This is how you would use the system to help you in calculating the results
for a dinghy/cat race:
Load the Program
To run the program from DOS simply type rrs.exe at the dos prompt, or in Windows simply double click the file "rrs.exe".
To change the screen between monochrome and colour, press F1 on the main menu screen. The bottom line of the screen displays text
explaining what the current menu option does. The time of day is displayed at the top right hand side of the screen. If you want to change this time, quit
the program and from the dos prompt type: time
Create 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 information and times that may be in memory.
Select "Clear competitor times" to only clear any competitor times
that you may have entered into the system. This option keeps any competitor
information you have typed in. This is useful if you want to use the system for
several races which have the same competitors.
Enter Race Information
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.
Enter Competitor Information
Select "Edit Competitor Info" from the main menu. This will allow you to enter details
about the competitors in the race. Type in the helms name, the crew name (if
the boat is two-man), and the sail number. Then enter the class of boat, for
example "laser" (without the quotes). As soon as you press return or
the down arrow key the handicap for the class will be filled in for you if it
is known to the system. If it is not, type in a handicap number (this system
uses the new RYA handicap numbers, so if you type in "laser" the
system will fill in the handicap as 1077). See Default Handicaps.
If you want to use a different handicap number to the one
automatically entered, then just add any character after the name of the class,
for example "laser*", then enter the handicap into the handicap
field.
Press F2 to display/edit the details of the next competitor. Press F1 to
edit/display details of the previous competitor. Press F3 to go to a specific
record (competitor), after pressing F3 typing in a number from 1 to 300 and
pressing the return key. Press F5 to bring up list of all competitors. The list
will show the Helm, SailNo 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. To delete a competitor press F6. To return to the main menu press F4.
NOTE: You should try to enter the details of all competitors in the current
race before the race starts, though this is not essential.
Sailing Results System
Start the Race Timer
Start the internal race timer. If you do not want to use the
internal timer to time the race go straight to the next section: Enter Competitor Finishing Times.
The race timer allows you to record competitors finishing times at the touch of a button once it is started.
To use the internal race timer to time the race select "Race Timer"
from the main menu. This will display a sub menu with the following options:
-
Start/Reset Timer.
This starts the internal timer, which will be displayed
at the bottom of the screen (it is shown in h:mm:ss format and just seconds).
If you select this option once the timer is started, you be asked if you want
to reset the timer.
- Stop Race Timer.Stops/turns off the race timer.
- Set Race Timer.
This option allows you to start the race timer from a specified
time. Use this option to get the internal race timer synchronised with your
main race timer (your wristwatch etc).
- 11 Minute countdown. This will give you an 11 minute countdown. You will be warned 30 seconds before the 10 minutes
to "Get ready to breakout class flag or 'H' for Handicap". At 10
minutes the program will beep and warn that "Class flag or 'H' flag should
be flying. At 30 seconds before 5 minutes you will be warned to "Get ready
to breakout Blue Peter flag", at 5 minutes the program will beep and warn
that "Blue Peter should be flying". At 30 seconds before the start
the program will warn "Get ready to take flags down". The program
will beep for 5,4,3,2, and 1 seconds before the race. When the countdown
reaches zero the program will beep and start the internal race timer.
- 10 Minute countdown. Same as the 11 minute countdown but starts at 10 minutes.
- 5 Minute countdown. Same as the 11 minute countdown but starts at 5 minutes.
- 1 Minute countdown. Same as the 11 minute countdown but starts at 1 minute.
NOTE: If you are using 6 minute/3 minute countdown just use the 1 minute
countdown option.
Enter Competitor Finishing Times
Enter Competitors finishing times into the system. Select "Edit
Finishing Times" from the main menu. This allows you to enter the
finishing times of competitors into the system. Use the F2 and F1 keys to
display the details of the next/previous competitor respectively. You can also
press F5 to select a competitor from a list of competitors. Once you have
selected the desired competitor, you can enter their finishing time. If you
have started the race timer press F10 as the competitor crosses the finish
line, to record their finishing time. If you want to change a specific
competitors details quickly, then press F7. This will take you to the
competitor information screen. Press F4 to return back to the finishing times
screen
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. 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. Select "Print
results" to print the results to your printer. 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.
Use the "Export Results" option to
save the results in a format that can be used by databases. 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). To use this 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", then select "Text (Delimited)". You
can use a database to print the results in a more attractive / flexible style.
Loading And Saving Races.
Select "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.
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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
P-166 running Windows NT, and a PIII-500 running Windows 98. The program has been used and tested at Sheppey Yacht
Club. You should run this system in conjuncture with the normal methods for
running a race, such as using a stop watch / clock to time the race and writing
down finishing times on a results sheet / paper.
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1.04a - First public release
1.04b - Fixed a few bugs
1.04c - fixed a bug which prevented races from being saved.
1.05 - Added a few more features such as (export).
1.05a - Fixed some very minor bugs, changed a few things, updated documentation
1.06beta - Added support for variable handicap system
1.07 - Added option to change default handicaps. Updated documentation.
The program was written for MS-DOS specifically to allow as many people as
possible to be able to use it. You can buy PC's which can run MS- DOS programs
very cheaply, which is ideal for sailing clubs which 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) / (handicap number) * 1000
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.
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