas this year would like to get some idea of what members would like to see on offer. I was unable to attend the seminar at Loch Insh and there was probably a lot of discussion there, so anyone who attended could let us know what came out of it.
With new categories introduced last year we now have 10 categories with Women's, men's and mixed races in each category, giving Regatta organisers a bewildering choice of 30 races to whittle down to a manageable number.
Current categories are open, 40+, 50+, 60+, U17, U19, New club, Novice, Fresher, Intermediate.
My first thought would be that the New Club, Novice, fresher and intermediate classes could be run as part of the other races with honours going to the overall winner and also the highest placed New Club, Novice boat etc. This could reduce the number of races required but may mean that in established clubs with large membership novices etc do not get a race at all. With the growing number of clubs and boats, Regattas open to New clubs, novice etc only would perhaps solve this and give new crews more racing and closer racing.
In view of the fact that teams are formed with the older categories in mind, hopefully leading up to good performance in the next World's, dropping out 40+, 50+ or even 60+ ( we are all getting older) in favour of more restrictive classes seems a bit counterproductive, especially as these classes cannot by their very nature retain their crews as they gain experience, win medals etc.
Another factor that can help with giving traveling crews plenty of racing and getting as many categories as possible is keeping races short. A 1km course can be raced in well under 10 minutes, give close, exciting and fair racing and is easy to set up and adjudicate. Lesser distances can be just as fun and challenging where clubs are limited by space but longer races around single buoys inevitably turn into a procession in line after the turn and rigging individual buoys for each boat as in the Worlds is a big ask for most clubs.
No doubt many of you out there have your own views on this subject or if holding regattas this year would like to get some idea of what members would like to see on offer. I was unable to attend the seminar at Loch Insh and there was probably a lot of discussion there, so anyone who attended could let us know what came out of it.
