Which one does your club use? Which one is best?
My club is considering changing systems. Cats that race include Tornados (mostly pre-genny, with two that have added the genaker but using old white sails), F18, Hobie 18FX, Nacra 20, and a Unicorn (old A-class).
What do you suggest and why? RYA PY, US PY, SCHRS, Textel?
. . . getting the popcorn ready
What do your old dogs want ... It is very hard for them to change.... don't upset them.
There is no better... The accuracy of any table is in the eye of the beholder.... (if you think the Hobie 16 gets crushed in the XX rating... nothing is going to change your mind.)
SCHRS and TEXEL are transparent... The measurement formula is published as is the methods to make the physical measurements. The formula is tested on data primarily from the EU where they actually race cats in big handicap events (50 boats on the line at catacup)..
You can still think that the Hobie 16 rating is absolutely BS even though you know exactly how it is calculated.
The portsmouth system depends on USA data... past and present (very little data), a set of assumptions that are difficult to meet, and a statistical method ... For all intents and purposes... the ratings of new classes are essentially generated like a PHRF rating (Nacra Carbon 20, Nacra 17 olympic) There is no valid data for these boats racing against yardstick boats.. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS PHRF LIKE APPROACH... It is simply not transparent.
So Pick one! Measurement systems are transparant and can adapt to new technology (curved foils, T foil rudders)on a yearly basis. Portsmouth like tables must PHRF the rating of new technology and then wait to get enough VALID data of the performance of a FLEET of new boats racing against a FLEET of Yardstick boats to use the Portsmouth system..
The last time US fleets had to make a decision on ratings was between Herb Malm and NAMSA versus US SAILINGS Darline Hobock and classical Dixie Portsmouth. Herb had a proprietary measurement rule that he also tested statistically to generate a table. So it was Measurment, Statistical and not transparant.... Darline simply used the Dixie Portsmouth system which uses a Thistle as the yardstick and then assigned secondary yardsticks (Hobie 16s, etc) statistically. Darline had a committee and was a bull dog at getting race data (valid or not)and always working to get a fair table... even for one off boats. (God rest her soul and a Huge Thankyou!)
Times change.... but at the end of the day... pick one and just be clear on why you pick the particular system and table.
Since you did not identify which system you are currently employing, I will presume you are using the USSA Portsmouth Yardstick.
Mark is on point with the SCHRS or Texel rating systems if you wish to fine tune the ratings for the boats on your pond. If the owners are eager to weigh boats and measure sails those systems chime in. If you wish to be informal, then the PY tables (current & archived) will suffice.
The PY is the standard for most racing on the mainland, and if you entertain out of town guests then I would stick with the PY.