PHRF Regulations
PHRF stands for Performance Handicap Racing Fleet, and it describes a group of sailboats of varying sizes and speeds handicapped for racing on the basis of observed performance, rather than measured dimensions. It is the purpose of the PHRF System to handicap boats of various classes or types on the basis of the potential speed of a well sailed, well maintained and well equipped specimen of each type. It is not the purpose of the PHRF System to handicap skippers and crews. Where sailing skill, or the lack of it, is the cause of the result, winning will not lead to a faster rating, nor loosing to a slower one.
PHRF is open to any single hull, self righting boat of any age and almost any description. PHRF may be open to multihull boats when approved by the committee on a case by case basis. Its goal is to provide fair and equitable racing for as many boats as possible. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in cases where a boat is of so radical a design that any rating assigned to it would impair the rating balance of the Fleet as a whole, a handicap may be refused.
The PHRF handicaps are assigned by the PHRF Committee. The PHRF Committee
meets at least once a quarter throughout the year for the purpose of
assigning new ratings, reviewing old ones, drafting or revising regulations
and transacting any other business appropriately before it.
PHRF Procedures
PHRF Ratings Certificates are available upon application to any PHRF
Committee member. Applicants will receive a rating form which must be
filled out and returned, with the appropriate fee, to one of the Committee
members, for assignment of a rating. If the boat is one of a standard
class or type, to which a base rating has already been assigned, the
Committee member will assign that rating, adjusted where necessary for
differences in sail size, propeller type, spinnaker pole length, etc.,
provided such differences are within the range of the LAKE LANIER STANDARD
HANDICAP ADJUSTMENTS. The rating form will then be returned to the Committee
Chairperson for validation and forwarding to the applicant.
If the boat is one of a standard class or type for which no base rating
has yet been assigned, or if the differences from the standard version
are beyond the scope of the standard modifications or if the boat is
the only one of its kind, the Committee member will present the application
to the entire PHRF Committee at its next meeting. and the rating will
be assigned by that group as a whole.
In cases where a rating must be assigned by the entire Committee and
where an imminent regatta requires the applicant to have a rating before
the Committee can meet, any Committee member is empowered, but not obliged,
to issue a provisional rating, which is valid for all purposes until
the next Committee meeting. At that meeting, the provisional rating
will be reviewed and either accepted as is or altered, as the Committee
may decide.
It must be recognized that no system of handicapping will adequately
rate all types of boats on all points of sail and in all wind and sea
conditions. It is the aim of this Committee to assign ratings for conditions
on Lake Lanier in winds of approximately 5 to 10 knots true.
Rating Review / Appeal
There is no such thing as a final PHRF rating. Any rating may be reviewed
and changed in either direction at any meeting without notice to the
skipper. Whenever the Committee is satisfied, on the basis of observed
performance, that the rating of a particular boat or type of boat does
not fairly reflect the potential speed of that boat or type, it will
make whatever change in the rating it finds to be fair. Changes to ratings
which have been long established are seldom made. In the case of more
recently rated boats, particularly where little data was available when
the rating was first assigned, changes are likely as experience accumulates.
Any PHRF certificate holder can Appeal his or her own or any other
rating by submitting an appeal in writing, along with the appropriate
fee, to any member of the Committee. The letter will be more effective
if it sets forth details of a boat's performance relative to other boat's
on various points of sail and in various wind speeds. Information of
this kind is more useful than race results, because race results are
influenced by many factors in addition to boat speed. The Committee
will consider every such Appeal at its next scheduled meeting or may
choose to schedule a special meeting to consider Appeals. After the
presentation of all pertinent information both written and oral the
Committee will go into closed session to review all the facts and within
one week will notify the persons directly involved in the appeal of
its findings.
Any PHRF certificate holder, after a local Appeal, who considers that
he or she has not been fairly and reasonably treated by the Committee
may bring his or her complaint before the US-PHRF Appeals Committee.
The effective date of any rating change made at a PHRF meeting is the
first Friday following that meeting. If this results in a boat's rating
being changed during a Clubs series, the rating to be used for that
series is at the discretion of the Race Committee of the sponsoring
Club.
PHRF Regulations
The Base Rating is the rating assigned to a standard; boat of a class
or type. It assumes the standard rig dimensions for the class, a genoa
whose LP dimension is in the range of 145.1% to 155.0% of J, a folding
propeller if exposed or a two bladed solid one if in an aperture. If
propulsion is by an outboard engine, it assumes the engine is dismounted
and stowed in an optimum location when racing. It assumes that the spinnaker
pole length (SPL) is equal to the width of the base of the foretriangle
(J) and that the maximum girth (SMG) of the spinnaker at any point is
in the range of 168.1% to 183.0% of J. Finally, it assumes that the
boat is in all other respects similar to the standard boat of its type
as originally supplied by the manufacturer. The Committee may require
the boat to be measured to verify these assumptions.
Certain variations from these norms are not uncommon. They are set
forth in the attached tables, LAKE LANIER PHRF STANDARD ADJUSTMENTS,
from which departures from the base rating on account of differences
in genoa and spinnaker size, propeller type, etc. can be determined.
Variations affecting performance which are not set forth in these tables
require action by the entire Committee at a meeting.
Certain models are identified as One-Design Rig (ODR) class. ODR classes
are sold with standard rigs which in some respect don't conform to the
base handicap assumptions, e.g., an overlength spinnaker pole is standard
on a J-22. ODR boats raced in their one-design class configuration,
are handicapped as though they meet the base handicap assumptions and
are not further penalized for overlength poles, etc. provided they conform
to their one-design class rig dimensions.
Annual Declaration of LP
The LP dimension declared for a yacht at the time her certificate was
issued or renewed must remain in effect for the duration of the year
for which that certificate was issued. Rating changes resulting from
changes in the LP dimension can, therefore, be made only once a year,
except upon written application to the PHRF Committee stating the reasons
for the change. Such applications will not be approved if the Committee
finds that the proposed change is an attempt to fine-tune the yacht's
rating for anticipated weather conditions in any specific race, series
or time of year.
Sail Measurement Limitations
The ratings assigned by the PHRF Committee assume that sail dimensions
not specifically stated on the certificate conform either to the limitations
of the yacht's class or to limitations which have long been standard
in all measurement rules. Any departure from these limitations amounts
to a change from the standard or norm, notice of which must be given
to the Committee.
In the case of yachts not belonging to a one design class, attention
is specifically directed to the following.
1. Mainsail headboards may not exceed in width the greater of 6 inches
or 4% of E.
2. Mainsails and mizzens may have no more than four battens, approximately
evenly spaced along the leech. Full length battens are permitted.
3. The luff length of a spinnaker may not exceed 95% of the square
root of the sum of I squared plus JC squared. (JC being the greatest
of J or SPL or G divided by 1.8).
4. A sail may not be measured or used as a jib unless its midgirth
does not exceed 50% of its foot and the length of any intermediate girth
does not exceed a value similarly proportionate to its distance from
the head of the sail.
Proper Racing Trim
Yachts shall race as rated with at least all the equipment and furnishings
supplied as standard by the manufacturer. A yacht which has altered
or removed bulkheads, permanently attached furniture, or structural
interior components shall be considered a custom yacht. Components such
as drawers, headliners, cabinet and locker doors, steps, ladders and
engine enclosures shall remain in place as supplied as standard equipment.
If they do not so remain, the yacht will be considered a custom yacht
and rated accordingly. Passageway doors, cushions, dining tables and
carpet are specifically exempted and are alterable or removable provided
all safety standards are met.
Owner's Obligation to Disclose Alterations
PHRF ratings are based on information supplied to the Committee by
the owner. The success of the program, therefore, is entirely dependent
upon the integrity of the participants. In signing an application for
a rating or for the renewal of a rating, the owner attests to the accuracy
of the information supplied concerning his boat and further undertakes
to notify the Committee forthwith of any subsequent changes in his boat
which may be relevant to its performance. If the hearing of a protest
establishes that an owner has failed to comply with these requirements,
such failure by the owner will have invalidated his certificate, which
the Committee may then revoke, retroactively where appropriate. In a
flagrant case, the Committee may suspend the owner's privilege to participate
in any races sponsored by the LLPHRF member Clubs for a period of one
year.
The PHRF Committee
The LLPHRF committee is made up of a member of the PHRF fleet of each
member club, a member at large and a Chief Measurer. The names, addresses
and telephone numbers of all the members of the current PHRF Committee
are available upon request. All of these committee members are working
to make the PHRF program a success. Feel free to call on any of them
for advice or help when you need it.
