FREE measurement and AMS2 certificate for Melbourne to Osaka race.

by John Curnow on 19 Aug 2011 The Australian Measurement System has just been upgraded to AMS2. As part of the launch of the updated and ever-growing measurement system, the AMS Technical Committee is offering free AMS2 certificates for all Interstate and Overseas vessels coming to Melbourne to race in the 2013 Melbourne to Osaka, Double Handed, 5500nm classic.

All measuring is included and the organising committee is rapidly developing a plan for weighing, so you do not have to worry about that cost, either. This fantastic offer also extends to being able to do any IRC or ORCi measuring or re-measuring you may need, but you will be responsible for paying any fees due to those respective governing bodies for new certificates.

As it is most likely that the major trophy for the Melbourne to Osaka race will be in the AMS2 category, this significant offering is going to be able to ensure all competing vessels will be in the most popular category and at no direct cost to themselves. 'When the ORCV asked us to be the official measurer for the event, Lowa Paszko and I agreed without hesitation. We are both AMS and IRC measurers and I also do ORCi inclinations for proof of stability', said Peter Coleman.

In certain parts of Australia, AMS needs no introduction. With such a large interstate and overseas contingent already interested in the 5500nm classic, a little information about the system, its origins and methodology is certainly warranted. In 1997, when the original Australian Measurement System was created, most racing keelboats were being designed to the IMS rule, which was rapidly declining throughout the world and particularly in Australia.

The need for a single figure time correction rating became paramount, in order to maintain racing on a measurement system and to overcome the problems experienced with the complex IMS rule. It was in this environment that AMS was established. Over the years since then, the fleet has changed dramatically and most designs are now optimised to a single figure time correction rating system.

Designers have experimented with new designs and have found ways to optimise the designs to fit these systems. This has placed older or less optimised designs at a disadvantage. After 15 years it is necessary to update the AMS system in order to keep pace with the changes in designs and to meet the objectives of the system, namely to provide a fair rating for all boats in the fleet irrespective of their age or design. This update is called AMS2.

So AMS2 is the result of changes in the mathematics used in the AMS database over the last 18 months. These alterations and updates better reflect the type and design of the boats in the current fleet using the AMS ratings. An additional measurement (M) for new certificates has been added to measure the distance from the top of the boom to the base of the turning block at the top of the mast and the requirement to measure the headsail upper width (HUW) has been removed.

This system update has not changed the rating algorithm. However many of the computer generated precursors that are used to rate the many measurements used in the system, including hull, keel, rigging and the sail areas of the largest sails of each type have changed, as these are obviously determined by the measurement characteristics of the fleet.

These changes have resulted in some alteration to nearly all of the ratings of the 798 boats in the database. AMS has never used hull or rig factors and all ratings are based on the measurements taken by the Measurer. However, the system determines how to use these measurements to best obtain the fairest overall balance of ratings for the whole fleet and thereby minimises the disadvantage to any individual design.

Boats with a current certificate, should in general, find the changes to be more consistent with the composition of the current fleet and fairer for all. The rating for every boat has been analysed against its measurement data and in some cases against published velocity prediction program (VPP) information, in order to confirm that the rating is consistent with the data. As a general rule, every well-campaigned boat should have the opportunity to win and conversely, there is no point in winning, if the rating does not adequately reflect the performance of the boat.

Moving forward, it is planned to update the system on a four year cycle in future and this will be coordinated with the changes to the racing rules and safety regulations. Ratings will not change between these updates unless an error is discovered in the measured data or in the processing of the information.

Whilst talking about AMS and the Melbourne to Osaka race, Just A Minor Hick Up2 was custom built for it and has also been in the 1885nm Melbourne to Vanuatu race, as well as countless Bass Strait forays and many a local race on Melbourne's Port Phillip. She is presently for sale.

If you're one of the 44 EOIs already held for the 2013 Melbourne to Osaka race, or perhaps just one of the many silent parties, then this wonderful offer from the AMS Technical Team is simply fantastic news.

You will be racing in another division, completely free of charge, which is really handy if you're on a budget.

Many thanks to the AMS Board for their gracious and generous offer. More information is available at orcv.org.au