>>How many ratings systems are currently in use by beach cats, and where is each used?

-1- Texel rating : Europe, Asia, caribian althought it is continiously in conflict with ISAF.
-2- ISAF rating (SCHRS) : Europe and caribian. Continiously in conflict with Texel. Its stable base is France
-3- VYC rating (yardstick) : Australia and some asian regions. This is just one of a few systems in Australia but arguably the most dominant
-4- Portsmouth (yardstick ; US version diffes from UK version) : US and UK not much else.
-5- Than a few local systems that are somewhat related to other systems.


>>For instance, is the Texel system used throughout Europe?

No, UK is swinging between ISAF and Texel, France is ISAF and Texel is mainly oriented in North Europe.


>>Is the Portsmouth system used anywhere besides North America?

Yes, IN DIFFERENT FORMS is has sister systems in Australia, UK and some local regions, However these are not compatible with eachother. Often these system use a TEXEL or ISAF system to calculate a yardstick for a new or rare boats because they have no other means to give a relatively good starting point,

>>What is used in Australia? South Africa? The Orient? The Caribbean?

In order : VYC (dominant but one among several), transitioned the ISAF, Texel/ISAF and some surviving local yardsticks, Texel/ISAF.


>>>Also, is there currently enough interaction (racingwise) among these various parts of the world to make it necessary or advisable to have the same rating system for cats worldwide?


The catamarans scene is small enough to make it wise not to waste volunteer efforts in maintaining several different system that appear to produce largely the same ratio's between the various designs. I refer to Sam Evans comparisons of a while back. he showed how little difference there was between the texel system and the Portsmouth system in ratings.

What is the point of making it more difficult to oneself then is necessary ?

Also grouping the world into one systems allows the committee to use alot more data and the quickly investigate new boat where ever they are designed and launched. Right now a new design that has been sailing in Europe for years can still cause troubles in the USA when it jumps the atlantic.

You tell me , what is the advantage of having several if not many different uncompatible systems.

You eventually end up creating conflicts as found in the Caribian regatta's where US I-20's are amazed to be sailing of a different rating. I understand there were other reasons for this conflict but having a single system certainly makes it clear of what your getting into well in advance.

In additions I understand that there are several groups that would like to do nothing more then cocooning themselfs up in their own little OD classes and local catamaran organisations but is this decision made out of emotion or because such a thing is really the smart thing to do ?

I say lets make a impact and solve many issues in one strike. Sure even the new system will have its quirks, however the idea is to have less of them when compared to others and to make it simplier for everybody to use such a system.

I'm not allowed to say this but a measurement rating system does also a good job of keeping track on measurements and builder claims. Arguably a measurer based system can not survive in the US because of the localized cat sailing scene there and the large distances. Why not use the unique situation in Europe where this is possible to benefit the US ?


>>Would it be easier to compare relative boat performance, as reported from different regions and continents, if we knew they were all using the same rating system?


Most definately yes.

One good example, The Taipan 4.9 would immedaitely have had the right rating in 2001. Why because its ratio to the F18's would have been known much sooner because of the race data available.

In principle all rating system work to some extend, there is nothing wrong there. The question is wether we can get an even beter system is we combine the efforts of all committee to the betterment of one system. I think the answer to that is a simple one.

Compare it to this. The metric system to the Imperial system. There is a reason why modern American car use the metric system and standardisation. It is just a shot load easier when interacting with the wider world when everybody speaks the same language. Was the imperial system bad ? No, but there were just more advantages to using the metric system.

Actually the metric system is a construct as well. Key points here were the ease of calculations in a decimal system over a 12 inches in a foot : 3 feet in a yard; 1750 yards in a mile system. The fact that 1kg is closely approximated by a liter of water and the fact that it is scientifically alot easier to define a force and derive a weight from that than to define a weight and derive a force from it (as is the US system).

A similar thing is smart, wise and attractive in the catamaran sailing scene.

Wouter