Forums

You're right Brian, there are some very small numbers out there, and also I don't think we have specified the width or the font, so you get skinny numbers which are also hard to see.

Would be sad disappointed if these non-compliant ones had been purchased from the association. Mine are one of the original lots that Damian organised for the association and seem to be about right.

Might be worth updating the rules to include a prescription for font type as well.

Will look at the number board thing.

A point to note, if a boat is running and the number board is not legible them the lap counter and or race controller needs to call it so that the driver can fix the problem. Missing counting boats and not making sure the opportunity is given to fix the problem is not a good situation! This is the sort of thing that causes unnecessesary crap. We need to keep as much integrity in the system as possible.

Perhaps number boards should be scrutineered also?

Yes i Agree to some are hard to read an when the water is rough looking at white boards with black numbers on is even harder to read so if we are going to look at the size of these also think about a darker back ground for these boards with a lighter colour for the numbers just my 10 bobs worth to give you all something to think about or we all get stronger reading glasses

Once when I was lap counting at Hamilton, a number board became unreadable for some reason I cant remember why, it was not difficult at all for me to think oh, that is so n so's boat he is number 5, every time that red boat goes past I will press number 5. Or if using paper instead of IRMS, cross out the number 5 on the piece of paper and put red boat or the persons name, anything, point is there is no need to be a dick and not count laps because of a number board, there is lots of other ways to recognise someone's boat, they are all pretty distinctive in colour or shape. Back in the day in the old matrix races I remember the lap counter familiarised themselves with each persons boat and that is how they counted the laps. Number boards came in to make the job easier. It is just a radio control boat race. Just my 2c ha ha laugh now.

Some good points in this discussion. There is some work beginning looking at a transponder based system which would obsolete all of the problems we currently have, especially where human error occurs.
Remember guys, that if there are issues or ideas around our boating, let your friendly (lol) committee member know so that we can address and work on them. This is how we can continue to improve and grow model power boating in NZ.