Hebbert-Lucas System

Background

Traditionally team race events have used round robin series to produce a seeding
before moving to Gold Silver Bronze round robin leagues followed by a knockout.
Seeding the initial leagues is fraught with difficulties. Round Robin series often
require double changeovers and for many teams the gaps ashore can be very varied.
Changeovers between leagues can take a lot of time as the racing needs to stop and
normally the boats come ashore, while double changeovers frequently lead to errors
and increased damage to boats. For the race management team the need to complete a
round robin is paramount otherwise much of the racing will wasted. The traditional
system means that competitors do not know the plan for the whole of the first day so
for those of relatively little experience this can be quite a barrier. Finally when teams
pull out or if the number of teams entered is not divisible by number of flights then
some teams will have fewer races.

Following the RYA Youth and Junior Championships in 2008 where all the above
was a problem for the organisers Bruce Hebbert and Jo Lucas devised what is known
as the H-L System to overcome these issues.

Aims of the H-L System

The aims of the system are:

1. To allow sailors upon registration to have a complete schedule of sailing for
the first day.
2. To provide the maximum amount of sailing at an event in a manner that is fair
to all.
3. To give the event organisers a tool to rank the sailors on completion of each
and every race.
4. To allow race management to stop racing at any time and to have a clear and
fair result which includes all races sailed.
5. As racing is considered to be in a single format, the breaking of ties uses
simple and clear rules.
6. To have a schedule of races where teams sail two races back to back with no
double changeovers and sail against no other team more than once.
7. To reduce damage associated with boats waiting alongside pontoons/docks.
 Process:

The key to the system is a set of pre prepared schedules that are held on an Excel file .
The schedule is written such that teams only meet once and all teams sail two races
back to back. In simple terms the system works within what is effectively an
incomplete round robin.

1. Upon entry the teams will be entered on the team name spreadsheet.
2. At close of registration the number of teams entered determines which of the
pre prepared schedules is used.
3. The computer allocates a random number to each of the teams.
4. The schedules are then populated (by the program) to allocate teams to the
various races on this random basis.
5. Schedules for the entire series can then be printed and distributed.
6. As races are completed the results are entered on the spread sheet.
7. The results spreadsheet updates overall positions continuously.

Results/Positions
The system allows for teams to have sailed an equal or an unequal number of races.
Below is how results are calculated for an equal number of races. When there is an
unequal number the system simply takes percentages.

1. At the end of each race teams will are ranked using the following:
a. Number of wins
2. Ties will be broken using in order:
a. If all teams involved in the tie have sailed all other teams involved in
the tie, the number of races won when the tied teams met
b. If all teams involved in the tie have sailed all other teams involved in
the tie, the points scored when the tied teams met
c. The sum of the points scored in all races.
d. The sum of wins of beaten opponents
e. The sum of points of beaten opponents
f. A sail-off if possible, otherwise a game of chance.
g. If a tie is partially resolved by one of these, then the remaining tie shall
be broken by starting again at 2.a.
 History of the system:

The system was first trialled for British Schools events with the assistance of Keith
Sammons who has since contributed to the final product. Since then it has been used
in 8 major championships in the UK with between 16 and 20 teams and 4 flights of
boats, as well as several large events with 20 plus teams.
It was successfully used for the RYA Youths and Junior Championships with 48
teams and 8 flights of boats in October 2009 and has been accepted for use in future
such Championships.

Evaluation:

• The system is simple, clear and easy to work.

• The race committee can stop racing at any time and have a valid result.
• Competitors have a schedule for the entire day.
• The tie break system reflects what leading competitors think is fair and is
statistically sound.
• The more races sailed the more accurate the system becomes in giving a result
that would mirror a full round robin. However with approx 24 teams, after 8
races the level of confidence is very high.
• Races for each team are evenly spread throughout the day, and if inclement
weather arrives all teams will have sailed a similar number of races.
• As the system provides a ranking for all teams in the competition there is
complete flexibility as to the choice of the size of the leagues in the next round.
• Downside: The schedule selects teams randomly so it is possible to have a
series of harder or easier races. Although given the difficulty in seeding teams
before the event, this is equivalent to being placed in a harder initial league.

Using the System

Anyone wishing to use the H-L system should contact Jo Lucas, Bruce Hebbert or
Keith Sammons. Note because the system requires a change in Rule D4.2 this must be
detailed in the Sailing Instructions. An example is available on the UKTRA Website.
There is no charge for the use of the programme.