Hey Mineral, this might sound a little closer to reality. I have taken the sqaure root of the weight * height to get possibly a more realistic weighting. So teh new formular goes like this:
Handicap = (100 * SA * SA) / ( SQRT(W*H) * LA * LA )
Chris = (100*47.2*47.2)/(SQRT(95*1.85)*(42.32*42.23)) = 9.40
Serge B = (100*40.38*40.38)/(SQRT(80*1.91)*(38.72*38.72)) = 8.80
Andrew = (100*43.16*43.16)/(SQRT(79*1.77)*(42.32*42.23)) = 8.81
Mal = (100*46.2*46.2)/(SQRT(95*1.92)*(42.32*42.23)) = 8.84
By my estimate, that looks about right and should still give the slower locations and lighter guys a fair crack at it. Obviously it is only as good as the data that underpins it though, and as more sailors post speeds at a particular location, the more truthful this type of handicap will become.
Mal, only question, and this is just first glance. Slowey is at top right now, and to stay there he doesn't have too do much, just watch you guys bust a guttz trying to catch him. It could be anybody,, Elmo, you or who ever, he just happens to be at top right now.
How can we handicap him (or the top numbers) so to stay there, he/they, need to set a better than last run.
Or set handicap system up so if anybody has a "good day." they can hit the top rung? Well at least until the next person gets a good run and tops the previous out. The need for constant auto re-handicap on last X runs, will need to come into play.
Gee I hope this sounds right to those reading it. Sounds right too me, but not sure its coming out how I think it should be.
Then again, bugger it, we are having fun as it is any way
TM..."So Daff is still the winner with the highest handicap number. But only just! If I get about 51 knots I have got him"
Just as well you didn't include an age factor..then you'd be really stuffed :-)))
Didn't Slowie do a run without weight that was almost as fast at SP recently?
43.78 ave on 03/10/07.
Actually a location handicap sounds like a good idea. The best way to handicap would be to average the same top riders at different locals. For example Pt Walter is the top location in WA but Chris' best display speed is only 41.3 and Dan's 40.4 compared to their SP peak speeds of 48.4 and 45.5. Both have done plenty of runs at both locations so I think one can fairly say that you can only go 87% as fast in WA compared to SP. Or the other way around you SHOULD be able to go ~ 15% faster at SP for Sandgropers contemplating a trip east. I say "should" because I actually went slower in fantastic SP conditions. So make sure your board is set up for FLAT water.
Over here Mandurah (Hardies run) is probably the next best but if Chris and Dan went there maybe they would surpass their Pt Walter speeds. LP could be up for 2nd spot. I think a few have got their PBs there.
Message co-ords please :-)) .. I may have already sailed there years ago in my quest for the ultimate WA speed spot, but as we all know. It's not just the location but the conditions on the day and I may not have seen it's true potential. I have sailed some pretty shallow spots with my 18cm/50 degree raked crab dicer cutting a furrow through weed and sand. ( there is a reason for the full face :-))
Hey Yoyo, out of interest, where else have you been on your "quest for the unltimate WA speed spot"? Can you give them a rating out of 10?
Ta,
Ado
"quest for the unltimate WA speed spot"?
Perth airport with a Virgin ticket to Melbourne/SP... 10
Everywhere else................................................5
Let's start a new thread then on best WA speed spots. Who know's we might uncover something new and exciting!
I like Mals first Formula a lot! 
I have to admit the second is more realistic though. 
There is another factor here that has not been mentioned directly (although the venue does effect it). I think it is fairly well established that on tighter courses, especially with more moderate winds, (eg. Walvis) taller, heavier guys do better. On the other hand it also seems possible that on broader courses, especially in strong winds, the effects of sailor size decrease and the field becomes a bit more even. That might be making any system a bit too complicated though, because we probably don't really have a way of factoring wind angle in in a reliable, meaningful way as it is not recorded in statistics.
Mal's formula is great...tho I thought wt / max speed was a nice simple formula for a club speed event at a particular spot to even things up a bit.
I've been reading and thinking, yeh yeh,
As Mal said, location location location, but what about the open water sailers.
I just read a comment by Chris in another thread, where he did 33 knots in 25 of wind in open water, and he's the best in the world so far this year 
"Just to put that into context.
Scarborough is a open water surf spot, normally wave sailed by mere mortals
Crazy waves is a winter jumper's paradise, lotsa ramps coming in at all different angles.
Open waters fun, these spots a a tad more extreme" Yeh I know he's a crazy bugger, and my full respect, just they were talking handicaps and Mal mentioned open water, just an example 
33 in those conditions, just shows why he's the best in the world at the moment
