For comps that are wanting to use ability divisions, maybe base them on 2 Second Peak PBs? Maybe in increments of 10 knots? While not perfect, this would be an attempt to cater for all ages, sexes and abilities.
For example,
- a comp comprising experienced adults: maybe only two divisions of <30 knots and "open".
- a comp for all ages: maybe divisions of <10, <20, <30 knots and "open".
The PBs used could be those at the start of the comp. Someone would need to go through the list of entrants prior to the start of the comp and note the 2 Second Peak PBs for the entrants.
It's great to see so many people keen on these types of comps.. Just so easy to organise and do!
A couple of things that came to my mind while reading were...
A handicap system may work but there is always someone or people being disadvantaged by it.
I don't think the 2sec pb idea would work Tim.... As you have a lot of Tassie windsurfers traveling all over the state/Aus.. And I will say myself and others, do chase these faster flat water spots.. There for increasing our pb's and going and doing the best we can...
If people want some type of handicap system....The venue it self needs to be taking into consideration, not the person's pb speeds. Maybe the 2sec idea could work if it is their best 2sec they have achieved at that venue?? As they may never come near their best overall pb's at that venue...
It is a hard topic to nut out, but by going from Kaleb's previous GPS5 comp, it was a success and at the moment. I don't think we should make it any more complicated as it worked/works well
Just look at all the awesome PB's achieved just from running the GPS5 comp!! As Kazza did on the second day and smashed out a PB for example... As it stands, the comp looks to be pushing people, to get out there and aiming/achieving pb's
The ability by ALL.... Yes I said ALL! Tasmanian windsurfers, is at a very very high standard. GO TASSIE
In my opinion wearing a GPS is all about improving your own sailing, beating your own PB's, bench marking yourself against the people that you are sailing with at the time and having fun.
Did I say fun
I've setup a handicap system for Fun-Gun-Fights that we've used up here since this topic started.
Note - this is for fun gunfights not in any way similar to GPS5 or GPTSC.
I've created an easy to use spreadsheet - once a sailor uploads their GPS results to GPTSC, I copy and paste the line from GPSTC for each entrant and the spreadsheet does the rest.
For those that want to know more - read on...
Handicaps are worked out similar to Golf.
Last 5 'cards' (I might change to 10 and drop 2 of your choice yet), but for now, average of those 5 = your handicap per category. (this requires 15mins of work to setup once, and needs maintaining each time an entrant uploads a new "card" to GPSTC - but with currently only the 4 of us, I can deal with that).
Your points are worked out for each category - eg. "2sec Category" = Todays speed "26.39"/ handicap "32.458" = "0.813" which is a decimal percentage.
Creating a percentages normalises each category into a meaningful 'performance' as a base - not just adding up knots you did in each Category.
Then because each category "points" is an actual result, they are added together to form your final PointScore... blah blah then ranked automatically.
Seems to work very very well, and puts all on level footing. Makes for lots of fun, instead of just highlighting rankings.
Happy to share the spreadsheet if anyone wants to use it - but you have to promise not to take it too seriously. I'd like to think this will encourage lots more people to get a GPS and join in - where they can sail, improve and compete, and have fun.
EDIT: I should say full kudos to the GPS5 setup guys (Kaleb) - well done, it has it's place much more bigtime than what I've put together above - dunno where, but sure does. The results that you generated were amazing!
Good to see the discussion continue, but I'm not sure why we need to try and make it complicated with handicapping and different systems? This is rewarding effort at 'every' level and everyone can and should push themselves to move up the rankings, whether this be 110th or 10th. The key thing here is that we all sail in a variety of conditions and every now and again we get a good set of conditions and when this happens some may want to push their limits by going for a GPS5. This is not for everyday sailing and 'crap' sails. Days when someone "went out for 10 minutes and the wind died" should not effect the days when "the wind was awesome and stayed in all day". One days sailing should not effect another, or we'll see people not posting bad sessions.
I think you need to have a system that is robust and I think the GPS5 will deliver this. This is not about 'every time you sail', this is about a few 'once-a-month' efforts to go for it and hopefully improve your teams GPSTC points. Over time this format should see the ability of sailors competing in this format improve, as you need to concentrate on more than just 'sailing' (doing a 1hr is pretty intense). As said before, this is not for everyone, but provides a little more incentive for those using GPS's to push their own limits and personal performance.
If we think the format is good, then we might see it go national, but if we try and complicate it I think everyone will have an excuse for why they didn't do well and it will quickly lose flavour... 
Also, we were initially trying to set up a competition format for Tassie sailors, but if the format itself goes National then this is a great way for us (and anyone) to draw our competition results from the results already calculated on the GPSTC site. We also get to record our 'training' days, when the wind is up, but there is no event. 
Well said Dave. There is no doubt that the GPS5 will improve your sailing and its great fun
But its also not for everyone
Select to expand quoteGestalt said..
you could also use divisions. the top 20 in one division and the rest in another division. that gives double encouragement as the guys in the lower div aim to get into the higher division as well as beating those around them
Ha ha, be lucky to get 20 people competing on the day, remember we're a little freezing cold state (as all the mainlanders say) so our windsurfing population isn't as big as some states on the mainland.
Wow GPS comps are going to be the thing for the future for windsurfing. I can see big things are going to happen slowly with this concept.
I love technology
On a slightly different note:
could the GPS5 system be used to develop a second Tassie Spot Record List?
It would be a little difficult to establish at first (people would have to go through their own histories and nominate one of their sessions for a record) but the resulting list would provide a more rounded summary of the 'best' slalom spots in the state.
Definitely, good idea. Having both should provide great insight into the type of conditions you might expect on a good day.
It will be interesting to see how this format will change the boards and sails people use or buy in the future. less specialised and more all-round or could we be holding bigger sail up to keep going in the one hours???
Good support from Burrum Heads MOB
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/Queensland/GPS-Multi-Category-Competition/
*They run a very successful handicap system, which is similar to our FunGunFight too - great to see - www.facebook.com/groups/584746731548783/
