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By JIM FREDERICK
How did PHRF start?
In 1959 the Pacific Handicap Racing Fleet was created out of a need to rate boats for interclub racing that would include racing boats that were not racing under current class racing or would not meet measurement rules that were in current existence. The need for a more flexible system soon became popular and moved from Southern California to across the country with change of name to the Performance Handicap Racing Fleet (PHRF).
Why do you race PHRF?
It provides a cheap, easy way to get an adjustable rating. Unfortunately, the parameters used to adjust ratings are not always scientific, and the rating changes are based on race data analysis by a committee.
Why should Multihulls be interested in PHRF?
Most areas of the country already have excellent racing events that include PHRF fleets. Multihulls could become a part of this yachting community by establishing another PHRF fleet. Most could have a PHRF A start, B, C, etc., with the addition of a PHRF Multihull start.
What about the other offshore multihull rating systems?
Granted there are many other good rating systems for multihulls. Generally these systems work well when used by the groups that create them. However, many current race committees have little experience in utilizing these systems so may be hesitant in including them in current regattas. Since they are based on a rating rule, there is the great potential to design boats that may maximize the rule, quickly making the other boats obsolete. There is a place for these systems when the goal of the race is designed around the elements mentioned.
Is PHRF a rating system?
PHRF is not just a rating system. It is in fact a class and can not be administered without class rules that describe the parameters of the boat. Most are described as Racing/Cruising boats and must demonstrate these features. Once a boat is issued a certificate, no modifications can be made unless the rating committee has been notified to adjust the certificate. All modifications are reported or the certificate is not valid and can be protested.
Does PHRF address safety-at-sea issues?
PHRF Class Requirements are primarily intended to be limited to interclass racing for "Cruising/Racing" auxiliary multihull sail yachts, and not to establish equipment or construction standards. Adequate equipment and crew for conditions to be encountered is inescapably the responsibility of the skipper and already addressed by US Sailing's "Recommendations for Offshore Sailing". This includes ORC Special Regulations for both Monohulls & Multihulls.
Will PHRF allow us to race against monohulls?
The intent of PHRF Multihull was not to race against monohulls but with them at the same regattas. Because multihulls and sport boats are so dissimilar, it is difficult to rate them together. We are attempting in some areas to bring numbers close enough for possible separate overall trophies or a Wednesday night series at your local club where monohull and multihull can race against each other for fun on a limited basis with everyone's consent.
Where is PHRF being used for multihulls today?
There are a number of areas that have had success with using PHRF. Pacific Northwest, San Fransisco Bay Area (BAMA), Southern CA, Lake Erie, Northeast, Lake St. Clair (includes Mackinaw Race), and Lake Erie. Again these are administered racing classes not just a rating system that you pick up and apply to boats.
Are National PHRF numbers being established?
What attracts sailors to PHRF is its flexibility for local administration in varying race conditions and range of boats to their sailing area, so it would be technically weak to try establish national numbers. Also PHRF Multihull is more than a rating system -- it is a class, and this would mean the class rules would have to be consistent across the country. We are a part of US Sailing's PHRF Committee that publishes numbers being used across the country, and multihull numbers from the different areas will appear in that document published by US Sailing.
How can we get started?
Contact your local PHRF group and ask how you could incorporate with them with some rule modifications or create your own group and write your own rules and establish a system to issue certificates, with a rating committee to analyze race data and establish rating numbers. Contact any one of the current PHRF areas mentioned and they will help, or contact your Area Rep. to the Multihull Council of US Sailing.
Conclusion:
Paul J. Ansfield past Chairman US-PHRF Committee sums it up best, "Performance handicap racing fleets furnish a locally administered, understandable, economical and practical system to support novice and expert sailors alike who race sailboats of different designs and vintages over a wide variety of courses in varying wind conditions. Performance handicapping is not theoretical; it is empirical. It is dependent on human judgment and experience; it does at times encounter problems with precise measurement and reporting of race data. Yet, the men and women who race sailboats under PHRF have a lot of fun both casual and more serious competition." This system is not to replace other rating systems but to help those multihull sailors that want to race have some other options to what they currently have and open the doors to some very fine regattas not currently being participated in because of their unfamiliarity to current multihull rating systems.