HKPN Potential Increase in Performance Penalty Scheme
Written by Robert Berkley
Overview
HKPN’s are derived from the elapsed times of races that have already been sailed. Any change to a yacht that will enhance her potential performance on the water will give a yacht an unfair advantage unless her HKPN is adjusted before she races. The removal of this unfair advantage is the sole reason for introducing the HKPN Potential Increase in Performance Penalty Scheme (HKPN PIPPS).
Scope
HKPN PIPPS is applicable to races with results based solely on HKPN. HKPN PIPPS is designed for single races and regattas and not for race series which have HKPN updates as the series progresses. HKPN PIPPS will only apply when a club’s sailing instructions (SI’s) declare that the scheme will be used. Organising authorities need only include a statement in their SI’s such as “HKPN PIPPS shall apply to the HKPN division” to declare it’s use.
All yachts racing under HKPN are encouraged to declare to the HKPN Ratings Committee any performance enhancing changes to their yacht throughout the racing year.
The Rules
When the HKPN PIPPS is used, the following performance enhancing changes to a yacht must be declared before racing unless used for a yacht’s last 4 races:
- New or improved Mainsail.
- New or improved Foresail.
- New or improved Spinnaker.
- Replacement of a fixed blade propeller with a folding propeller.
- Significant increase in capability of a crew.
A boat should declare these changes to a clubs RO/Sail-Comm before racing commences in whichever way individual clubs specify. It is expected that clubs will include in their entry forms or sign-on procedures a declaration stating which increases to a boats performance have been made, if any. For a regatta, HKPN PIPPS-Penalties will apply to all races where potential performance is enhanced.
Significant increase in crew capability includes the use of highly skilled/professional sailors or a change/increase of 30% or more of regular crew with sailors who can significantly enhance a yachts performance.
Changes to a yacht's HKPN, as published on the COA website, will be made in accordance with the HKPN PIPPS-Penalties table below. Race results will be calculated using a yachts HKPN modified by the HKPN PIPPS-Penalties table. This scheme only applies to increases, not decreases, in potential performance. In exceptional cases, the penalty can be waived by Organising Authorities should changes be deemed to make no difference to a yachts performance.
Undeclared Changes
Should a competitor fail to declare potential performance enhancing changes made to their yacht, this can be reported to an Organising Authority by those racing in the HKPN division, by Race Officers or any member of the HKPN Ratings Committee.
On the first two occasions that a yacht fails to declare a potential increase in performance, she will suffer a penalty to their HKPN rating for each race result. The penalty will be the HKPN PIPPS-Penalty multiplied by 1.5 (first time), by 2 (second time).
Should a yacht fail to declare a potential increase in performance for a third time that yacht shall be disqualified.
The HKPN Ratings Committee reserves the right to suspend or revoke an HKPN should a yacht blatantly ignore the principles of HKPN PIPPS.
The HKPN Ratings Committee is the final authority for any unresolved disputes and a decision made by the HKPN Ratings Committee is final and not subject to appeal.
Scenario's
The intent of HKPN PIPPS is simply to afford yacht clubs with a mechanism to keep HKPN racing fair. The following examples highlight areas where the HKPN system, being historic-performance based, can be improved under HKPN PIPPS for individual races and regattas.
- The Single Handed Sailor
Q: I normally race single-handed but want to do a full crew race. How does this affect me? A: Even if you race double handed you would significantly increase the capability of your crew and your crew numbers by more than 30%. Your increase in crew numbers would need to be declared and you would suffer a ratings penalty in accordance with the HKPN PIPPS-Penalties table. - Saving the Racing Sails for the Regatta's
Q: I want to preserve my racing main and fore-sails for the autumn regattas and use my old sails for more regular racing….do I need to declare the change of sails? A: Yes. If your last 4 races have been raced with old Dacron sails and you enter a regatta with a full set of racing sails then you need to declare this change. In this case you would suffer a change of HKPN of approximately 2%. - Upgraded Crew
Q: I have just bought new sails and the sail-maker is joining us for a couple of races. What should I declare?
A: If the sail-maker has sailed with you for the previous 4 races there is no need to declare this….only the declaration for new sails would have to be made. If not, then your yacht is in for a fairly hefty hit as PIPPS-Penalties for enhanced crew capability and new sails are cumulative. - Change of Crew
Q: I have just supplemented my crew with 7 newcomers (over 30%) to my boat. What happens if they don’t actually change the capability of my crew?
A: In this case, make a declaration before the race and state that the changes will not increase your performance. In this case, at the discretion of the Organising Authority, no penalty should be applied. However, should the newcomers significantly increase your performance, a change to your HKPN in accordance with HKPN PIPPS-Penalties will be made. - I Can Beat the System!
Q: This is all too difficult. What if I just ignore this scheme?
A: HKPN PIPPS is designed to encourage fair racing for the majority. With this scheme only being applicable when club SI’s mandate its use and only used for HKPN races (not IRC) the number of occasions where penalties are applied will be few. However, should a yacht be found racing without declaring a change that potentially enhances her performance an extra penalty will be applied to their HKPN for each race result. If a yacht fails to declare changes a third time, she shall be disqualified. Ultimately, a yacht might find her HKPN suspended or revoked. - What Penalty Do I Apply?
If a yacht has an HKPN of 1000 and fails to declare a new/upgraded mainsail and foresail then her HKPN will be adjusted by -10 for the mainsail and -10 for the foresail (see table below). Her HKPN for that race will be 980. No-spinnaker allowances may further adjust this revised HKPN. - The Bottom Line
The HKPN Ratings Committee, on which all clubs have representatives, will be the final authority for HKPN PIPPS and reserves the right to amend the HKPN PIPPS from time to time. It is probable that any decision made by Organising Authorities using HKPN PIPPS will have the total support of the HKPN Ratings Committee.
| Propellor | Main | Foresail | Spinnaker | All Sails | Crew | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HKPN | 1.00% | 1.00% | 1.00% | 1.00% | 3% | 4% |
| 1200 | -12 | -12 | -12 | -12 | -36 | -48 |
| 1190 | -12 | -12 | -12 | -12 | -36 | -48 |
| 1180 | -12 | -12 | -12 | -12 | -35 | -47 |
| 1170 | -12 | -12 | -12 | -12 | -35 | -47 |
| 1160 | -12 | -12 | -12 | -12 | -35 | -46 |
| 1150 | -12 | -12 | -12 | -12 | -35 | -46 |
| 1140 | -11 | -11 | -11 | -11 | -34 | -46 |
| 1130 | -11 | -11 | -11 | -11 | -34 | -45 |
| 1120 | -11 | -11 | -11 | -11 | -34 | -45 |
| 1110 | -11 | -11 | -11 | -11 | -33 | -44 |
| 1100 | -11 | -11 | -11 | -11 | -33 | -44 |
| 1090 | -11 | -11 | -11 | -11 | -33 | -44 |
| 1080 | -11 | -11 | -11 | -11 | -32 | -43 |
| 1070 | -11 | -11 | -11 | -11 | -32 | -43 |
| 1060 | -11 | -11 | -11 | -11 | -32 | -42 |
| 1050 | -11 | -11 | -11 | -11 | -32 | -42 |
| 1040 | -10 | -10 | -10 | -10 | -31 | -42 |
| 1030 | -10 | -10 | -10 | -10 | -31 | -41 |
| 1020 | -10 | -10 | -10 | -10 | -31 | -41 |
| 1010 | -10 | -10 | -10 | -10 | -30 | -40 |
| 1000 | -10 | -10 | -10 | -10 | -30 | -40 |
| 990 | -10 | -10 | -10 | -10 | -30 | -40 |
| 980 | -10 | -10 | -10 | -10 | -29 | -39 |
| 970 | -10 | -10 | -10 | -10 | -29 | -39 |
| 960 | -10 | -10 | -10 | -10 | -29 | -38 |
| 950 | -10 | -10 | -10 | -10 | -29 | -38 |
| 940 | -9 | -9 | -9 | -9 | -28 | -38 |
| 930 | -9 | -9 | -9 | -9 | -28 | -37 |
| 920 | -9 | -9 | -9 | -9 | -28 | -37 |
| 910 | -9 | -9 | -9 | -9 | -27 | -36 |
| 900 | -9 | -9 | -9 | -9 | -27 | -36 |
| 890 | -9 | -9 | -9 | -9 | -27 | -36 |
| 880 | -9 | -9 | -9 | -9 | -26 | -35 |
| 870 | -9 | -9 | -9 | -9 | -26 | -35 |
| 860 | -9 | -9 | -9 | -9 | -26 | -34 |
| 850 | -9 | -9 | -9 | -9 | -26 | -34 |
| 840 | -8 | -8 | -8 | -8 | -25 | -34 |
| 830 | -8 | -8 | -8 | -8 | -25 | -33 |
| 820 | -8 | -8 | -8 | -8 | -25 | -33 |
| 810 | -8 | -8 | -8 | -8 | -24 | -32 |
| 800 | -8 | -8 | -8 | -8 | -24 | -32 |
| 790 | -8 | -8 | -8 | -8 | -24 | -32 |
| 780 | -8 | -8 | -8 | -8 | -23 | -31 |
| 770 | -8 | -8 | -8 | -8 | -23 | -31 |
| 760 | -8 | -8 | -8 | -8 | -23 | -30 |
Changes that Potentially Increase Performance
- Propellor: For a change from a fixed to a folding propeller
- Main: For the use of a new or improved mainsail that has not been used for a yacht's last 4 races.
- Foresail: For the use of a new or improved foresail that has not been used for a yacht's last 4 races.
- Spinnaker: For the use of a new or improved spinnaker that has not been used for a yacht's last 4 races.
- All Sails: For the use of a new mainsail, foresail and spinnaker that has not been used for a yachts last 4 races
- Crew: For a significant increase in crew capability through the use of highly skilled / professional sailors who have not crewed for a yacht’s last 4 races. For an increase in crew numbers of 30% compared to the last 4 races or a change of 30% or more of regular crew with sailors who can significantly enhance a yachts performance compared to the last 4 races.
Should a HKPN lie outside the above table, percentage penalties can be applied. Any non-spinnaker allowance should be made after HKPN PIPPS-Penalties have been applied
Feedback
Please feel free to suggest improvements or areas of HKPN PIPPS that are not totally clear to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . The HKPN Ratings Committee reserves the right to amend HKPN PIPPS from time to time.