Yardstick Calculator
The yardstick system lets different boat classes race against each other. Each class has a yardstick number (in Germany the DSV publishes the official Yardstickzahlen every year, in the UK the RYA maintains the Portsmouth Yardstick): the higher the number, the slower the boat is rated. After the race, every boat's elapsed time is converted into a corrected time — the boat with the lowest corrected time wins, regardless of who crossed the finish line first.
Pick a number list, then enter a class and the sailed time for each boat to calculate the corrected times and the resulting ranking.
| Boat / Sailor | Class | Yardstick | Elapsed time | Corrected time | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ILCA 7 (Laser Standard) | 54:49 | 3. +3:14 | ||||
420er | 54:23 | 2. +2:47 | ||||
Optimist | 51:36 | 1. |
How corrected time is calculated
The corrected time formula of the yardstick system is:
corrected time = elapsed time × 100 / yardstick number
A boat rated at the reference number keeps its sailed time unchanged. A slower class such as the Optimist gets its time reduced considerably, while fast skiffs like the 49er get their time increased. This way an Optimist, a Laser and a 49er can share one starting line and still be scored fairly against each other — which is exactly how most club races and Wednesday-evening series are run. Portsmouth numbers (RYA) work the same way, just scaled around 1000 instead of 100, and correction-factor lists divide the elapsed time by the factor directly.
Which number list should I use?
The list selector above offers official number lists (e.g. Portsmouth Yardstick by year) — choosing one loads its classes into the calculator automatically. The built-in reference values are oriented on the DSV yardstick list. Clubs may use their own adjusted numbers to reflect local conditions, so you can always overwrite the number field with what your race committee publishes, or type a class name that isn't in the list and enter its number manually.
Racing regularly? SailingMetrics scores whole regattas with yardstick or other handicap systems automatically — including GPS track analysis for every entrant.
Common yardstick numbers
| Class | Yardstick |
|---|---|
| Optimist | 172 |
| ILCA 4 (Laser 4.7) | 122 |
| ILCA 6 (Laser Radial) | 117 |
| ILCA 7 (Laser Standard) | 114 |
| Europe | 121 |
| 420er | 118 |
| 470er | 108 |
| 29er | 102 |
| 49er | 88 |
| Finn | 112 |
| OK-Jolle | 117 |
| Pirat | 126 |
| Korsar | 112 |
| Contender | 105 |
| Flying Dutchman | 100 |
| Fireball | 106 |
| Musto Skiff | 92 |
| RS Aero 7 | 114 |
| Zugvogel | 111 |
| Ixylon | 118 |
| Folkeboot | 118 |
| H-Boot | 107 |
| J/70 | 96 |
Reference values only — always check the current official DSV list or your club's sailing instructions.