Making Sense Of Offshore Racing’s Alphabet Soup

[Speed on the Water]

A bit of clarity in what can seem like a sea of confusion, https://www.speedonthewater.com/maki...alphabet-soup/

[Ratickle]

That was the clear version?

[MOBILEMERCMAN]

Whats clear to me is not all Championship titles are earned equally. Some are hard fought while others are handed out.

[john acosta]

CCF .

[Ratickle]

Whats clear to me is not all Championship titles are earned equally. Some are hard fought while others are handed out.

Not sure how to fix that. To me it sucks most at the World's when there is only one boat in the class, or when competitors move up in the GPS classes to run in a class where there are no boats that show up in that class so they are guaranteed a World Championship. Then, in both cases, when you look at the lap times their laps times are slower than lower classes.

Just doesn't seem right. I think that if there aren't two boats, then too bad. No Championship.

But then it's hard to penalize a team for others not showing up in some of the situations.

[MOBILEMERCMAN]

Real racers race someone. They don't just go to the awards for cheer.

[john acosta]

Real racers race someone. They don't just go to the awards for cheer.

Thats it in a nutshell.

[Ratickle]

No easy answer to this one. The worst is when somebody just builds a boat that has no class, so they make a brand-new class, that's not even in the rulebook, for them to go win as the only boat. That one does drive me nuts.

How the hell do you just make-up a class because somebody builds a boat that doesn't fit in any of the existing classes, or is not competitive in any of the existing classes?

[MOBILEMERCMAN]

That's easy.
Whenever only one boat exists in any class that class becomes an exhibition class and no awards or titles will be given.

[MOBILEMERCMAN]

Entry fee is still expected to be included in the event. As a thanks for their participation an inflatable Event beach ball or pool floaty will be received.

[Ratickle]

That's a bit rough.

Maybe a plastic exhibition participation trophy at least?

[MOBILEMERCMAN]

No, No trophies for trophy collectors.

An argument can be made of fraud. A boat rides in circles alone, wins a world championship, the team embellishes uniforms, manufactures print Championship marketing material. Flags are displayed at boat shows, Owners adorn their equipment with Championship colors. Boats are sold and consumers are misled. More over teams and individuals that rightfully earned a championship are belittled.

Sad from start to finish.

[Ratickle]

I've never thought of it with that type of downstream repercussions. You're right, makes it even more sad.

[Ratickle]

And this year may have been the worst ever for those types of activities.

[MOBILEMERCMAN]

Although not directly connected to racing more misrepresentation and maybe confusion exists with manufactures.
UIM the senior governing racing body rightfully measures the length of a boat from the top of the transom to the tip of the bow. The swim platform and bussel is not part of the length of the boat.
The same does not hold true in pleasure boat manufacturing. Many have witnessed many examples over time where a boat gets an new molded in platform and the boat length grows. It happened across the entire range of boats. 2 and 3 feet added to the advertised length of the boat. The bigger the the boat the more to charge for and more to boast about.
Recently bussels appear on many boats. They are getting longer and longer. All adding to the advertised length of the boat.
So to be clear not all 36 or 40 foot boats measure the same. Not all boats run or ride equally well. Most of all not all boats with a pair of a given engine run the same speed.

[Ratickle]

You mean, as an example:

Nigel Hook and Jay Johnson announced they have purchased a Mystic Powerboats C5000 catamaran—the former green and silver canopied cat known as Envy and owned by New Yorker Chris Cox, who took delivery of the 52-footer in early 2014

Versus:

"Powered by twin Mercury Racing 1550/1350 engines, the boat, which has a Union Internationale Motonautique length of 45 feet"

Ah, what's a measly seven (7) feet?

[MOBILEMERCMAN]

That is an example. However, their are many pleasure models from other manufacturers as well.

Maybe a transom needs to be defined. A flat surface at stern of boat where propulsion systems are mounted. Steering mounts not included.

[MOBILEMERCMAN]

Just acknowledging confusion. It really is difficult to make heads or tails of things anymore.

Not all boats are measured the same and some championships are won by attending without competition.

[john acosta]

No matter what ( ABC,s ) are claiming victory as to which one is best,
none are even close to a world class racing organization.

jersey boys are ok as the east coast part of things.

but really no one has a handle on the future
,what ever is in store.i hope it is simple in its design.