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Ensign Sailing Forum

PHRF Handicaps
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So AYC has the lowest in the country?

I mean we are good, but I don't think we're *that* good. 

I would love a 270!


254 in the west coast of Florida. At least the last time I checked. 
The skill level in the ensign here are also not necessary better as much as the other boats are not as good. So far they haven’t blamed the boat. 

Zeke


Hey Bud, I couldn’t agree more about One Design vs. PHRF.

And thanks to all of the responses. I believe I will stick with our 270 for now.

Again, Thanks

Rick Warren

Odyssey 2001

MYC Fleet 76

Here at Lake Ray Hubbard, in Dallas, Texas my Ensign was given this:
                          Low  High  Mean   Base   Non-Spin Adj.  Non-Spin Rating
Pearson Ensign 252   273   261      261     18                     279

Robert Brandt
#261
Austin YC, 252. We sail to it, mostly. 

Great chart. In Miami, we use 270 for an Ensign too 

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-- 
Doug Hanks


The attached image shows the various ratings for the Pearson Ensign for all reporting PHRF stations across the US.

One should take special note of the assumptions regarding PHRF ratings. It is assumed that each boat is in such condition that nothing about her preparation and equipment takes away from her performance. This means it is assumed every boat has a clean bottom, new(er), effective sails, effective rigging, etc, etc, etc...

Handicap systems are NOT supposed to be like golf handicaps, which reward the less developed players and penalize the better players. Unfortunately, PHRF rating committees are notoriously plagued with ignorance or intentional disregard of the assumptions and worse, local political situations. 

The purest sailboat racing is one design, as handicap systems do not take into account any change in wind and sea conditions. Each design has its perfect conditions, every race has inconsistent opportunities for differently performing yachts, and heaven forbid different PHRF classes start at different times and race for some major award. PHRF has evolved to be nothing more than an attempt to get boats of different designs on the water to have some fun, which is fine. However, the system is far too imperfect to take seriously, so just go out and have a good time together. If you win, the stars aligned, the moon eclipsed, you received a one-of-a-kind lift, the wind died, the wind picked up, or any number of other obscure conditions occurred to make your victory possible. If you lost, it is highly likely the results do not reflect your true performance against the other teams.

Some people think handicap racing is PHRFect.

Others believe friends should not let friends race PHRF.

In Cleveland, at Edgewater Yacht Club, Ensigns have a PHRF rating of 262 when using a spinnaker. In JAM racing, the rating is closer to 268 or 270, however, in the few club races in which we race PHRF they are always with spinnaker. See PHRF Lake Erie South Shore ratings.

Nick Lubar
Fleet #29
Cleveland, Ohio

1st time using the Forum, so I apologize in advance. At Mattapoisett Yacht Club we sail Ensigns one design, but we also allow Ensigns to race in our PHRF races. We don’t require the Ensigns to get a PHRF certificate to race because they are typically beginners practicing to race in the One Design Division. Our PHRF division is non-spinnaker as well.

I noticed in the latest Ensign publication that Fleet 4, Gary Smith, races in a Narragansett Bay PHRF division, and I am curious what rating is given to the Ensigns ? And if anyone else races PHRF and what ratings you are given.

MYC currently rates the Ensign at , 270 , . The process we used was not that great. We started with 279, and the Ensigns were nearly impossible to beat. At 270 they are still very hard to beat. Our Ensigns are in much better race condition as our other PHRF boats in that division.

I welcome any thoughts or ideas.

Thanks

Rick Warren

S/V Odyssey. Fleet 76. Mattapoisett MA

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