Early Finish für die Open-Disziplin

[Rainer]

Hallo zusammen,

hier das dritte Thema zur Diskussion bzw Information: Die Möglichkeit des Early Finish in der Open Disziplin. Bei den Foilern kommt es zunehmend, wie bei allen Foiling Klassen, zu langen Wartezeiten, Überrundungen und auch (zu) viele DNF Einträgen, daher schlagen wir vor, das Gate für überrundete Segler zum Ziel zu erklären, wenn der erste Segler das reguläre Ziel erreicht hat. Hierdurch sollten im Durchschnitt ca. 15 min Wartezeit pro Rennen eingespart werden, was in einem zusätzlichen Rennen pro Tag enden könnte. Ich dieses Konzept möchten wir zu den NL-GER-Open in Malcesine testen. Eure Meinung dazu?

Early Finish Concept to improve race efficiency in the Open discipline

Punta Ala was a true highlight in many respects—not least thanks to the record participation of 170 sailors (86 in the Classic Class and 84 in the Open Class). Following a few statistical insights, particularly regarding race duration and wait times in the seven races of the – Open - Class.
The regatta took place in fairly unpredictable weather, as a storm front from Spain swept across Tuscany during regatta week. This forced us to use the entire wind range for seven out of the planned twelve races. Whenever there was sailable wind, we saw a bit of everything: mixed conditions, with waves ranging from high to long. Besides three races in moderate wind conditions, we also faced four quite challenging races: two light-wind races that just barely allowed for trapezing and foiling, and two intense high-wind races, sometimes at the wind limit—one on the first day, and the other on the last day with a small wind eddy on the horizon.
Perhaps this is also why the two new world champions won so decisively. In the Foiling Class, Kuba Surowiec (POL) scored only half as many points after seven races as the impressively skilled runner-up, Darren Bundock (AUS).
But even further down the ranks, the gaps were often significant. In many races, the boats showed large speed disparities, leading to numerous overlaps and some DNF entries. On average, more than 30 of the roughly 80 sailors were lapped—sometimes between 40 and 50. And it wasn't only the last places affected; some top-10 and top-20 sailors also got caught in the pack. Naturally, in a fleet this large, getting a good start is crucial to avoid falling into the competition's wind shadow. Surprisingly, though, there were fewer than ten UFD entries.
Despite the generous 30-minute time window for crossing the finish line (that's 66% of the 45-minute target time), an average of 10 sailors per race were marked as DNF, with that number climbing above 20 under more difficult foiling conditions. Incidentally, the first sailor to finish averaged about 40 minutes per race. The last sailors took around 30+ minutes longer to reach the start boat again.

Based on the experience we made at the last World Cups and the Meta Sail data form Punta Ala I recommend an "Early Finish" concept in the Open Class. This could save around 15–20 minutes per race and it would avoid most of the DNF entries.
The saved time could allow for an additional race per day. For the top sailors, the wait time would be cut roughly in half, and for the sailors further back, an extra race might provide similar overall rounds, potentially adding more scoring opportunities.
Major clubs are familiar with "Early Finish" concepts, as other foiling classes have practiced them for years. So, there wouldn’t be much resistance, if we decide to adopt it. What might this look like in practice? After the first sailor has finished, a flag is raised at the gate, and a sound signal is given—this means no more rounds, and all sailors passing through the gate must go directly to the finish (as the Moth class, for example, does).
Alternatively and this is our proposal, we could use the gate as a second finish for the lapped sailors, - this would have the advantage of immediately identifying who has been lapped.

Tab 1: proxy of the Meta Sail Data

Proposed decision with request for approval (y/n):
1.1. Test of the "Early Finish“ concept (s. 1.2.) in the - Open - class at three major events starting in 2026. The decision on a permanent implementation in the Competition Rules for the Open discipline is made by the IACA Committee and the presidents of the NA afterwards.
1.2. When the first boat has crossed the finish line, the committee boat shall sound a long signal and display a chequered flag at the leeward gate, to indicate that the gate is now a finish line for those boats that have been lapped. Boats that are on the same lap as the leader will complete the course and finish at the original finish line and shall avoid the gate on the way to the finish line. This flag should be large, to make it easy to see for the approaching boats. A similar flag could also possibly be displayed at the windward mark.

[Thorsten-A-Cat]

Hi,
grundsätzlich ist das eine feine Idee. Dazu müsste die Rennleitung aber die Runden jedes einzelnen Seglers zählen, was nochmals schwieriger werden könnte mit dem Luv- Gate, da nicht jeder Segler immer die selbe Tonne runden wird.

Hoher Kontrollaufand zu hoher Wahrscheinlichkeit das in der Reihenfolge was durcheinander läuft.

VG,
Thorsten

[FrankenKai]

Hi,
finde ich gut.
Bisher habe ich aus Anstand keine 3. runde gesegelt wenn die ersten ihre schon beendet hatten.
Wenn ich so noch ein Ergebnis und kein DNF in der Wertung hätte fände ich das schon tröstlich .

Nur warum das Gate zur Ziellienie machen?
Wenn die ersten die 3. Runde durch haben liegt die Zielliene doch schon.
Eine deutliche Signalisierung ist natürlich wichtig.

Gruß
Kai

[Rainer]

Hallo,

das Lee-Gate soll zur Ziellinie werden, damit die Boote mit drei Runden (Großteil geht durchs reguläre Ziel) von den Booten mit zwei Runden augenscheinlich sofort separiert werden. Nur im Einzelfall werden Segler mit nur einer Runde durch das Lee-Gate fahren, was ohne großes Rundenzählen bemerkt werden sollte. Die Kurs- und Rundenüberwachung erfolgt dann, wie heute auch, durch die benachbarten Boote.

WASP und Motten machen es anders, da fahren alle durch das eine Ziel, allerdings werden dann die Runden erfasst, was schon langweilige Arbeit ist, oder alternativ heben die überrundeten Segler bei der Zieleinfahrt den Arm. Das funktioniert letztlich auch, es kommt aber hin und wieder zur Korrekturen… Diese Version wäre insbesondere interessant, wenn wir eine GPS-Rundenerfassung hätten, zB alle nutzen Vakaros…

Beide Varianten sind machbar, das ist dann auch ein wenig Geschmacksache der Wettfahrtleitung, da bei der von uns vorgeschlagenen Variante die Crew vom Pin-Ende den Zieldurchgang am Lee-Gate zusätzlich erfassen muss/darf.

R.