West Highland Yachting Week

30th July to 6th August 2010

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One-year CYCA handicaps at 50% fee

With West Highland Yachting Week coming ever closer, the Clyde Yacht Clubs' Association is announcing a new initiative to try to encourage greater participation by owners new to racing, and by owners from other parts of the UK. The Association is offering "One Year Handicaps" for 50% of the normal fee, with an option at the end of the season to pay the second 50% and convert to a normal full certificate.

"We are keen to minimise any hurdles discouraging people from racing," says CYCA Hon Secretary Donald McLaren, "and particularly for visitors from Ireland and further afield WHYW may be the only time they race under our system." The new arrangement will also allow handicaps to be issued against non-standard sail numbers. "With two caveats", says Donald. "First, use of a non-standard number, such as a Builder's Number, must be approved by the Race Committee for the event or events being entered. It is amazing how often the same number can appear, and duplicate numerals can be very confusing. Secondly, the full certificate will only be provided, on payment of the second 50%, against a fully-compliant number. We are not going to keep non-compliant numbers on our database for longer than a few months."

At current rates, this will involve a payment of just £25 to the CYCA initially, rather than the full whack of at least £70 for both a handicap and a C-suffix number. "We feel this is fully in line with the feedback we received in our Owners' Survey last year," says McLaren, "and although we are fully satisfied with our re-balancing of fees between owners and clubs, which lay in part behind the increase to £50 for a new handicap, we are keen to do anything we can to remove obstacles to greater participation."

In a further movement towards greater flexibility, 'Secondary Handicap Certificates' will now be made available for just £5, the established fee for a replacement certificate. "We have to move with the times here," says Donald. "The use of headsail furling gear has become ever more common, as is the ease with which owners can switch from full racing mode to using a drum." The furling headsail allowance will be the ONLY one which can be switched on in the Secondary Certificate. And the declaration which owners must sign on their certificates will make it clear that only one certificate, one handicap, and one boat configuration can be used in any race or series of races.

Further details can be obtained from the CYCA website www.cyca-online.org.uk or by contacting the office 01436-821234 or office@cyca-online.org.uk.