Scoring — Long Island Sound Shorthanded Sailing Society

Formula

Race Score =

K

Scaling

×

(

N − P + 1

N

) k

Performance

×

(

D

D0

) α

Distance

×

(

N

N0

) β

Fleet Size

Tap any component to learn more about how it shapes the score

Scaling Constant — K

Makes the leaderboard human-friendly.

K = 100 · Fixed for all races

K	= 100 (scaling constant)

K doesn't change anyone's relative standing — it scales all scores so the numbers are easy to read and compare across the season.

Race winners score ~60–120 pts
Mid-fleet finishes score ~20–40 pts
No decimals, no oddly small season totals
Has zero effect on standings or rankings

Performance Component

Finishing position — the heart of the formula.

k = 1.8 · Optimal curvature

P	= your finishing position (1 = first)
N	= total starters in the scored fleet
k	= 1.8 (performance exponent)

The exponent k = 1.8 amplifies the gap between top finishers and the field — steep enough to reward excellence, but not so steep that one bad race ruins a season.

1st always scores 1.0 on this term
Wins and podiums rewarded far more than mid-fleet
Prevents points farming — must perform, not just show up
Mid-fleet results still contribute meaningfully

Distance Component

Longer races earn more — but not overwhelmingly so.

α = 0.65 · D₀ = 30 nm

D	= published course distance (nautical miles)
D₀	= 30 nm (baseline "normal" local race)
α	= 0.65 (distance exponent)

α = 0.65 is sub-linear: long races matter more, but no single offshore result can decide the Series. Distance weighting is stable regardless of weather-driven elapsed time.

60 nm race ≈ 1.6× a 30 nm race
150 nm race ≈ 3.0× a 30 nm race
250 nm race ≈ 4.1× a 30 nm race
Linear scaling would make 250 nm worth 8.3×

Fleet-Size Component

Deeper fleets earn more — but small races still count.

β = 0.40 · N₀ = 10 boats

N	= number of starters in the race
N₀	= 10 boats (baseline "typical" fleet)
β	= 0.40 (fleet-size exponent)

β = 0.40 keeps fleet size supplemental — rewarding competitive depth without letting turnout override how well you sailed.

3-boat race ≈ 62% of a 10-boat race
5-boat race ≈ 76% of a 10-boat race
15-boat race ≈ 118% of a 10-boat race
Saturday local races remain meaningful on-ramps

Who can compete

Eligibility

Boat Type

Singlehanded & doublehanded

Both SH and DH entries are welcome. The Series is designed to crown the best shorthanded sailor on Long Island Sound — not merely the best doublehanded team.

Race Eligibility

Any Qualifying or Additional Scoring Regatta

Compete in any designated Series race. Both Qualifying Regattas and Additional Scoring Regattas count toward your season point total.

Requirements

None beyond meeting the threshold

No pre-registration, no dues, no application. Sail in designated races, meet the qualification threshold, and you're in contention. Just go out and race.

Singlehanders racing in a doublehanded class are eligible for scoring adjustments — see Singlehanded Adjustments below.

How it works

Rules

Qualification Threshold

4

local race starts required

Races with a published distance of less than 100 nm. Long-distance races cannot substitute. See Qualifying Regattas for the list of local races counting towards qualification.

6

total starts required

Across all Series-designated races. Qualifying gates eligibility only — all races are scored regardless. See Additional Scoring Regattas for the list of additional races counting towards point totals.

#1

competitor with most points wins

High-point accumulation system. Qualifying Regattas and Additional Scoring Regattas both count.

Start & Result Definitions

Result

Counts as start?

Points awarded?

Finisher

Yes

Yes — scored normally

DNF

Yes

No — zero points

DNS

No

No — zero points

DSQ

No

No — zero points

A start requires crossing the start line for a registered race — signing up alone does not count.

Leveling the playing field

Singlehanded Adjustments

Corrected Time Credit — SCT

0.7%

Time discount when racing against doublehanders.

When a singlehanded boat races in a mixed SH/DH fleet, their official corrected time is reduced by 0.7% before re-ranking for Series purposes. If a singlehander finishes close behind a DH boat, this credit can flip their Series finishing position — even though the official race result stays unchanged.

The 0.7% is intentionally modest: it is easier to correct over a DH boat in a long race (where 0.7% is a larger absolute discount) than in a short race. Only applies when SH and DH boats are scored together. No adjustment where there are separate divisions.

Mixed fleets only · All finishers

Mixed-Fleet Win Bonus

+5%

Scoring bonus for winning a mixed SH/DH fleet outright.

If a singlehanded boat wins a mixed SH/DH fleet, their Base Race Score receives a 5% bonus. This recognizes the structural disadvantage of racing solo — reduced sail handling capacity, harder fatigue management, and higher tactical workload — when competing directly against a two-person crew.

The bonus is small by design: it rewards truly exceptional solo performance without distorting the overall standings or discouraging doublehanded participation.

Mixed fleets only · First place only

Interactive Tool

Race Score Calculator

P Finishing position

1 = first place

N Number of starters

Must be ≥ P

D Course distance (nm)

Published race distance

Singlehanded entry in mixed fleet Applies 0.7% corrected time credit. If P = 1, also adds 5% win bonus.

Race Score

—

Performance

—

Distance

—

Fleet Size

—

Download the Full Scoring System Guide

Formula

Eligibility

Rules

Singlehanded Adjustments

Race Score Calculator

long island sound shorthanded sailing society

long island sound
shorthanded sailing society