In Europe both the SCHRS and Texel measurement handicap systems are used.

The differences in seconds per hour of windward-leeward racing compared to an F18 (2-up) are :


Texel :

1-up : 0 seconds
2-up : 36 second slower


SCHRS :

1-up : 82 seconds faster
2-up : 11 seconds slower


VYC (australia)

both 1-up/2-up : 51 seconds slower


USPN :

both 1-up/2-up : 162 seconds slower


Personally, I think the SCHRS 1-up rating is off and the USPN rating is way off. The other are very close to what is real.

Sailing of the F18 rating is actually one of the most fair things to do in a mixed fleet; it is also the most fun as you need to fight for your placing.

Both my current skipper and myself (when I race 1-up) are content with the Texel ratings for both versions. We are pretty much level around the course with crews of comparable skills; we are most certainly not 161 sec slower then them as the USPN predicts.

The USPN should be below 63.8 to be near to the Texel, SCHRS and VYC systems, but 63.0 will be most realistic in comparison to the USPN F18 rating. Sadly there are other issues in that getting the F16 rating right in relation to the F18's will make the errors in relation to other boats bigger.

Wouter