International Ranking Proposals

By Pietro Fantoni – SCIRA Vice Commodore

A couple of weeks ago I presented the Promotion Committee, with the promise to keep you updated on the work it is doing. I have explained the operation and the division into sub-committees. One of them—the sub committee called “Special Projects: International Ranking” —has had several days of discussions, exchanging countless emails. The International Ranking will be called Snipe Super Series (SSS) and we would like to test it as early as this year. It will be just a test to understand the operation and to make adjustments.

(Photo courtesy of Matias Capizzano)

…

At the moment there are still two possible ranking methods. The full descriptions (with tables and charts) of both options are attached.

Summarizing, we can say that both options are based on the same stated goals:

• to promote the Snipe Class
• to promote wide participation at regattas in every SCIRA country and continent
• to allow an appropriate evaluation of the technical skills of both skippers and crew members
• to represent a simple and attractive tool of communication
• to promote the popular regattas to sailors, the general public and the media
• to promote SCIRA membership

Both proposals have identical rules regarding:

– Validity: The SSS Ranking is a continuous classification that is updated each week and is not reset at the start of each year. Previous regattas will be replaced by current ones of the same type (i.e. last year’s National Championship results will be replaced by this year’s; last year World Championship will be repaced by the Open Europeans or WH&O). Regattas that took place more than 12 months ago will be dropped from the ranking.

– The SSS Ranking produces only one Ranking with no distinction between skippers and crews. On December 31 the best Snipe Sailor will be named Snipe Super Series Champion.

– All skippers and crews shall be SCIRA members and comply with SCIRA rules and regulations.

Now the differences!

Proposal 1

This system is similar to the ATP ranking in tennis or to the Star Sailors League in sailing (which was a great starting point).

There are 6 regatta categories. The table below indicates the number of SSS points allocated to the winner of each competition category (From 10 to 4000).

SSS Points by Regatta Category:

Cat. 1	4000	– World Championship (odd years); – European Championship and – Western Hemisphere & Orient (even years)	Even if a skipper or a crew attends 2 regattas, only one of these regattas will be included in the SSS	The 6 highest valid totals
Cat. 2	2000	– Pan American Games, – “SSS 2000 regattas”, – World Championships limited by gender or age (i.e. Master Worlds, Junior Worlds, Women’s Championship) regardless of fleet size, – plus all regattas with 40 boats or more	Classified regattas regardless of fleet size, plus all regattas with 40 boats or more
Cat. 3	750	– All National Championships with less than 40 boats	If a National Championship has 40 boats or more it will be scored as a cat. 2)
Cat. 4	250	– Regattas with 30-39 boats
Cat. 5	100	– Regattas with 10-29 boats		All valid totals
Cat. 6	10	– Regattas with 3-9 boats

Scores are allocated according to a hyperbola.

 

Proposal 2

The regattas included in the SSS are:

• Worlds Championships or Continental Championships (depending on the year)
• National Championships
• 4 regattas selected by each country through the National Secretary

Coefficients (or bonus points) are applied considering the following tables

POINTS TABLE:

 

 

The coefficients applied to each athlete may be a combination of them.

For instance,
Master Main Regatta: the Bonus Coefficient will be 0,9 x 1,3 = 1,17.
Master Main Regatta & OC athlete: 0,9 x 1,3 x 1,1 = 1,287.
It may occur that, for the same Regatta, different athletes will have different bonus coefficients.

Regarding the 4 regattas chosen by each National Secretaries each year, here’s an example:
Regattas: A, B, C & D (+ National Championship)
Regatta A: 10 entries (First gets 120 pts, second 119, third 118, etc up to tenth)
Regatta B: 45 entries (This regatta, according to the number of entries automatically is considered Main Regatta; first gets 120×1,3; second 119×1,3; etc).

____________________________________________________

The first proposal (made by me and supported by Kathleen Tocke and Luis Soubie) includes local regattas, obviously with lower scores, while international regattas receive high scores (especially for the top positions). It ensures that the best and most consistent performing sailors are ranked highest, but it rewards competing at both a local and international level.

The second proposal (written by Cesar Travado and Ivo Gattulli and supported by Reino Sounsilta) scores a more limited number of races (World Championship, Continental Championships, National Championships and 4 races per nation). The main goal is to ensure that the winner be an athlete that attends a lot of regattas (as skipper or crew) during the year, even if he/she is not well known.

____________________________________________________

And you, what do you think? Please let us know your opinion

Read the detailed descriptions of both proposals

Second Proposal
First Proposal