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PHRF Handicaps

what Is a PHRF Handicap?

Performance Handicap Rating Fleet (PHRF) is a handicap system that strives to create a “level playing field” when boats of different type and/or configuration race against one another. The system uses a “seconds per mile” handicap based on boat performance observations collected from sailing locales across the US since the early 1980’s. 

Every handicap is constructed using two components: a Base Rating for a given boat type (e.g., a 35’ Beneteau Oceanis 351 might have a base rating of 131 sec/nm) and a set of Adjustments (e.g., add 10 seconds per nm because a boat has a fixed propellor) -- the Base rating is used as the starting point and the Adjustments are used to account for the variability in configuration of boats of the same type.

Base ratings make assumptions about the boat's equipment configuration and condition:  typically, that it has: a clean and fair bottom, the standard sails available (from the manufacturer) in good condition, its standing and running gear is tuned properly and in good condition and the like.

A given Boat Type may have multiple Base Ratings  because the manufacturer offered it with hull options:  e.g., the boat was offered with a swing keel and a winged keel. Also, sailing conditions (wind, current and waves) vary by locale, e.g., sailing in San Francisco Bay is quite different from sailing on Chesapeake Bay.  As a result, the Base rating for a given boat type can and often does differ from locale to locale.

The United States Sailing Association (a.k.a., US Sailing) provides PHRF standards to ensure consistency across U.S. locales and maintains a publicly available database containing Base Ratings by locale on almost every type of boat racing in the US.

The PHRF handicaps for a given fleet are assigned by local organizations – an organization like SLSC has the option of either constructing PHRF handicaps themselves or outsourcing the construction of their PHRF’s to another organization with similar sailing conditions.

HOW DOES SLSC Construct A PHRF Handicap?

SLSC outsources the construction of PHRF handicaps to the Melbourne Yacht Club (MYC) which races in the Indian River with conditions similar to the North Fork of the St. Lucie River.

MYC provides a well-defined and comprehensive set of rules to construct handicaps as defined in its PHRF Policy and Procedures document – the RMC strongly recommends that anyone interested in the details of how SLSC handicaps are put together become familiar with this document.

Note: while it only expects to use this right in very rare circumstances, the RMC reserves the right to modify any MYC provided PHRF Handicap to support its objectives of a fun and fair playing field for its members.

HOW TO OBTAIN AN SLSC Handicap?

The procedure for acquiring a handicap is straightforward: a Skipper fills out and signs a PHRF Application Form which captures the information needed to construct the handicap. The Skipper submits the completed application to the SLSC Race Captain, who sends the form to MYC, who constructs the PHRF handicap and sends it back to the SLSC for its approval. Once approved,  the new handicap is published in the appropriate places on the SLSC website.

For convenience in filling out and submitting a PHRF Application, three different versions of the form are available to Skippers:

  1.  A PDF version that can be printed, filled-out and signed with pen or pencil.
  2. A Digital Signature version that can be filled out and digitally signed online – this version is for skippers familiar with digital signature technology.
  3. An Image signature version that can be filled out online and signed online where the signature is an image file (jpg) containing a Skipper’s signature.

What ARE tHE Handicap DETAILS FOR SLSC’s Fleet?

The RMC provides the following resources to meet its commitment to transparency in PHRF Handicaps

  1.  The PHRF Applications page lists all of the applications for the racing fleet.
  2. The downloadable SLSC Fleet Handicaps spreadsheet contains the input data extracted from the PHRF Applications as well as shows exactly how the handicap was constructed for each boat in the fleet.

what Is a PHRF RATING?

Performance Handicap Rating Fleet (PHRF) is a handicap system that strives to create a “level playing field” when boats of different type and/or configuration race against one another. The system uses a “seconds per mile” handicap based on boat performance observations collected from sailing locales across the US since the early 1980’s. 

Every rating is constructed using two components: a Base Rating for a given boat type (e.g., a 35’ Beneteau Oceanis 351 might have a base rating of 131 sec/nm) and a set of Adjustments (e.g., add 10 seconds per nm because a boat has a fixed propellor) -- the Base rating is used as the starting point and the Adjustments are used to account for the variability in configuration of boats of the same type.

Base ratings make assumptions about the boat's equipment configuration and condition:  typically, that it has: a clean and fair bottom, the standard sails available (from the manufacturer) in good condition, its standing and running gear is tuned properly and in good condition and the like.

A given Boat Type may have multiple Base Ratings  because the manufacturer offered it with hull options:  e.g., the boat was offered with a swing keel and a winged keel. Also, sailing conditions (wind, current and waves) vary by locale, e.g., sailing in San Francisco Bay is quite different from sailing on Chesapeake Bay.  As a result, the Base rating for a given boat type can and often does differ from locale to locale.

The United States Sailing Association (a.k.a., US Sailing) provides PHRF standards to ensure consistency across U.S. locales and maintains a publicly available database containing Base Ratings by locale on almost every type of boat racing in the US.

The PHRF ratings for a given fleet are assigned by its local organization –an organization like SLSC has the option of either constructing PHRF ratings themselves or outsourcing the construction of their PHRF’s to another organization with similar sailing conditions.

HOW DOES SLSC PROVIDE PHRF RATINGS?

The SLSC Race Management Committee (RMC) outsources the construction of PHRF ratings to the Melbourne Yacht Club (MYC) which races in the Indian River with conditions similar to the North Fork of the St. Lucie River.

MYC provides a well-defined and comprehensive set of rules to construct its ratings as defined in its PHRF Policy and Procedures document – the RMC strongly recommends that anyone interested in the details of how SLSC ratings are put together become familiar with this document.

Note: while it only expects to use this right in very rare circumstances, the RMC reserves the right to modify any MYC provided PHRF to support its objectives of a fun and fair playing field for its members.

HOW TO OBTAIN AN SLSC RATING?

The procedure for acquiring a rating is straightforward: a Skipper fills out and signs a PHRF Application Form which captures the information needed to construct a rating. The Skipper submits the completed application to the SLSC Race Captain, who sends the form to MYC, who constructs the PHRF rating and sends it back to the SLSC for its approval. Once approved, the new rating is published in the appropriate places on the SLSC website.

For convenience in filling out and submitting a PHRF Application, three different versions of the form are available to Skippers:

  1.  A PDF version that can be printed, filled-out and signed with pen or pencil.
  2. A Digital Signature version that can be filled out and digitally signed online – this version is for skippers familiar with digital signature technology.
  3. An Image signature version that can be filled out online and signed online where the signature is an image file (jpg) containing a Skipper’s signature.

Where ARE tHE Rating DETAILS FOR SLSC’s Fleet?

The RMC provides the following resources to meet its commitment to transparency in PHRF Ratings:

  1.  The SLSC Fleet Applications page lists all of the applications for the racing fleet.
  2. The PHRF Ratings Spreadsheet contains the input data extracted from the PHRF Applications as well as shows exactly how the rating was constructed for each boat in the fleet.