Rear Commodore David Elliott is putting the Fall Race Series together.
Here is the proposed schedule as well as some information on the handicap system that is used to allow different boats to compete alongside each other.
Yes Captain, your big wide 10,000lb cruiser has a chance to compete against those skinny little 2,000lb race boats on an even keel.
Racing is great fun but it is also a wonderful skill builder. Get your boat to the start line or sign up to crew on another boat!
We can always use workers/scorers as well!
Fleet members-this is for you as well! When Krayton King was a fleet member he finished 3rd in the series (and in the A fleet no less!) and was runner up in the long distance race, all boats can be competitive!
Fall Racing is just around the corner. Get your boat and crew ready!!
Tentative Schedule
(subject to change – keep following)
- Sept 7 Race 1
- Sept 14 Race 2 Italian theme Club Party
- Sept 21 Fall work day (No Race, maybe a fun flotilla)
- Sept 28 Race 3
- Oct 5 Race 4
- Oct 12 Pirate Party and Poker Run (No Race)
- Oct 19 Long Distance Classic Race (not a part of the race series)
- Oct 26 Race 5
- Nov 2 Race 6 (make up day if needed will be Nov 9) 6 Races, 5 count towards the overall winner (1 throw out)
2 Fleets
A. Race Boats
B. Cruising Boats
Race Handicap System
PHRF = (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet).
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Performance_Handicap_Racing_Fleet
PHRF is a simple way to handicap (compare) sailboats of different size and sailing characteristics.
PHRF is done at the local level to account for sailing area characteristics.
The PHRF used at the Grand Lake Sailing Club (GLSC) is a Time over distance format. This format compares the time it takes to sail a boat over a set distance as measured and reported by the US Sailing Association.
The ‘Base” number rating is assigned to each boat based on factors, some of which are:
- Height of mast
- Type of keel
- Type of auxiliary propulsion (motor if present- inboard or outboard)
- Sail area (forward triangle or jib size) the use of a spinnaker as well as others
The goal of GLSC is to have a PHRF handicap assigned to sailboats to allow competition of different boats in the same category. While PHRF takes into consideration many items it does not seek to penalize for captain or crew skill, age of equipment, age of sails (except where stated in the PHRF adjustments), clean or dirty bottom etc. Those are expected to be maintained and in good working order. If you choose to sail with a dirty bottom and 20 year old sails there is not a PHRF adjustment or handicap for those areas. However when there is a glaring use of a rating the race committee (rear commodore) can make adjustments to a PHRF in order to stimulate competition and sailing competitiveness for boats.
Common PHRF sailing adjustments
- Headsail less than 145% +6 pt credit
- Headsail less than 130% +9 pt credit
- Headsail roller furling +3 pt credit
- Dacron main and headsail +6 pt credit )for cruising fleet
- Inboard motor +6 pt credit (also 2 or 3 blade prop plays a role)
Common point deductions
- Outboard (assumed to be out of the water during racing)=0 pt change
- Spinnaker -12 pt debit
- Folding prop (depends on prop size)
- Other items can be addressed. Keel type (fin, wing, swing, shoal) Mast height (tall rig)
For the fall race series David will be reevaluating PHRF numbers using the US sailing base handicap and then modifications to that based on a few boat adjustments that are pretty standard (See information above).