<h1>The Cumulative Points Scoring System</h1>
<h3> Deciding the club champion and encouraging turn out for club racing:</h3>
<p class="blog">This is old, the version here is a transcript of a photocopy from the June 1982 Edition of 'Dinghy &amp; Boardsailing' and was by Bryan Willis. I couldn't find it anywhere on the net, I don't own any Copyright - the system presuably belongs to Bryan Willis and Queen Mary SC, the article to a now defunct magazine. I'm publishing it here for public information purpouses!</p>
<p>  About 10 years ago I sat down with my club's top helmsmen and the sailing secretary, and armed with the previous season's race results we tried to agree on who we would like to have won, had the scoring system not been the conventional 'best of so many race results out of the total races held'. It was an interesting project; one helmsman had 12 firsts and 2 seconds but nothing else, another had 11 firsts and S seconds and 2 thirds. The members who spent most of their time on the circuit usually cleaned up when they were at home, and the actuall overall winner had won the series a month before the end of the series and hadn't bothered to enter the last 4 races. We discussed whether any credit
should be given relating to the standard of the helsmsmen beaten in any particular race, or the number or helmsmen beaten.</p>
<p>  There was one point on which we were all agreed. and that was that there should be no individual handicapping. All helmsman should start as equals and the overall<br />
  winner should be the one who achieved a combination of success and turnout. After all, if you are going to award a tropny to a club champion, he must be a champion, not the 'best bar the top six', or the 'most improved'; he must be the best by some
  particular definition, and the problem was
simply to decide on the principles that should be used to decide on the definition.</p>
<p>  What should the principles be? Winning races is an obvious one, but it would be
  great to give some benefit for beating good
helmsmen and beating lots of them! Then, of course, there is the principle that to turn out often deserves some credit.</p>
<p> I went away to mathematicaly construct
  a system which would incorporate these
  principles and give each the right balance.
  Predictably the system Was complex and had to be drastically simplified, but the end result was a scoring system which was
  simple, understandable, and fulfilled all our
  ambitions. It was first adopted by a single<br />
  fleet in 1971 and is now used by over 40
  clubs throughout Great Britain.<br />
Onc of the main benefits is that it create interest and thereby encourages turnout.</p>
<ul>
  <li>  The salient features are:<br />
    Everyone starts at 0; the helmsman with the highest score after the last race is the winner.</li>
  <li>After each race (even after the first race) there is a cumulative total so that at any time in the season each competitor can see where he stands in relation to the others.</li>
  <li> Points are awarded for <em>beating</em> other helmsmen, in particular <em>good</em> ones (i.e. those with high cumulative scores).</li>
  <li> The system has the automatic effect of making the races near the end of the season more important than those at the beginning. This gives the end of the season added interest and usually means an to the series; Helmsman entering other than the beginning of the season have a chance to catch up.</li>
</ul>
<p>  What about disadvantages? 'The only one is that someone is required tookeep the score chart up-to-date! This is essential as it is the continual dispay of the cumulative totals which produce so much interest. At first this job may seem a little awesome but in fact it does not take very long (and whatever system is used someone has to maintain some sort of results chart). At Q!leen Mary Sailing Club at Ashford, Middlesex, 16 of the 17 fleets use the system with a total of some twelve and a half thousand entries over the year, and the scores are maintained meticulously by Dave Smith, the bar steward in his off peak moments. Generally a score chart for one fleet, with 2 races per weekend and a turnout average of 10, takes 10 minutes per week; really not much longer th'an any other system.</p>
<p> So how does it work? Each helmsman gets one point for every other helmsman he beats who started the race within a predetermined number below him or any number above hin. This predetermined number might seem critical but experience shows this is not. Selecting a relatively large number will give emphasis to success; a low number will benefit the man who turns out often. An average would be about the same as average turnout, For example, if the average turnout is about 10,<br />
a number of 5 would put most emphasis on turnout, would be normal and 20 would put emphasis on success. One small thing more; every helmsman gets an 'extra' point provided he is not disqualified.</p>
<p> The length of the series (total number of races) is not important but the system works best with more than 8 races. Ties sometimes occur at the end of a series; they cannot be broken and must stand.</p>
<p> As an example, let's follow a series of a small singlehanded fleet last winter. A number of 5 was chosen which turned out to be somewhat less than the average turnout, thereby emphasising 'turnout'.</p>
<p>The were 8 entrants in the first race and the score chart has plenty of room
  downwards for people to join in later in the
series. Across there are columns for 'Position in race', 'Points awarded', arid 'Cumulative Total' for each race. Scoring the first race is easy; Bart won so he gets one point for each helmsman he beat (7), plus the extra point which everyone gets, provided they are not disqualified, so that is 8 points. Jason came second and gets 7 and so on.</p>
<table width="200" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2">
  <tr>
    <th scope="col">&nbsp;</th>
    <th colspan="3" scope="col">7th November </th>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <th scope="row">&nbsp;</th>
    <td><div align="center">Pos</div></td>
    <td><div align="center">Pts</div></td>
    <td><div align="center">Cum</div></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <th scope="row">Bart</th>
    <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
    <td><div align="center">8</div></td>
    <td><div align="center">8</div></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <th scope="row">Matthew</th>
    <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
    <td><div align="center">6</div></td>
    <td><div align="center">6</div></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <th scope="row">Jason</th>
    <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
    <td><div align="center">7</div></td>
    <td><div align="center">7</div></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <th scope="row">Christian</th>
    <td><div align="center">7</div></td>
    <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
    <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <th scope="row">Davd</th>
    <td><div align="center">5</div></td>
    <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
    <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <th scope="row">Dombey</th>
    <td><div align="center">6</div></td>
    <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
    <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <th scope="row">Kevin</th>
    <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
    <td><div align="center">5</div></td>
    <td><div align="center">5</div></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <th scope="row">Simon</th>
    <td><div align="center">8</div></td>
    <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
    <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
  </tr>
</table>
<p> In the second race Sean and Nicola join
  the series. They are both good but Nicola has a leg in plaster which does hinder her quite a bit! Sean wins and because he started the race with no points he gets his
  point for each helmsman he beats plus one 1 totaling 10. Bart came second. Here comes I the interesting bit. He started the ace with 8 points from which we deduct the number
  5 and the remainder is 3, so he only scores.
Off people he beats who started this race with 3 or more points. There are 5 of them. plus his extra point, which makes 6. Kevin and Simon retired so they each get just their one point.</p>
<table width="200" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2">
   <tr>
     <th width="61" scope="col">&nbsp;</th>
     <th colspan="3" nowrap="nowrap" scope="col">7th November </th>
     <th colspan="3" nowrap="nowrap" scope="col">14th November </th>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">&nbsp;</th>
     <td width="28"><div align="center">Pos</div></td>
     <td width="23"><div align="center">Pts</div></td>
     <td width="35"><div align="center">Cum</div></td>
     <td width="30"><div align="center">Pos</div></td>
     <td width="30"><div align="center">Pts</div></td>
     <td width="35"><div align="center">Cum</div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Bart</th>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">8</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">8</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">6</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">14</div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Matthew</th>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">6</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">6</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">7</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">13</div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Jason</th>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">7</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">7</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">5</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">12</div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Christian</th>
     <td><div align="center">7</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">8</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">5</div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Davd</th>
     <td><div align="center">5</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">7</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">8</div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Dombey</th>
     <td><div align="center">6</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">6</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">5</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">8</div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Kevin</th>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">5</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">5</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">R</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">6</div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Simon</th>
     <td><div align="center">8</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">R</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Sean</th>
     <td>&nbsp;</td>
     <td>&nbsp;</td>
     <td>&nbsp;</td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">10</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">10</div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Nicola</th>
     <td>&nbsp;</td>
     <td>&nbsp;</td>
     <td>&nbsp;</td>
     <td><div align="center">5</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">6</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">6</div></td>
   </tr>
</table>
 <p>After the fifth race Sean is, at lasl, in the lead    and Bart and Matthew are lying for second place. Let's just analyse the    results to    date:</p>
 <ul>
   <li>Sean has 1,2,2,1</li>
   <li>Bart has 1,2,1,3</li>
   <li> Matthew has 3,3,1,2</li>
 </ul>
 <p> You may think    that as Matthew's scores are not as good as Bart' s he doesn't deserve his    2nd but on closer scrutiny, Mauhew's win beat Sean and Bart, where as neither    of Bart's 1st  beat Sean <em>and </em>Matthew.</p>
 <table width="200" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2">
   <tr>
     <th width="61" scope="col">&nbsp;</th>
     <th colspan="3" nowrap="nowrap" scope="col">7th November </th>
     <th colspan="3" nowrap="nowrap" scope="col">14th November </th>
     <th colspan="3" nowrap="nowrap" scope="col">21st November </th>
     <th colspan="3" nowrap="nowrap" scope="col">28th November </th>
     <th colspan="3" nowrap="nowrap" scope="col">5th December </th>
     <th colspan="3" nowrap="nowrap" scope="col">12th December </th>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">&nbsp;</th>
     <td width="28"><div align="center">Pos</div></td>
     <td width="23"><div align="center">Pts</div></td>
     <td width="35"><div align="center">Cum</div></td>
     <td width="30"><div align="center">Pos</div></td>
     <td width="30"><div align="center">Pts</div></td>
     <td width="35"><div align="center">Cum</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">Pos</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">Pts</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">Cum</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">Pos</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">Pts</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">Cum</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">Pos</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">Pts</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">Cum</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">Pos</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">Pts</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">Cum</div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Bart</th>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">8</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">8</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">6</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">14</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">17</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">18</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">18</div></td>
     <td colspan="3" rowspan="10"><div align="center">Gales -<br />
       No Racing </div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Matthew</th>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">6</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">6</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">7</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">13</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">13</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">17</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">18</div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Jason</th>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">7</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">7</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">5</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">12</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">14</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">14</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">14</div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Christian</th>
     <td><div align="center">7</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">8</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">5</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">5</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">5</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">8</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">5</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">10</div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Davd</th>
     <td><div align="center">5</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">7</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">8</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">6</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">9</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">9</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">6</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">10</div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Dombey</th>
     <td><div align="center">6</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">6</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">5</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">8</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">8</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">8</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">8</div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Kevin</th>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">5</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">5</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">R</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">6</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">9</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">6</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">10</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">14</div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Simon</th>
     <td><div align="center">8</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">R</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">5</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">8</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">11S</div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Sean</th>
     <td><div align="center"></div></td>
     <td><div align="center"></div></td>
     <td><div align="center"></div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">10</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">10</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">14</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">17</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">19</div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Nicola</th>
     <td><div align="center"></div></td>
     <td><div align="center"></div></td>
     <td><div align="center"></div></td>
     <td><div align="center">5</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">6</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">6</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">6</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">6</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">6</div></td>
   </tr>
 </table>
 <p>Nicola had to rest while her plaster was removed but joined in earnest at the end of January. She gets good results and because of the effect of the system catches us fast.. As she approaches the leaders though, she'll find it more difficult to advance.</p>
 <p> It is interesting to see how Kevin fares, he never misses a race but also he doesn't win races nor beat the top helmsmen. However, because the relatively low number of 5 has the effect of restraining the leaders Kevin is now tying 4th with Nicola.</p>
 <table width="200" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2">
   <tr>
     <th width="61" scope="col">&nbsp;</th>
     <th colspan="3" nowrap="nowrap" scope="col">5th December </th>
     <th colspan="3" nowrap="nowrap" scope="col">2nd January </th>
     <th colspan="3" nowrap="nowrap" scope="col">23rd January  </th>
     <th colspan="3" nowrap="nowrap" scope="col">30th January </th>
     <th colspan="3" nowrap="nowrap" scope="col">6th Febuary </th>
     <th colspan="3" nowrap="nowrap" scope="col">13th Febuary  </th>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">&nbsp;</th>
     <td><div align="center">Pos</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">Pts</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">Cum</div></td>
     <td width="30"><div align="center">Pos</div></td>
     <td width="30"><div align="center">Pts</div></td>
     <td width="35"><div align="center">Cum</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">Pos</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">Pts</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">Cum</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">Pos</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">Pts</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">Cum</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">Pos</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">Pts</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">Cum</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">Pos</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">Pts</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">Cum</div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Bart</th>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">18</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">20</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">22</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">23</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">23</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">26</div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Matthew</th>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">18</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">21</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">24</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">24</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">26</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">26</div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Jason</th>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">14</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">14</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">R</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">15</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">15</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">5</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">19</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">19</div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Christian</th>
     <td><div align="center">5</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">10</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">5</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">11</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">6</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">13</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">13</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">5</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">18</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">18</div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Davd</th>
     <td><div align="center">6</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">10</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">10</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">5</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">13</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">14</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">6</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">17</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">24</div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Dombey</th>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">8</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">8</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">8</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">8</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">8</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">8</div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Kevin</th>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">14</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">16</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">19</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">20</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">8</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">21</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">24</div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Simon</th>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">11S</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">11</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">11</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">11</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">7</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">13</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">5</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">15</div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Sean</th>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">19</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">23</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">20</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">26</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">28</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">R</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">29</div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Nicola</th>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">6</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">6</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">6</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">10</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">8</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">18</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">6</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">24</div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Cam</th>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">R</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">R</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">5</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">6</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">6</div></td>
   </tr>
 </table>
 <p>On 13th February Sean got fed up and retired. It is costly for a leader to retire because everyone scores off him. A third place in the next race on 20th February and not entering the race on 27th February removes him from the lead. A 2nd and 4th on the next two races and he's down to 3rd equal, though with a 2nd on 20th March he climbs back to 2nd.</p>
 <table width="200" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2">
   <tr>
     <th width="61" scope="col">&nbsp;</th>
     <th colspan="3" nowrap="nowrap" scope="col">13th Febuary </th>
     <th colspan="3" nowrap="nowrap" scope="col">20th February  </th>
     <th colspan="3" nowrap="nowrap" scope="col">27th February  </th>
     <th colspan="3" nowrap="nowrap" scope="col">6th March  </th>
     <th colspan="3" nowrap="nowrap" scope="col">13th March  </th>
     <th colspan="3" nowrap="nowrap" scope="col">20th March  </th>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">&nbsp;</th>
     <td><div align="center">Pos</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">Pts</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">Cum</div></td>
     <td width="30"><div align="center">Pos</div></td>
     <td width="30"><div align="center">Pts</div></td>
     <td width="35"><div align="center">Cum</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">Pos</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">Pts</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">Cum</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">Pos</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">Pts</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">Cum</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">Pos</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">Pts</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">Cum</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">Pos</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">Pts</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">Cum</div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Bart</th>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">26</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">29</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">32</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">32</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">33</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">39</div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Matthew</th>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">26</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">26</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">28</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">32</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">36</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">39</div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Jason</th>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">19</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">19</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">6</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">25</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">9</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">26</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">5</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">5</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">31</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">6</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">33</div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Christian</th>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">18</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">18</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">21</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">5</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">5</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">26</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">7</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">29</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">29</div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Davd</th>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">24</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">20</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">6</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">22</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">7</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">25</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">8</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">27</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">7</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">29</div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Dombey</th>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">8</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">8</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">8</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">8</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">10</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">13</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">13</div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Kevin</th>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">24</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">25</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">Dsq</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">25</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">8</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">27</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">6</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">31</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">5</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">34</div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Simon</th>
     <td><div align="center">5</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">15</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">5</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">16</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">5</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">34</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">34</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">35</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">5</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">40</div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Sean</th>
     <td><div align="center">R</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">29</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">31</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">34</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">34</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">35</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">5</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">40</div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Nicola</th>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">6</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">24</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">28</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">28</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">6</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">34</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">38</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">42</div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Cam</th>
     <td><div align="center">6</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">6</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">6</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">7</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">8</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">9</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">9</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">11</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">10</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">9</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">11</div></td>
   </tr>
 </table>
 <p>   With two more races to go anyone of four or live can win and all will do their utmost to attend these last vital races. Unfortunately Nicola could not make the 27th March. She could still have won the series though had she won the last race, but Sean took the honours which gave him the series.<br />
   The system was first called 'Ostrobogulous League' (indeed many clubs still use this name). Since then I've discovered 'league' means something quite different and I use the word 'cumulative' which better emphasises the most vital fealure of the system: the facility for each helm to see at any time just where he stands in relation to the leaders and, if he is a middle of the fleet man, in relation to the helmsmen of his own standard.<br />
   But perhaps the real benefit of the system is that it produces a champion; someone who will have to win, at home, often, and when the best are racing, and who really can be called the 'club champion'.</p>
 <table width="200" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2">
   <tr>
     <th width="61" scope="col">&nbsp;</th>
     <th colspan="3" nowrap="nowrap" scope="col">27th March </th>
     <th colspan="3" nowrap="nowrap" scope="col">3rd April  </th>
     <th nowrap="nowrap" scope="col">&nbsp;</th>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">&nbsp;</th>
     <td><div align="center">Pos</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">Pts</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">Cum</div></td>
     <td width="30"><div align="center">Pos</div></td>
     <td width="30"><div align="center">Pts</div></td>
     <td width="35"><div align="center">Cum</div></td>
     <td nowrap="nowrap"><div align="center">Overall position </div>       </td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Bart</th>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">43</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">45</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">= 3rd </div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Matthew</th>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">42</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">45</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">= 3rd </div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Jason</th>
     <td><div align="center">6</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">36</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">5</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">39</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">= 5th </div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Christian</th>
     <td><div align="center">8</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">30</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">7</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">33</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">= 7th </div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Davd</th>
     <td><div align="center">7</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">31</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">8</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">33</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">= 7th </div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Dombey</th>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">13</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">13</div></td>
     <td> <div align="center">10th </div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Kevin</th>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">38</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">6</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">39</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">= 5th</div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Simon</th>
     <td><div align="center">5</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">29</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">9</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">30</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">9th</div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Sean</th>
     <td><div align="center">3</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">41</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">6</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">47</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">1st</div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Nicola</th>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">42</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">4</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">46</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">2nd</div></td>
   </tr>
   <tr>
     <th scope="row">Cam</th>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">11</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">-</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">11</div></td>
     <td><div align="center">11th</div></td>
   </tr>
 </table>
 <p> P.S. There may be typos in the tables, the Editor	</p>