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Race Results System Manual (c) James Bell 1995 - 2007

Contents



1. What is the Racing Results System?

The Racing Results System is a free MS-DOS program that makes calculating handicap results for a dinghy sailing race easy. The program uses the RYA Portsmouth Yardstick (PY) scheme to calculate race results. The program will run under all versions of Microsoft Windows in a DOS session window or screen.

Features
  • Free
  • Easy to use
  • Can handle up to 150 competitors
  • Runs under MS-DOS.
  • Export feature allows you to use the results with other software.
  • Uses the new RYA Portsmouth Yardstick system.
  • Can handle average lap time races (eg. slower boats do less laps than faster boats)

2. How Do I Use the Program?

Install the program by extracting the zip file to a directory on your computer.

The following steps explain how you would use the program to calculate the results for a race.

2.1 Load the Program

To load the program type rrs1-12 at the DOS prompt. In Windows double-click on the file rrs1-12.exe.

Once the program has loaded you will be presented with a menu of options. The bottom line of the screen explains what the currently selected menu option does. The time of day is displayed at the top right hand side of the screen. To change the time displayed, quit the program and from the DOS prompt type time or set the time by double-clicking the time display in the Windows taskbar.

You can toggle the screen between colour and monochrome modes by pressing F1 whenever the main menu screen is displayed (you can also select the screen mode from the options menu or start the program in monocrome by typing 'rrs1-12.exe mono').

In Windows you can flick between a window and full screen mode by pressing Alt + Enter.

2.2 Start a New Race

Before starting a new race you should clear any current race information from memory. To do this simply select New Race from the main menu. This will bring up a sub menu. Select:
  • Clear All to clear all competitor and finishing time information from memory.
  • Clear Competitor Times to clear any competitor finishing times that you may have entered into the system without clearing the actual competitor information. This option keeps any competitor information you have typed in but resets every competitors finishing time to zero. This is useful if you want to use the system for several races which have the same competitors.

2.3 - Enter Information About the Race

Select Edit Race Info from the main menu and type in the name, date and race officer for the race. Select Exit to return to the main menu.

NOTE: By default the date field will be set to the system date.

2.4 - Enter Competitor Information

Select Edit Competitor Info, from the main menu, to enter details about the competitors taking part in the race into the system.

Type in the helms name, the crews name (if the boat is two-man), and the sail number. Then enter the class of boat, for example laser. As soon as you press return or the down arrow key the handicap number for the class will be automatically filled in for you if it is known to the system. Otherwise, type in the handicap number.

The system uses the new RYA handicap numbers (based on the year 2000 published numbers), so if you enter the class as laser the system will fill in the handicap field with 1078. See Default Handicaps for a list of classes known to the system and the default handicap numbers. You can edit the default handicaps from the options menu.

If you want to use a different handicap number to the one automatically entered, just add any character after the name of the class, for example laser-, and enter your own handicap number.

Adding More Competitors and Moving between Competitors
To enter another competitor, or display/edit the next competitor - press F2.
To display/edit the previous competitor - press F1

Jumping between Records
To go to a specific record number (competitor) - press F3. Type in a number from 1 to 300 and press the return key to go that record number.

To select a competitor from a list of all competitors - press F5. A list will popup showing the helm, sail number and class for each competitor in a row. Use the up and down arrow keys to highlight any competitor. Use the PageUp and PageDown keys to select a specific competitor. Press enter to view/edit that competitors details.

Deleting a Competitor
To delete a competitor - press F6.

When you have finished entering competitor information press F4 to return to the main menu.

NOTE: You should try to enter the details of all competitors in the current race before the race starts, though this is not essential.


2.5 - Using the Coutdown menu

The countdown menu is useful for starting races and automatically records the race start time once the countdown reaches zero.

The options available are:

  • Timesheet
    This options allows you to record the race timer on screen by pressing the space bar. The screen will display the last eight times. This is useful for getting times of finishers down on paper when a number of competitors finish in a bunch.
  • 11 Minute countdown.
    This will start an 11 minute countdown with the following warnings:
    • 30 seconds before 10 minutes until race start you will be warned to Get ready to breakout class flag or 'H' for Handicap.
    • 10 minutes before race start, the program will beep and say - Class flag or 'H' flag should be flying.
    • 30 seconds before 5 minutes you will be warned to Get ready to breakout Blue Peter flag.
    • At 5 minutes (see below)
  • 10 Minute countdown. Same as the 11 minute countdown but starts at 10 minutes.
  • 5 Minute 10 Seconds. Same as below, but with an extra 10 seconds to make giving a verbal countdown to the person operating the flags easier.
  • 5 Minute countdown. **NEW**
    This has been revised for the new starting system.
    • 5:00 - (LONG BEEP) Class flag should be diplayed.
    • 4:00 - (LONG BEEP) P, I, Z, Black flag or I and Z should be displayed
    • 1:00 - (LONG BEEP) Preparatory signal flag(s) should be removed.
    • 0:30 - (SHORT BEEP) Warning to get read to take flags down
    • 0:05,4,3,2,1 - very short beeps.
    • 0:00 - (LONG BEEP) Class flag should be removed
  • 1 Minute countdown. Same as the 11 minute countdown but starts at 1 minute.

NOTE: If you are using a 6 minute/3 minute countdown just use the 1 minute countdown option.

2.6 - Enter Competitor Finishing Times

Enter competitor finishing times into the system by filling in the three fields displayed at the bottom of the competitor information screen.

Enter the competitors elapsed time in h:mm:ss format into the Elapsed Time field. The laps field is optional. If you have started the race timer press F10 as the competitor crosses the finish line, to record their finishing time into the system.

If you are using average lap times, enter the number of laps each competitor did and the program will automatically take that into account when calculating results.

Leave the 'Result Code' field blank unless you want to record that for example the competitor didn't finish by entering something like 'DNF', 'DSQ', 'OCS' etc. If the result field is not empty it will take precedence over the elapsed time and the competitor will be tagged onto the end of the results with the code displayed instead of a finishing position.

2.7 Calculate the Results

Select Calculate Results from the main menu. Results will only be calculated for competitors who have a handicap number and a finishing time. A warning message will appear if there is not enough information to calculate any results (you need at least one competitor with a finishing time to be able to display the results).

If there is enough information to calculate results then a sub menu will appear. Select:

  • View Results - to display the race results on the screen.
  • Print Results - to print the results to your printer.
  • Export as CSV - see below.
  • Export as HTML - exports the results in a simple HTML format with '.htm' appended to the file name.
The results contain the following items of information for each competitor: Position, Helm & Crew name, SailNo, Class, Elapsed time, Corrected Time and Time Difference.

The time difference field is the difference in corrected time between two adjacent competitors in the results list.

All results are sequentially numbered. Ties are also sequentially numbered but highlighted by an equals sign infront of the number, indicating a tie with the result directly above.

Exporting Race Results (CSV format)
Use the Export Results option to save the results in CSV (comma seperated variable) format if you want to use the results with other applications such as databases or spreadsheets.

After selecting this option you will be prompted for a filename. The filename will have the extension .ASC added to it.

The results will be saved in the following format:
Position, Helm, Crew, SailNo, Class, Handicap, elapsed time (seconds), corrected time (seconds), elapsed time (h:m:s), corrected time (h:m:s), laps, finish code

To use results with a database, use the Import function, and select delimited text. The delimiter used is a comma. For example, in Microsoft Access set up a new database, then select File/Import, and then select Text (Delimited). You can use a database or other application to print the results in a more attractive style.

2.8 Loading And Saving Races.

Select the File Menu from the main menu. The options should be self explanatory. NOTE: The program only saves information about competitors who have a handicap number.

3. Options Menu

The Options Menu allows you to change two settings.

  • The first option allows you to toggle the screen between monochrome and colour modes.
  • The second option allows you to change the default handicaps numbers.

 

4. Default Handicaps

The default PY numbers are taken from the latest available from the RYA. You can change the default handicaps by selecting the Options Menu followed by the Edit Handicaps option.

5. Disclaimer

THERE IS NO WARRANTY, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, AS TO THE QUALITY OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS PROGRAM. THE ENTIRE RISK FOR THE USE OF THIS PROGRAM IS ASSUMED BY THE USER (YOU). THE AUTHOR MAY NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY LOSS OR CORRUPTION OF DATA, EQUIPMENT OR OTHER GOODS RESULTING BY THE USE OR POSSESSION OF THIS PROGRAM, EVEN IF IN KNOWLEDGE THAT SUCH LOSS OR CORRUPTION MIGHT HAPPEN. SHOULD APPLICABLE LAWS LIMIT THE EXTENT OF THIS DISCLAIMER, OR IMPOSE ANY FORM OF RESPONSIBILITY, THEN YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO USE THIS SOFTWARE.

The program has been tested on a P120 running Windows 95 (16mb ram), a 1986 IBM Convertible Monochrome Laptop running MS- DOS 6.20 (512k ram), a P166 running Windows NT, a PIII-500 running Windows 98 & Windows 2000, a P4 1.8ghz running Windows 2000 & XP.

You should run this system in conjuncture with the normal methods for running a race, such as using a recording times/laps on a sheet paper.

6. Limitations

  • Maximum of 150 competitors
  • Maximum of 150 auto-enter handicap numbers

8. History

1.11 Calculation of Average Lap Times changed to method defined in RYA YR2/2005, with the exception that there is no PN adjustment for boats of the same class.
1.10c Calculation of ties changed - results now all sequentially numbers with ties only indicated by an equals sign (= ) prefixing the finishing position. Bug HTML export fixed.
1.10 Removed race timers and converted all timing to use 'time of day' format.
1.09a Improved screen display. Updated minor bugs.
1.09 Added Export as HTML feature. Added Timesheet option. Added result code feature (eg. DNS/DNF). Added average lap times for results. Updated PY numbers
1.08 Updated starting system to accomodate new ISAF (5,4,1,0) starting procedure. Updated documentation.
1.07a Updated default handicaps to year 2000 PY numbers.
1.07 Added option to change default handicaps. Updated documentation.
1.06beta Added support for variable handicap system.
1.05a Fixed some very minor bugs, changed a few things, updated documentation
1.05 Added a few more features such as (export).
1.04c Fixed a few bugs.
1.04b Fixed a bug which prevented races from being saved!
1.04a First public release.


9. Notes

The program was written for MS-DOS specifically to allow as many people as possible to be able to use it. PC's that run MS- DOS programs can be obtained very cheaply, which is ideal for sailing clubs that don't have much money, or are donated old computer equipment.

The program uses the following formula to calculate the corrected time:

Corrected time = (Elapsed Time in seconds) / (Portsmouth Number) x1000

The corrected time is rounded to the nearest whole number. If the fractional part is greater than 0.5 then the corrected time is rounded up, else it is rounded down to the nearest whole number.

When using average lap times the program uses the formula:

Corrected Time = (Elapsed Time x Most Laps x 1000) / (Portsmouth Number x Actual Laps)

Where Most Laps is the number of laps sailed by the boat which sailed the furthest.


The program has been tested on:
A 1986 laptop with monochrome display and no hard drive
A Compaq 386 laptop
A PIII 500mhz running Windows 98 & Windows 2000
A 1.8ghz P4 running Windows 2000 & Windows XP