At most clubs here they race every Saturday afternoon and for the cats (all cats) they would generally have three starts, one for cats greater than 16' up to 18' in length, one for 18' and over in length and one for cats less than 16' long.
The bigger cats start first, the 16' to less than 18' start second and the less than 16' start third, this tends to keep the different starts separate around the course due to the difference in relative boat speed. As it is regular club racing every sailor has his own club handicap which is corrected after every race that he sails. If any particular class require that they hold their class "state heats" at the club in conjunction with the normal club racing they may be accorded their own start (if their numbers warrant it) for which they are recorded "across the line"
We also have regular regattas sailed at different clubs throughout the entire year, generally on a Sunday (and public holidays and Wednesday night twilight sailing). At these regattas the format is very similar with the exception of the "club handicapping". There are usually the same three break-ups of the different sized cats starting similarly with the fastest boats starting first. but the results are generally calculated using the individual established class yardsticks to ascertain the overall placing’s. Once again there are at times at regattas where a class require that they sail their state championship heat during that regatta, for which they may be afforded their own start (once again number dependant)
Each of these three "divisions" race only within their division for placing honours, and at times, to ensure that no division should be "back on the beach "ages" before the slowest division, the three divisions will all sail the same course but the fastest cat division will sail three or four more "legs" than the slowest while the intermediate (on speed) cats may sail two or three extra legs. This is done to ensure that there is the greatest likelihood that all sailors will be out of the showers and Belly up to the bar" together - good for the camaraderie of the sailors and good for the beer money" for the club. There is the variation to this three division break-up for certain "specific" regattas where the break-ups may be something like -all boats with a yardstick 82 and less form the fastest division, boats with a yardstick between 83 and 89 form division two, and all boats with a yardstick 90 and over form division three
The yacht clubs will listen to the class representatives concerning racing formats, but the final way in which all races and regattas are organised and run are, almost totally in the hands of the clubs and this organization is something which all the classes and individual sailors seem to find more than satisfactory, safe, organised and fun.
After all, here, the clubs supply the launching sites, tractors to put boats on and off the beach, full club facilities, with showers, change rooms, dining rooms, and full bar service, there are experienced club “rescue boats on the water at each and every sailing event, there is an experienced bridge crew in the club tower watching over the entire race course at all times, and there is radio contact between the bridge crew and the rescue boats. With all that sort of investment into “the sport” it is only fair that the clubs have the final say as to how any event will be run. And it works.
