Virtual Racing by kayak and canoe

I am designing a point system for the virtual race to promote participation, award faster racers, and also to encourage to race different boats by the same paddler and to add some spice here. I believe that the most interesting is to see different boats raced under similar conditions including the same paddling engine. The first prototype system is as follows:

• 1 point for each 5 mile race entry
• 2 points for each 10 mile race entry
• 1 point for every 0.5 mph of average speed above 6 mph in 5 and 10 mile races
• 2 points for each additional boat raced by the same paddler over the same distance
• no points for 1000 m sprint race at this time, but you can get bonus points for racing more than one boat in that race
• limitation of number of race entries: no more entries than 1 per week from the same paddler in the same boat

Examples:

• A racer paddling 10 miles with 6.5 mph speed will receive 2 + 2 = 4 points (entry points and speed bonus).
• A racer comparing three different kayaks in 1000 m sprint will receive 0 + 2 + 2 = 4 points (no entry points, but multiple boat bonus for the 2nd and 3rd kayak)

I have applied this point system to the 2005 virtual race and got the following results for the six top racers:

1. 18 points - Andrew Folpe
2. 17 points - Marek Uliasz
3. 16 points - David Bartell
4. 13 points - Bjorn Johansen
5. 13 points - Dan Murn
6. 7 points - Mark Webber

This illustrates that it is possible to achieve a high point position by racing fast or/and by high racing activity.

As a "resident racer" I was the most active one, but as a not so fast paddler I was collecting only one or two points from each race. I didn't race 10 miles, but I got some bonus points for entering multiple boats in the 5 mile race (Sisson Nucleus, Sea Wind, Bergans Ally, Specer X-treme). One of my Sisson kayak entries didn't count since it was less than a week apart from the previous one.

Andrew had a much lower number of entries but they all were very fast and he paddled three different boats (Custom Kayaks Mark 1 and Fenn Mako Millenium surfskis and WSBS Thunderbolt). The other listed paddlers had also just a few but fast entries.

This point system is open for comments. I would appreciate any suggestions and advice.