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Handicap Rating Rule Options for 2022

• By Gary Jobson
• February 8, 2022

The day was perfect for ­racing. With the wind out of the south at 15 knots, there was a spirited group of sailors striving to get their yachts to the finish line without leaving a second to spare on the racecourse. The course was a standard windward-leeward configuration, with 1.6-mile legs. After a below-average finish in the first race, our crew refocused and sailed exceptionally well for the next five races, achieving great starts, sailing on every favorable wind shift, and executing our boat handling with deft precision. We were doing everything we possibly could to ensure a corrected-time win.

But then, to our dismay, we watched our rivals round the final weather mark from well behind, set their spinnakers and jump on plane, cruising through our lee and sailing away, ­easily saving their time allowances and beating us on corrected time. Afterward, we analyzed every detail of every race, searching for ways to save even more time. Maybe we could have gained 20 seconds, but it never added up enough to make a difference. Eventually, it became clear to me that the handicap rating rule wasn’t working properly—certainly not for us, nor many other owners and teams that are becoming disheartened with the state of big-boat handicap ­racing.

This is, of course, not a new problem. The quest to assign fair handicap ratings to yachts of different shapes and sizes has been a challenge for more than a century. Looking back, a pattern seems to repeat every 20 years or so: A new rule emerges, designers and owners attempt to exploit every conceivable loophole, and inevitably the fleet dwindles as sailors become dissatisfied with the rule and walk away.

Big-boat handicap racing in North America is at a turning point once again. During my tenure at World Sailing , I was liaison to the Offshore and Oceanic Committee and the Offshore Racing Council. At US Sailing, I pushed the organization to improve its offshore regulatory operations. My perspectives, as a competitor and a board member, have always been aligned. In the United States, there is general dissatisfaction with our handicap rating rules, but what I have learned from current leaders about this situation is that help—and change—is on the way. To be successful, bold steps are in order.

Now, however, is not the time to create a new handicap rating rule. All the experts I’ve spoken to agree the preferred action is to improve the entry-level Performance Handicap Rating Factor system and work with the Offshore Racing Council, which manages ORC, to improve its rule for North American racing sailors. Creating a new handicap rule is an arduous process, and success is not a sure thing. There are many lessons from the past: In 1965, the Cruising Club of America and the Royal Ocean Racing Club collaborated on a new handicap rule for use in the Olympic Games. The Offshore Racing Council was formed to administer the new International Offshore Rule in 1969.

IOR was a vibrant rule because it was universally accepted and used internationally. In time, however, favor in IOR started to fade. Stan Honey, an authority on offshore racing and handicap systems, says American sailors became frustrated with the ORC in the 1980s for not fixing known problems with IOR. “ORC did not have the strength of character to maintain the IOR rule,” Honey says. “The technical committee was comprised of designers that had their own boats in build, so those guys didn’t want to change the rule to fix the problems.”

The IOR’s problem children—yachts with pinched ends—eventually killed the rule.

“The IOR would still be working if the ORC had fixed it,” Honey says, “but they didn’t. The boats got weird, and nobody liked them anymore.”

US yachtsmen then went and funded the development of the H. Irving Pratt Project and created a velocity prediction program (VPP) that became the Measurement Handicap Rule. The Pratt VPP is still the basis for handicapping rules in use today. The ORC used the basics of the MHS rule and created the International Measurement System, and soon enough, the same problems surfaced again.

“The ORC screwed it up again because it did not maintain it even though there was some great racing with the IMS rule,” Honey says. “When the loopholes got figured out, the technical committee did not fix the problems. So, the United States split off again, ­creating the Americap Rule and the Offshore Rating Rule.”

Today, several handicap ­rating rules are used in North America, including ORR, ORC, IRC (which is owned by the Royal Ocean Racing Club) and PHRF. That’s too many, and none are perfect.

Ed Cesare, chairman of New York YC’s Handicap Rating Rule and Measurement Committee, says the club used ORC broadly last summer for the first time and experienced a high level of disappointment from the fleet. “We received complaints about the quality and integrity of the certificates,” he says. “I am not at all comfortable that we are going to get to a good place with the ORC rule. They did a good job on marketing it, which led to unrealistic expectations about what the rule can do.”

Cesare and Larry Fox, representing the Storm Trysail Club, presented seven submissions via US Sailing to the ORC. The submissions asked to expand the wind range down to 4 knots; define the allowable use of unusual headsails (Code Zeros); and improve the way the VPP handles planing boats, adding more wind ranges from three groups to five. They also asked stability calculation questions, including a request to allow multiple standard ORC certificates at once for the same boat, and a request to examine the rated performance of unique boat types.

“All of [the submissions] were remanded to the technical ­committee,” he says.

The ORC’s response was the same when the United States was complaining about IOR and IMS in the 1980s and 1990s, Honey says. “It does not end well when you take that approach with American sailors.”

The ORC, he adds, needs to aggressively work to solve the problems and come up with a better rule, or at least a version of the rule that meets the needs of US sailors. “For 2022, the five wind-band scoring will help,” he says. “We think this will ameliorate the displacement-planing situation. It is in progress, and I hope the ORC will work with us.”

The United States has the third-highest number of ORC International certificates, so Cesare says his group will take action by putting yachts in appropriate classes. “The class breaks are going to be draconian,” he says. “If you have a 40-foot planing boat, you better get some of your friends to come or you are going to be ­racing by yourself.”

Dobbs Davis, chair of the ORC Promotion and Development Committee, has been championing the rule for many years. He is, of course, an enthusiastic supporter of the rule and says it works if the scoring is done properly. “Using ORC tools, we have multiple ways of scoring,” Davis says. “One of them is the wind triple-number system—low, medium and high [wind strength]. There are crossovers, which puts a burden on the race committee because they have to decide what is the low, medium or heavy wind. Basically, below 8 knots is low, 9 to 14 knots is medium, and above 14 knots is high.”

As far as dealing with the concerns of Cesare and Fox, Davis says the scoring works fine with planing boats—again, as long as the scoring is done properly. As to US Sailing’s other submissions, Davis says, race committees do need to establish accurate wind strengths to score boats correctly, but this is not easy. Some race committees will determine the wind strength before the race starts, and scoring with five wind ranges will make it worse. The ORC will not allow boats to have multiple certificates, he adds, “which would make it tough on our administrators. The ORC will not make estimates on stability. This is a safety issue.”

Matt Gallagher, an ORC member, past chair of the Chicago YC’s Race to Mackinac, and chair of US Sailing’s Offshore Racing Committee, says he’s committed to achieving two goals: “We want our members and racers to go offshore and do it with any rating rule our partner clubs choose to use, and then bring some stability to the rating rules and bring some focus back to PHRF. The base of the pyramid has been neglected for a while. We have to start growing that again.”

Gallagher is optimistic about the use of the ORC rule and says it’s one that needs attention and tweaking to make it more appropriate for the United States. “[The ORC is] going to have to pay more attention to us.”

Honey agrees: “PHRF should be cheap, cheerful and simple scoring,” he says. “People should understand that the most effective rating for their boat is in class scoring. Anything that changes a boat out of class scoring is going to be punished [with a higher handicap rating]. If you want to spend more money to perform better, put your money in new sails, coaches, a smooth bottom and stuff like that.”

As for the future, Honey has an interesting prediction: “A new rule will happen. The original VPP that came out of the Pratt Project is still the basis for the ORC. It is long in the tooth and old-fashioned. What is going to happen next is some graduate students are going to come up with some neural network-based rule. The timing will be just right in a year or two because people will be really frustrated with the ORC. It will start another 15- to 20-year cycle until people get tired of that rule.”

Until then, he says, US Sailing must focus on providing high-quality measurement services and supporting PHRF by providing a first-class online database with regional ratings and guidelines to help race committees manage local fleets. “PHRF should be kept at the entry level and use single time-on-time scoring,” Honey says. “Any event that wants to do wind-condition scoring should move on to another rule. Any sailor that wants to optimize their boat for different races should go do some different rule.”

A few venerable American races, such the Newport to Bermuda and the Transpacific Race, continue to use the ORR rule. However, in recent years, the Offshore Racing Association, which controls ORR, has struggled to keep its operation functioning. The ORC rule has a chance to be more broadly adopted domestically, but its managers need to work with American race organizers to improve the rule. PHRF has a promising future, but would be well-served to update its operations to make it easy to use. In our age of supercomputer technology, we have the capability to make improvements to handicap rating rules.

Honey suggests improvements can be made by using direct computational fluid dynamics for both hydrodynamics and aerodynamics, which is likely to be the first major improvement. The CFD would be incorporated in the rating calculator and run for each boat from the lines files and measurements. “The technology exists now and is becoming practical as computers become more powerful,” he says. “This would be a major step forward from the VPP in use now by ORC and ORR. I think ORC and ORR are considering such a development.”

US Sailing has hired veteran handicap rating administrator Jim Teeters to oversee the offshore office, and Alan Ostfield, US Sailing’s new CEO, has committed to hiring additional personnel to help Teeters get the operation running efficiently. To assist owners through the arduous measurement process, Honey is an advocate of using the Universal Measurement System, which allows boats to be measured once, with the measurement data used for any ­handicap rating rule.

Sailors and handicappers clearly don’t agree on what the ideal handicapping rule should be, but every sailor does want a fair chance of winning a race if they sail well. We all need to work together to make improvements so that when the wind is right and we sail a perfect race, we can be rewarded with the win.

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How Racing Rating Rules Work (and how to maximize yours)

Racing ratings can seem confusing and overwhelming. Our team at Quantum is here to help you understand how ratings work, decipher the various systems, and help you maximize your ratings to ensure your best shot at the podium. Our sail designers have outlined a few key elements about ratings. Understanding them can help you get the most out of your racing rating.

Rating rules are a powerful tool that allows a variety of yachts to compete on a level playing field. If you race a tortoise against a hare (assuming the hare is smart enough not to take a nap in the middle of the race), the hare will always win. Not really a fair match-up. The same goes for non-one design racing. Being the first yacht over the finish line, while impressive, does not necessarily mean you sailed the best race comparatively. Therefore, rating rules come into play. It is important to understand how they work so you can work with your sailmaker and other specialists to optimize your program and level the playing field, so your crew’s talent shines.

There are four main rating rules: Performance Handicap Racing Fleet (PHRF), International Racing Conference (IRC), Offshore Racing Congress (ORC), and Offshore Racing Rule (ORR). We will give a brief overview of how each rating rule assigns a rating, why it is important to your program, and how Quantum can help make sure you have the best rating possible. While there are other rating systems, these are the four we focus on in this article.

The Rating Rules

In general, rating systems assign a value to a yacht or a particular yacht setup. This number is then used to correct finish times after each race. With all four rules, the most common way to score a race is to use a time-on-time (TOT) or a time-on-distance (TOD) correction. TOT corrections consider how long it takes to race; the TOD formula looks at the distance of the race. However, ORC and ORR ratings consider additional factors and have some flexibility for a custom correction formula.

PHRF is a simple handicap system, similar to the system used in golf. Considering the type of yacht, an assumed sail plan, and the team’s performance, a corrected-time handicap factor is assigned to the team. Races under PHRF rules correct times using TOD or TOT.

The other three rating rules are a bit more complicated. These rules use formulas to assign a rating to each yacht based on the yacht’s dimensions, construction, and design features. The formulas for IRC and ORR are closely guarded secrets; however, it is still possible for sailmakers, yacht builders, and other specialists to understand how various factors affect the rating. ORC has two categories of classification, ORC International and ORC Club. In this article and for most applications, we refer mostly to ORC-International rating that requires a measurement performed by an official and certified measurer. ORC has a published formula that gives designers information to analyze and data to work from.

IRC looks at several yacht elements from sail size to weight and beam. It compares yachts as a percentage and then assigns the yacht a rating that is corrected using TOT.

ORC and ORR take their rating system to the next level by using complex formulas to predict the speed of the yacht with a given setup. These formulas are often referred to as Velocity Prediction Programs (VPP). There are a few ways these ratings can be used to score a race, including TOT, TOD, and performance curve scoring.

What Goes Into a Rating?

A large amount of data is plugged into IRC, ORC, and ORR proprietary formulas that generate ratings for various conditions and situations. For example, an ORR certificate has multiple standard and custom ratings for specific events such as the Newport Bermuda Race. Common data used to determine ratings includes hull data, sail measurements and types, crew and yacht weight, waterline, hardware, sailing trim, and other rigging data and measurements.

How Ratings Change

Due to several factors, your ratings can change even though your yacht hasn’t. The most common factor in rating change is sail size. Smaller sails equal a better rating across the board, and, since all modern sails shrink with use, your ratings can change over time. Every time you fold, hoist, or tack your sails, they shrink a bit, not unlike the way a piece of paper shrinks each time you crumple it up and re-flatten it. Some sail constructions, such as those using a lot of Dyneema, tend to shrink more than carbon sails.

General yacht specifications from the yacht manufacturer are often used to compile data points; however, each yacht is unique, so having the correct data for your yacht and rig can go a long way toward improving your rating.

How to Optimize Your Rating

Because IRC, ORC, and ORR ratings consider a number of elements that affect the speed of the yacht, there is a lot of room to tweak your setup to optimize your yacht for a particular racing rule. Sometimes a simple sail re-measurement is all it takes to better your handicap. That can be a real game changer when you are racing the 333-mile Chicago-to-Mackinac, the 475-mile Annapolis-to-Newport, or the 2,225-mile Trans Pac.

PHRF is harder to optimize due to the way ratings are assigned. Since the rating is based on boat type, it assumes these boats all use the same sail inventory. The best way to improve your PHRF rating is to improve your performance by using the sails your handicap is rated for. Quantum can help you review your rating and inventory and ensure the form is accurate. Our team can also explore how your regional PHRF committee measures the impact of switching from a pole and symmetrical spinnaker setup to a fixed-pole asymmetrical setup, as that can also greatly affect your handicap.

Whether you have an existing rating or need to apply for a new one, there are essentially three ways you can get the best, or at least a better, rating.

Option 1: Maximize what you’ve got.

This is the most common, easiest, and cheapest way to improve your rating. Bring your rating certificate and your largest sails to your local Quantum loft. We will start by verifying the sails listed on the certificate and re-measure them. We’ll discuss your yacht and sail plan, regatta schedule, overall program, and where you want to take it. This gives us a better understanding and helps us identify other areas that can improve your rating. Sometimes it is as simple as helping you re-submit your form with updated sail sizes.

Option 2: Deeper Analysis and Inventory

If your team is looking to take things to the next level or has a specific goal in mind, Quantum can help guide you through the second option. It is a bit more expensive than the first option but yields results. After assessing your current rating, goals, and budget, we will help coordinate and guide you through a whole-yacht optimization process using our in-house design team as well as other industry partners.

A Quantum sail designer will look carefully at your existing inventory, identify gaps or areas that could be improved, make recommendations for tweaking current sails, and add new or swap different sails to your inventory. We’ll run various simulations to dial in your rating based on your sail plan and help you create a long-term plan focused on optimizing your rating and sailing objectives.

Then we’ll work with other industry experts and review your yacht for potential changes or upgrades. These experts will run multiple analyses of your setup and identify areas that could benefit from re-evaluating your measurements, such as weighing your yacht to get an accurate weight instead of using the rules default values. 

Option 3: Weather and Location Ratings

The third option builds on the first two options and fine-tunes your rating for specific wind conditions and/or locations. Working within our network of industry experts, we’ll gather historical weather data for a particular event and run multiple simulations for the venue to further optimize your overall plan. This is a common practice with professional and Grand Prix racing teams

WHICH RATING DO I NEED?

This is a rather complex question that ultimately involves weighing and prioritizing factors that answer other questions. Is there an offshore race you’ve always wanted to sail? A destination regatta with a variety of classes to compete in? How much value is placed on the potential outcome, thereby determining which event to sail? Ratings and measurement systems evolve, and your boat, using one rating, may be more favorable in the same race with a different rating in a different class or suited for a different race altogether. While we can’t recommend one system over another, we can walk you through your sailing program plans and goals and help you decide which is the best system and then optimize that rating.

Regardless of where your program stands, we are here to help you understand how rating rules work and guide you to a better rating so that you and your team get the most out of the hard work you put in to cross the finish line. Email our team at  [email protected] to get the process started. _____

Other Resources:

• US Sailing: Rating Rules and Handicapping Systems.
• US Sailng: Offshore Competition
• US Sailing: PHRF Fleet Contact Directory
• International Rating Certificate: Official Website
• Offshore Racing Congress: Official Website
• Offshore Rating Rule: Offical Website

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Performance Handicap Racing Fleet (PHRF) is a handicapping system used for yacht racing that allows different classes of sailboats to be raced against each other. The system rates yachts by using various measurements that account for the expected speed potential of the yachts competing.

AYC hosts a fun PHRF series each Friday night throughout the summer as well as many other races throughout the sailing season. Each year AYC hosts the Spring Series, one of the earliest events in Long Island Sound and then finishes up the season with the Fall Series.

The complete guide to rating systems in sail racing

In one of the previous guides dedicated to yatching, we spoke about the  types of professional regattas that are out there.

In particular, we have learned that every association holds competitions among same-class yachts. However, there are also private regattas where the yachtsmen can command their own yacht or a charter one. To level the playing field for different vessels, the organizers use rating systems.

Let us look into that closely in this new and complete guide to rating systems in sail racing.

The rating systems in sail racing

During a year, federations of yacht / centerboard / catamaran classes hold their own races — national, regional and world championships events. The key rule for those is adhering to a single standard — the hull, sails and rigging should be the same. Yet, the same crews can compete in professional-amateur regattas, too. In this case, they are divided into separate groups (divisions) and have their results scored according to the class rules.

Scoring the results of the teams performing on different vessels, i.e. having different potential for winning, is a far more difficult task. To find out the real possibilities of a yacht as compared to racers, a special mathematic formula is used which calculates the racing score (rating). After a race, these individual score points are multiplied by the team’s results, and the team with the shortest recalculated time wins. Such a scoring system is called a rating system.

The rules of time recalculation depending on a yacht rating are called the handicap system. Any measurement and rating system is directly connected with the yacht’s technical characteristics, i.e. its handicap.

Frank Holleman C / Unsplash

The main types of rating systems (centificates) in sail racing

To take part in a regatta, a yacht should obtain the rating system certificate. Among the most applicable ones are the following certificates:

• ORC (Offshore Racing Congress International and ORC Club)
• IRC (International Rating Certificate)
• MOCRA (Multihull Offshore Cruising & Racing Association)

Virtually all the large-scale world events combine different divisions (a division unites vessels racing on the same distance). Any of those events may use their own rating.

Offshore Racing Congress (ORC)

The Offshore Racing Congress (ORC) establishes and maintains uniform rating standards in the sailing sport. In 1969 it presented two certificates — ORC International and ORC Club — to unite the two then-dominant standards — CCA (Cruising Club of America) for North and South Americas and RORC (Royal Ocean Racing Club for European countries). The ORC International and the ORC Club are similar certificates. The difference between them is that an official measurer performs measurement for the former one, while in the case of the ORC Club, the boat owner can submit some of the details, unless there is a possibility to conduct the full measurement in one’s own region. To assess boats with different characteristics, the ORC system uses:

• IMS (International Measurement System) computer-based measurement system. The programme measures performance characteristics of a given boat under various wind velocities and angles based on fundamental hydro- and aerodynamics principles;
• VPP (ORC Velocity Prediction Program) , which performs an automated technical analysis of the 7 real wind velocities, 8 real wind angles and 2 VMG (Velocity Made Good) optimum angles for a yacht.

The measurement is performed onshore, hence the boat should be fixed in place as much as possible, with the centerboard (if any) raised and the rigging raked. The features to be measured are the hull in all its dimensions, the helm/rudder, the centerboard/keel, the internal ballast, accumulator batteries, fixed and/or permanent/immovable interior details, hatch covers and floorboards, permanent mechanisms, electric equipment and vessel systems, the outboard motor, the mast, the boom, the spinnaker boom and/or the bowsprit, the standing and running rigging. As a result, you get a boat measurement file, with the ORC certificate containing the current yacht characteristics. If you have altered any parts of the vessel, a new measurement is required.

The typical ORC certificate looks like this

There are two ways to present the measurement results:

• In the metric system showing up to the third digit after the point, except sails for which only two digits after the point are indicated. The weight is presented in kilos with one-digit-after-point precision.
• In the English system where all the measurements are in pounds and are indicated up to two digits, except sails which have it up to one digit. The weight is presented in pounds.

ORC is the sole reputable body recognized by World Sailing to regulate racing rules for any events using the IMS system. To take part in an ORC regatta or division, every competitor should have a certificate from an official measurer. Today, it may be obtained in 45 countries of the world . You can fill out an application on the ORC website to have your boat measured in the One Design or an ORC group, as well as to make yourself familiar with the current set of rules and the rating for other boats in the ORC Sailor Services online catalog. The certificate gives one the opportunity to compete in the sailing events, which are:

• Organized directly by ORC according to their rating system . Among the most important events here are ORC World Championship, ORC European Championship and ORC European Sportboat Championship.
• In a multitude of other national and international regattas in ORC divisions . The key events here are Barcolana, Rolex Giraglia Cup, Rolex Middle Sea Race, Copa del Rey and other ones.

The ORC breaks down the yachts into subgroups (ORC 0, ORC 1, ORC 2). Sometimes several subgroups may compete individually in regattas. One ORC subgroup includes yachts with similar handicap. The regatta’s organizing committee sets the participant rules itself. For instance, to take part in an ORC-division at Copa del Rey, you should comply with the following requirement : Boats with LOA (Lengh Overall) ≥ to 9.30 m., with GPH (General Purpose Handicap) between 505 sec./mile and 660 sec./mile.   Under the criteria of the Organizing Committee, and according to the number of entries, this group may be divided in three classes with the following cuts:

• ORC 1: GPH between 505 and < 575 sec/mile 
• ORC 2: GPH between 575 and < 605 sec/mile
• ORC 3: GPH between 605 and <= 660 sec/mile

Thus, the ORC system allows to identify the technical parameters for each yacht and find the common denominator with the other competitors. After a race, the crew’s elapsed time is multiplied by the coefficient from the measurement table. The yacht with the least score is the winner.

Steffi Pereira / Unsplash

International Rating System (IRC)

Another leading rating system is the International Rating System (IRC) . It now issues certificates in over 60 countries of the world . The owners and curators in the UK and France are the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) and l’Union Nationale de la Course au Large (UNCL) respectively. The distinct feature of this rating is that the organization does not set particular rules so that yacht designers could not adjust the characteristics accordingly. With that said, the measurement may be performed in the authorized IRC centres only. An indicator is calculated for each boat, based on which the resulting time in a race is corrected — TCC (Time Corrector). To that end, the boat’s measurements, such as its length, weight, draft, sail area and other characteristics are used. The higher the TCC is, the higher the potential boat speed is. After the race, the boat’s elapsed time is multiplied by a coefficient. The crew with the least final corrected time is the winner.

The IRC Certificate allows one to take part in the competitions, which are:

• Held according to the IRC measurement only : Rolex Fastnet Race, Rolex China Sea Race and Phuket King’s Cup Regatta.
• Most large-scale regattas which include several IRC divisions (IRC 0, IRC 1, IRC 2, etc.), uniting yachts with a similar TCC. In this case, the winners and prize-holders of each divisions and holders of the best results in the overall standings (IRC Overall) are awarded.

Each organizer is entitled to set their own rules for IRC divisions competitors. For example, the Copa del Rey Notice of Race also has separate rules for the IRC division:

• Boats with a valid 2018 IRC endorsed certificate , shall comply the following requirements: a) boats with TCC ≥1.240 and b) HF (Hull Factor): ≥ 8,5c) Dlr (Displacement-length ratio): ≤185.
• Under the criteria of the Organizing Committee and according to the number of entries, this group may be divided in two classes with an approximate cut at TCC 1.420.

This means that if more applications with different TCC are submitted, the entire group will be divided into two subgroups with the second of them including yachts with TCC higher than 1.420 as per the IRC certificate. Another example is the Rolex Fastnet Race. The regatta uses several ratings: IRC, ORC Club and MOCRA. On the regatta’s website you can separately download IRC rules , along with the regatta’s Notice of Race.

The following list shows the rules of group division based on TCC range:

• IRC Zero: 1.275 and greater
• IRC One: 1.101 — 1.274
• IRC Two: 1.051 — 1.100
• IRC Three: 1.004 — 1.050
• IRC Four: 0.850 — 1.003

The popular British regatta J.P.M. Round the Island Race includes four IRC groups, with each of them being broken down into several more with alphabetical designations. Also, there are many IRC-group participants in the following regattas: Rolex Giraglia Cup, Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez, Rolex Middle Sea Race and Rorc Carribean 600, and others.

Thom Milkovic / Unsplash

Multihull Offshore Cruising & Racing Association (MOCRA)

The Multihull Offshore Cruising & Racing Association (MOCRA) has been specifically created for multihull vessels. It allows to correct the time for catamarans and trimarans of various forms and sizes. Among the regattas using this rating are RORC Fastnet Race, Cowes Week, Plymouth Regatta, JPM Round the Island Race and RORC Carribean 600. This rating is most common for the regattas of the UK, MOCRA’s home country. The certificate includes the following information: measurement based on SI (International System Units) system or any other international certificate; coefficient calculation of TCF (Time Correction Factor). For instance, in the above mentioned Fastnet Race the following characteristics are mentioned for the MOCRA division: Multihull (MOCRA): 1.100 and greater TCF range.

Another example is the J.P.M. Round the Island Race which is also held in the UK. The regatta includes divisions which are assessed according to several ratings (IRC, ISCRS, MOCRA). In 2019 two Multihull Gran Prix and MOCRA divisions were announced with 14 applications in each of them: up to 9,15 metres long and from 9,15 metres and higher. The final results table always includes open information about every participant and the time, so that anyone who so wishes could recalculate the results using the formula: vessel name, its series number, coefficient (TCF), finish time, elapsed time, corrected time and final standing as of end of the day or regatta.

Rating systems have come a long way to get to the present-day models of measurement and time correction. Among today’s most popular rating systems are ORC, IRC for monohull vessels and MOCRA for multihull ones.

To be included in a division whose results are measured based on handicap and rating systems, one should have the vessel measured in advance and obtain a certificate. Based on that document and the rules set by the regatta’s organizers, the vessel will be included in the respective group (IRC, ORC) and subgroup (IRC 0, IRC 1 and so on).

In case any parts of the hull, sails and rigging change, the certificate is to be renewed, too.  

This post was originally published in the Windy.app on July 27, 2019.

Text: Windy.app team

Cover photo: Alina Pkhakadze / Unsplash

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PHS in this document means “Performance Handicap System”. It relates to a handicap system that adjusts a boat’s handicap after each race based on the “performance” of that boat relative to another boat(s) in that particular fleet.

From the TopYacht point of view, PHS is the mathematics used to calculate the new handicap for each boat after each race. TopYacht provides over 20 parameters that the club can adjust to calculate the next handicap.

“Measured Boat” Handicapping.

Measured boat handicapping is where a number of dimensions and criteria such as weight of a boat are measured and these are input into a special computer formula. The formula will then provide a handicap figure that is designed to make this boat as ‘equivalent’ as possible to other measured boats using the same model. To make matters more complex, there are several different models that produce different outcomes. The Measured boat handicap value remains constant for the life of the boat. Boats may require remeasuring if the ‘officials’ elect to change the model, or the owner carries out some alterations to the boat or rig.  Measured boat handicapping is not the topic of this paper.

“Performance” Handicapping (PHS).

Measured performance strives to provide handicaps for all competitors by comparing their performance with the performance of other competitors. Note the deliberately used term “competitor”. Under this system the boat along with its skipper and crew are being compared with other “competitors”. The same boat with a different crew may perform somewhat differently. Measured performance handicapping makes no attempt to distinguish whether the performance is due to the boat or her crew but rather they are consider as a single entity called a ”competitor”.

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Information On How To Obtain A Valid PHRF Handicap

You Must Contact Your Club Handicapper. All The  SLVYRA Affiliated Clubs  Are Represented At The Handicapper’s Regional Committee. The SLVYRA  Handicapper’s List  Is Available On This Website.

To Establish Your PHRF Handicap, Your Club Handicapper Will Need Some Information About Your Boat Equipment; Name Of Boat, Type Of Boat, Sail Number, Engine Type, Propeller Type, Number And Type Of Sails, Type Of Handicap (With Spi Or White Sails).

Once The PHRF Handicap Is Established, The Club Handicapper Passes On The Information To The SLVYRA Chief Handicapper Who Is In Charge Of Updating The Regional List Of Handicaps Showed On This Site. This List Is Updated 6 Or 7 Times During The Sailing Season.

If you are not a member of a Club affiliated with SLVYRA

You must contact the SLVYRA Chief Handicapper directly .

To Establish Your PHRF Handicap, The Chief Handicapper Will Need Some Information About Your Boat Equipment; Name Of Boat, Type Of Boat, Sail Number, Engine Type, Propeller Type, Number And Type Of Sails, Type Of Handicap (With Spi Or White Sails).

Once The PHRF Handicap Is Established, The SLVYRA Chief Handicapper Will Update The Regional List Of Handicaps Showed On This Site. This List Is Updated 6 Or 7 Times During The Sailing Season.

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CBH Rating System

Australian class based handicap (cbh) rating system, for trailable yachts and sports boats.

Australian Sailing undertook a review of the role of the National Trailable Yacht & Sports Boat Committee in 2020

As part of this process, a survey of stakeholders was conducted which attracted over 470 responses. The feedback from this survey resulted in some small changes to the handicapping model, as well as the procedures for managing ratings applications. 

The Class Based Handicap (CBH) formula has now been updated to align it with World Sailing’s Equipment Rules definitions and remedy some other previously identified issues. This change will ensure the rating is more inclusive, allowing a wider range of Trailable Yacht and Sports Boat Classes access to a CBH rating. 

As a result of the changes to the model and definitions the Trailable Yacht & Sports Boat Rule has been amended to reflect these changes and has now become the CBH Rating System. 

In addition, the National Committee has been disbanded and the CBH ratings function will be administered internally by Australian Sailing staff. Australian Sailing will also coordinate the hosting of the National Championships, in line with the way other Australian Sailing events are managed.

The new Rating System is intended to: 

• Provide a National System for even and fair racing on handicap in a mixed fleet of Trailable Yachts and / or Sports Boats • Ensure transparency across the rating system  • Allow Trailable Yacht and Sports Boat owners to gain a new CBH at any time of the year • Support Australian Sailing in its work to promote Trailable Yacht and Sports Boat racing activities within the states and territories and at national level. 

Key Points:

• The new Rating System only requires boat measurements, not performance data • The CBH rating list will be published online and updated on a day-to-day basis • The CBH formula will be reviewed annually and any amendments will be posted from time to time  

CBH Rating System document 

NEW APPLICATION:

To declare your boat or your class measurements you will need to upload the Measurement Input Sheet that you can download

Measurements input sheet Rev J-05

• If you are a Class R epresentative and you want to declare your Class measurements to get a CBH rating, you can do it online  Apply
• The measurement manual for CBH is available here.
• The light ship requirements for weighing  are explained here .

If you are the owner of One of A Kind boat that can't fit in any Class (either because it has been modified or because it's a one off design) you can apply online  for a CBH rating.   Apply   a fee of $100 applies for one of a kind ratings.

CBH RATING LIST:

The CBH rating list will be updated on a day to day basis with new measurements and new Classes as they come to hand. The CBH formula will be reviewed once a year on the 1st of July. The ratings are presented as a PDF any boat with a rating of 1 has insufficient date at the time of publishing this report.

The rating formula is reviewed once a year and a new list is issued each year on the 1st of August.

The Australian Sailing Rating office is still looking for some Class measurements. If you can provide measurements for a Class that is not listed in the new rating list, please contact the Rating Office, your help will be much appreciated:

[email protected]

(02) 9170 6917

Software Update: (2nd of Sept 2022)

The calculation of effective length has been updated resulting in rating changes. (120822)

Non-Spinnaker CBH Calculation altered generally increasing the NSCBH value 2% to 3% (020922)

The CBH rating needs to be measured by an Australian Sailing Accredited Measurer. You will find the list of Measurers in Australia here .

• Can I use both the old and the new rating system in one event? No, the new rating is a different formula than the old one. 
•     My boat/class is not in the new CBH rating list, how can I add it? To add a boat or a Class to the CBH list you need to contact the Ratings Office ( [email protected] ) or follow the steps found in the “NEW APPLICATION” paragraph at the top of the web page.
• Why is the CBH rating formula not published? The CBH rating formula is not published to prevent the optimisation of a boat to “beat” the rating. The aim of the CBH is to be a simple rating system, cheap and easy to use. The aim of this rating is not to encourage boat modification outside of Class Rules.
• What does it cost to add a boat or a Class to the CBH list? There is a charge of $100.00 to add a boat or a Class to the list.
• I modified my boat, it doesn’t comply with the Class Rules anymore, what should I do? If a boat doesn’t comply with its Class Rules because it has been modified, then the owner will have to provide the new measurements for the boat and apply for an  OAK (One of A Kind) CBH rating

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Mathematical Foundations of the Golden Rule. II. Dynamic Case

• Mathematical Game Theory and Applications
• Published: 12 October 2018
• Volume 79 , pages 1929–1952, ( 2018 )

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• V. I. Zhukovskiy 1 ,
• L. V. Smirnova 2 &
• A. S. Gorbatov 1  

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This paper extends the earlier research of the Golden Rule in the static case [2] to the dynamic one. The main idea is to use the Germeier convolution of the payoff functions of players within the framework of antagonistic positional differential games in quasi motions and guiding control.

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Germeier, Yu.B., Vvedenie v teoriyu issledovaniya operatsii (Introduction to the Theory of Operations Research), Moscow: Nauka, 1971.

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Zhukovskiy, V.I. and Kudryavtsev, K.N., Mathematical Foundations of the Golden Rule. I. Static Case, Autom. Remote Control , 2017, vol. 78, no. 10, pp. 1920–1940.

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Zhukovskiy, V.I. and Salukvadze, M.E., Optimizatsiya garantii v mnogokriterial’nykh zadachakh upravleniya (Optimization of Guarantees in Multicriteria Control Problems), Tbilisi: Metsniereba, 1996.

Zhukovskiy, V.I. and Salukvadze, M.E., Nekotorye igrovye zadachi upravleniya i ikh prilozheniya (Some Games of Control and Their Applications), Tbilisi: Metsniereba, 1998.

Kononenko, A.F., Structure of Optimal Strategy in Dynamic Controlled Systems, Zh. Vychisl. Mat. Mat. Fiz. , 1980, no. 5, pp. 1105–1116.

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Krasovskii, N.N., Upravlenie dinamicheskoi sistemoi (Control of a Dynamic System), Moscow: Nauka, 1985.

Krasovskii, N.N. and Subbotin, A.I., Pozitsionnye differentsial’nye igry (Positional Differential Games), Moscow: Nauka, 1985.

Morozov, V.V., Sukharev, A.G., and Fedorov, V.V., Issledovanie operatsii v zadachakh i uprazhneniyakh (Operations Research in Problems and Exercises), Moscow: Vysshaya Shkola, 1986.

Subbotin, A.I. and Chentsov, A.G., Optimizatsiya garantii v zadachakh upravleniya (Optimization of Guarantee in Control Problems), Moscow: Nauka, 1981.

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V. I. Zhukovskiy & A. S. Gorbatov

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Original Russian Text © V.I. Zhukovskiy, L.V. Smirnova, A.S. Gorbatov, 2016, published in Matematicheskaya Teoriya Igr i Ee Prilozheniya, 2016, No. 1, pp. 27–62.

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Zhukovskiy, V.I., Smirnova, L.V. & Gorbatov, A.S. Mathematical Foundations of the Golden Rule. II. Dynamic Case. Autom Remote Control 79 , 1929–1952 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0005117918100156

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The complete guide to rating systems in sail racing

In the previous article we spoke about the types of professional regattas that are out there. We learned that every association holds competitions among same-class yachts. However, there are also private regattas where the yachtsmen can command their own yacht or a charter one. To level the playing field for different vessels, the organizers use rating systems. Let us look into that.

During a year, federations of yacht/centerboard/catamaran classes hold their own races — national, regional and world championships events. The key rule for those is adhering to a single standard – the hull, sails and rigging should be the same. Yet, the same crews can compete in professional-amateur regattas, too. In this case, they are divided into separate groups (divisions) and have their results scored according to the class rules.

Scoring the results of the teams performing on different vessels, i.e. having different potential for winning, is a far more difficult task. To find out the real possibilities of a yacht as compared to racers, a special mathematic formula is used which calculates the racing score (rating). After a race, these individual score points are multiplied by the team’s results, and the team with the shortest recalculated time wins. Such a scoring system is called a rating system.

The rules of time recalculation depending on a yacht rating are called the handicap system. Any measurement and rating system is directly connected with the yacht’s technical characteristics, i.e. its handicap.

To take part in a regatta, a yacht should obtain the rating system certificate. Among the most applicable ones are the following certificates:

• ORC (Offshore Racing Congress International and ORC Club)
• IRC (International Rating Certificate)
• MOCRA (Multihull Offshore Cruising & Racing Association) and some others.

Virtually all the large-scale world events combine different divisions (a division unites vessels racing on the same distance). Any of those events may use their own rating.

The Offshore Racing Congress (ORC) establishes and maintains uniform rating standards in the sailing sport. In 1969 it presented two certificates — ORC International and ORC Club – to unite the two then-dominant standards — CCA (Cruising Club of America) for North and South Americas and RORC (Royal Ocean Racing Club for European countries). The ORC International and the ORC Club are similar certificates. The difference between them is that an official measurer performs measurement for the former one, while in the case of the ORC Club, the boat owner can submit some of the details, unless there is a possibility to conduct the full measurement in one’s own region. To assess boats with different characteristics, the ORC system uses:

• IMS (International Measurement System) computer-based measurement system. The programme measures performance characteristics of a given boat under various wind velocities and angles based on fundamental hydro- and aerodynamics principles;
• VPP (ORC Velocity Prediction Program), which performs an automated technical analysis of the 7 real wind velocities, 8 real wind angles and 2 VMG (Velocity Made Good) optimum angles for a yacht.

The measurement is performed onshore, hence the boat should be fixed in place as much as possible, with the centerboard (if any) raised and the rigging raked. The features to be measured are the hull in all its dimensions, the helm/rudder, the centerboard/keel, the internal ballast, accumulator batteries, fixed and/or permanent/immovable interior details, hatch covers and floorboards, permanent mechanisms, electric equipment and vessel systems, the outboard motor, the mast, the boom, the spinnaker boom and/or the bowsprit, the standing and running rigging. As a result, you get a boat measurement file, with the ORC certificate containing the current yacht characteristics. If you have altered any parts of the vessel, a new measurement is required.

There are two ways to present the measurement results:

• In the metric system showing up to the third digit after the point, except sails for which only two digits after the point are indicated. The weight is presented in kilos with one-digit-after-point precision.
• In the English system where all the measurements are in pounds and are indicated up to two digits, except sails which have it up to one digit. The weight is presented in pounds.

ORC is the sole reputable body recognized by World Sailing to regulate racing rules for any events using the IMS system. To take part in an ORC regatta or division, every competitor should have a certificate from an official measurer. Today, it may be obtained in 45 countries of the world . You can fill out an application on the ORC website to have your boat measured in the One Design or an ORC group, as well as to make yourself familiar with the current set of rules and the rating for other boats in the ORC Sailor Services online catalog. The certificate gives one the opportunity to compete in the sailing events:

• organized directly by ORC according to their rating system. Among the most important events here are ORC World Championship, ORC European Championship and ORC European Sportboat Championship.
• In a multitude of other national and international regattas in ORC divisions. The key events here are Barcolana, Rolex Giraglia Cup, Rolex Middle Sea Race, Copa del Rey and other ones.

Rolex Middle Sea Race

The ORC breaks down the yachts into subgroups (ORC 0, ORC 1, ORC 2). Sometimes several subgroups may compete individually in regattas. One ORC subgroup includes yachts with similar handicap. The regatta’s organizing committee sets the participant rules itself. For instance, to take part in an ORC-division at Copa del Rey, you should comply with the following requirement :

Boats with LOA (Lengh Overall)  ≥ to 9.30 m., with GPH (General Purpose Handicap) between 505 sec./mile and 660 sec./mile.   Under the criteria of the Organizing Committee, and according to the number of entries, this group may be divided in three classes with the following cuts: ORC 1: GPH between  505 and < 575 sec./mile. ORC 2: GPH between  575 and < 605 sec./mile. ORC 3: GPH between  605 and < = 660 sec./mile.

Thus, the ORC system allows to identify the technical parameters for each yacht and find the common denominator with the other competitors. After a race, the crew’s elapsed time is multiplied by the coefficient from the measurement table. The yacht with the least score is the winner.

Another leading rating system is the International Rating System (IRC) . It now issues certificates in over 60 countries of the world . The owners and curators in the UK and France are the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) and l’Union Nationale de la Course au Large (UNCL) respectively. The distinct feature of this rating is that the organization does not set particular rules so that yacht designers could not adjust the characteristics accordingly. With that said, the measurement may be performed in the authorized IRC centres only. An indicator is calculated for each boat, based on which the resulting time in a race is corrected — TCC (Time Corrector). To that end, the boat’s measurements, such as its length, weight, draft, sail area and other characteristics are used. The higher the TCC is, the higher the potential boat speed is. After the race, the boat’s elapsed time is multiplied by a coefficient. The crew with the least final corrected time is the winner.

The IRC Certificate allows one to take part in the competitions:

• which are held according to the IRC measurement only: Rolex Fastnet Race, Rolex China Sea Race and Phuket King’s Cup Regatta.
• most large-scale regattas which include several IRC divisions (IRC 0, IRC 1, IRC 2, etc.), uniting yachts with a similar TCC. In this case, the winners and prize-holders of each divisions and holders of the best results in the overall standings (IRC Overall) are awarded.

Each organizer is entitled to set their own rules for IRC divisions competitors. For example, the Copa del Rey Notice of Race also has separate rules for the IRC division:   Boats with a valid 2018 IRC endorsed certificate, shall comply the following requirements: a) Boats with TCC ≥1.240 b) HF (Hull Factor): ≥ 8,5c)   Dlr (Displacement-length ratio) : ≤185   Under the criteria of the Organizing Committee and according to the number of entries, this group may be divided in two classes with an approximate cut at TCC 1.420.   This means that if more applications with different TCC are submitted, the entire group will be divided into two subgroups with the second of them including yachts with TCC higher than 1.420 as per the IRC certificate. Another example is the Rolex Fastnet Race. The regatta uses several ratings: IRC, ORC Club and MOCRA. On the regatta’s website you can separately download IRC rules , along with the regatta’s Notice of Race.

The table shows the rules of group division based on TCC. The popular British regatta J.P.M. Round the Island Race includes four IRC groups, with each of them being broken down into several more with alphabetical designations. Also, there are many IRC-group participants in the following regattas: — Rolex Giraglia Cup — Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez — Rolex Middle Sea Race — Rorc Carribean 600 and others

The Multihull Offshore Cruising & Racing Association (MOCRA) has been specifically created for multihull vessels. It allows to correct the time for catamarans and trimarans of various forms and sizes. Among the regattas using this rating are RORC Fastnet Race, Cowes Week, Plymouth Regatta, JPM Round the Island Race and RORC Carribean 600. This rating is most common for the regattas of the UK, MOCRA’s home country. The certificate includes the following information: measurement based on SI (International System Units) system or any other international certificate; coefficient calculation of TCF (Time Correction Factor). For instance, in the above mentioned Fastnet Race the following characteristics are mentioned for the MOCRA division:

Multihull competition;

Another example is the J.P.M. Round the Island Race which is also held in the UK. The regatta includes divisions which are assessed according to several ratings (IRC, ISCRS, MOCRA). In 2019 two Multihull Gran Prix and MOCRA divisions were announced with 14 applications in each of them — up to 9,15 metres long; — from 9,15 metres and higher. The final results table always includes open information about every participant and the time, so that anyone who so wishes could recalculate the results using the formula: — vessel name; — its series number; — coefficient (TCF); — finish time; — elapsed time; — corrected time; — final standing as of end of the day or regatta.

Instead of a conclusion:

• Rating systems have come a long way to get to the present-day models of measurement and time correction. Among today’s most popular rating systems are ORC, IRC for monohull vessels and MOCRA for multihull ones.
• To be included in a division whose results are measured based on handicap and rating systems, one should have the vessel measured in advance and obtain a certificate. Based on that document and the rules set by the regatta’s organizers, the vessel will be included in the respective group (IRC, ORC) and subgroup (IRC 0, IRC 1 and so on).
• In case any parts of the hull, sails and rigging change, the certificate is to be renewed, too.  

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S-400 missile defense systems to start defending Moscow July 1

RIA Novosti ,

MOSCOW: S-400 missile defense systems will be put on combat duty around Moscow July 1, the commander of the Russian Air Force said Monday.

The S-400 Triumf (NATO codename SA-21 Growler) is a new air defense missile system developed by the Almaz Central Design Bureau as an upgrade of the S-300 family.

“On July 1, one battalion of S-400 missile defense systems will be put on combat duty to defend the airspace of Moscow and Central Russia,” Colonel-General Alexander Zelin said.

Zelin said the battalion is at an Air Force range, and after range practice, the battalion, based in the Moscow Region town of Elektrostal, east of the capital, will go on active duty.

It has been designed to intercept and destroy airborne targets at a distance of up to 400 kilometers (250 miles), or twice the range of the MIM-104 Patriot, and 2.5 times that of the S-300PMU-2.

In April, Colonel-General Yury Solovyov, commander of the Air Defense Forces Special Command (former Moscow Military District Air Defense Command), said the system could also be used for limited purposes in missile and space defense, but that it is not intended to destroy intercontinental ballistic missiles.

However, he said the system is highly capable of destroying stealth aircraft, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles with an effective range of up to 3,500 kilometers (2,200 miles) and a speed of up to 4.8 kilometers (3 miles) per second.

The Russian Air Defense Forces, which are part of the Air Force, currently deploy more than 30 regiments equipped with S-300 missile complexes, which will be gradually replaced with S-400 systems.

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