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Post by gfatula on Apr 12, 2015 5:08:17 GMT -5
It is nice to see another canoe racing season has begun. As I look at the results of the St. George race I am confused by some of the racing class designations. They seem to change and proliferate. The old S, M, and L classes are long gone.
Would it make sense to try to "standardize" classes again? Or a clear "legend" that explains each class would be helpful even if there is no "standard". Classes seem to vary from race to race sometimes. "New" classes show up from time to time. Some races have set their own classes. Without a "standard" or a clear definition it is hard to anticipate which boat to paddle or which class you belong in until you show up for the race.
It would be helpful if race announcements and results explained the classifications. Are the ACA Formula 16 and Formula 14 the basis of the classes any more?
Thanks for any suggestions.
George
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Post by cdalton on Apr 12, 2015 6:55:29 GMT -5
It is a bit chaotic, although I think for the most part it works out. The important thing is that the classes support meaningful competition -- i.e., that you don't get a lot of classes with one boat or thirty boats. That's a different optimization for each race, since they all attract different sets of paddlers.
My understanding is that for canoes, "Rec" means ACA Formula 16 and "Racing" means Formula 14. However, there is usually some slack -- 164's and Rendezvous may be 15.9%ish but they're plastic and in a fun race (not the Nationals, etc.) they're OK as Rec.
[Not to threadjack but on the St Geo yesterday there were five of us in OC1Rec that finished within 51 seconds of each other -- that was a good class for the day!]
I do think it's a good thing when race directors tell you ahead of time what the classes will be, since it can influence what kind of a boat you bring. There was one recent race where the long kayaks got thrown in with the war canoes (the "things that go really fast" class), and those K1's probably would have preferred to race shorter boats against other K1's.
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Post by gfatula on Apr 12, 2015 9:50:03 GMT -5
No doubt, the class structure should support meaningful competition. I guess what confused me a little was how classes were determined as listed in the results of yesterday's race. (I am not really complaining.) If it doesn't say rec it is racing. There are a medium (RM) and a short (RS) racing class? Also a woman's racing class? I suppose dropping "racing" off the OC1 would be consistent? I think I have figured out that there were 3 short boats in the racing class. Time to repair my old Sawyer Canadian. Glad to see the short class lives. If that is what the results show?
Hoping to join you soon.
George
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Post by cdalton on Apr 12, 2015 13:19:49 GMT -5
It is a bit confusing. Some places racing is explicit (like the 6 boats in "OC1 Racing") and others it's implicit (3 boats in "OC2 Mix"). As you say, the thumb rule is if it doesn't say rec it's racing. However, I think just "R" means Rec, so "OC2RM" and OC2RS are Rec-Medium and Rec-Short.
See you on the river!
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Post by clayton on Apr 13, 2015 20:15:22 GMT -5
If you hanker to race the short race class bring your short race boat to the Marsh Stream WW race this Sunday.
Race Director Bill Deighan firmly believes in keeping the short race class. Sadly, few boats show up and enter.
The short Rec class has more participants.......
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Post by gfatula on Apr 14, 2015 4:31:28 GMT -5
Thanks Clayton and Bill. One of my "veteran" short boats, a Sawyer Canadian, is in need of some RX. After wrapping it around a bridge on the Sou 30 years ago, it has lived in the barn. It is on my list to repair but won't be ready this season. Glad the "short" class survives. It is a worthy racing class. It does take some "extra" effort (read skill) to negotiate a 16' 6" rockerless boat through difficult ww. It can be faster than a "medium boat" if a lot of turning is required. Let's bring the rockerless boats back. Last time we were at Webb's in the Forks a couple of years ago. our Sawyer Charger was a "curiosity" among all the poly bananas piled up in camp sites by the visiting crowds. "You paddle that?" Ha!
Perhaps listing the available classes in race announcements will help people decide to bring a short boat to race. Not as important to me to win my class any more. I do enjoy making the boat perform. We will just enter the "racing" class and enjoy the paddle if no short class is available. We will challenge a lot of medium boats in the process. George Walsh designed a great little boat with the Canadian.
The short rec paddlers turn in some impressive times. The trend set by the Westfield seems to be the new normal.
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