Do you mean you have to count every DNS (Did Not Start)? That would be most unfair in my view. For example, if there are twenty races and ten discards and someone turns up to ten of them and wins them all they would have to discard all their wins and count all their DNS scores. Is that right?
Andy, I think what you propose on discards is making one long series into 4 short ones. Discarding worst results should be a dynamic process covering the whole series.
There are clubs around the country who run racing regularly. I wonder what they do? I am surprised we haven't seen anyone popping up here with a ready made solution.
Greg
I was actually working from experience as a Race Officer for events as varied as Tornado World Championships (the 20' catamaran used at Olympics) and NZ National One metre champs.
Did not start in a series means that you are actually there for an event, but for some reason could not start, so you get the number present that day +1. That means you make an attempt to get over the start line is advantageous over those who stay on shore. It is encumbant on the race officer to ensure that they are not pushing people onto the water when the conditions are unwise, at least for where you are endangering people as in full size.
Did not attend, means exactly that.
Every series I have ever been involved with whether in full size sailing (which I did for over 45 years) or limited model yachts, has had one discard after either 4 or 5 races. 1 every 2 would be a joke.
Another way would be to treat each event as a regatta on it's own, points in the same way, 1 discard if you get to 5 races. So you then have a winner for the weekend/day with points down to the lowest place. Everyone else in the series scores points for that number plus ? As each event is a regatta of it's own, that part is easy. A series in which I took part for several years in Sandyachting here in the UK then applied a "high points" for the series. 10 points for the first, 8 for second, 7,6,5,4,3,2,1. Every attendee got at least 1. Non attendees got 0. Discard for the series was after 7 events.
I too agree that putting the discards in place as you have suggested splitting them would make a small set of "separate" events.
I hope that makes sense.