You guys do realize that these adjustments in the table are simply made up... They are just a reasonable guess as to what a change would mean to a boats performance. There is no large amount of data which supports the accuracy of the rating modification. When you combine them.... Bigger main... smaller jib... you are really guessing.

There are no statistics to support the corrections... There is no model which supports the corrections.

The rest of the world calls this system PHRF.... IE... they look at the performance...look at the crew, look at how well sailed the boat is... make a good guess as to the rating change and make it so. The ratings vary across the country.

For beach cats... we take the correction factors as the ten commandments.... The rest of the world would use the correction tables as a guideline and then use their judgement as to what the fair rating should be.

Ie in big boats..... lower your boom (bigger main sail).... take a 6 sec per mile hit. Why 6 sec... well... that is the smallest change you can make that will make a difference in the corrected time based on the resolution of the PHRF system.

Another point.

Texel does (did have) a high wind /low wind rating system but the EU clubs simply did not bother. The EU sailors did not find it important enough to use it.

Most distance races usually specify a single number rating... eg DPN or single Texel number because who can say what the average wind speed is on the course... And... do you use the average wind of the slow boats... or the fast boats...

Final point. the accuracy of the wind speed adjustments for 45 minute buoy races were created in the era of the Hobie 16, Prindle 16. Beufort 2-3 means that Hobie 16's rating is constant relative to a Prindle 16 over this wind range. AT B4, 12 mph... they are now able to fly a hull and the ratings must change. The newer designs (A cat) are much more powered up and fly a hull much sooner (B3). Obviously, Flying a hull is the big performance factor that the rating should reflect. At high winds... it is all about depowering and drag.

A modern rating scheme would attempt to rate A cats and Hobie 18's at each Beaufort range. Of course, some races will be oscillating wind pressure... so which rating would you use?.. Is it worth the hassle?... Your mileage will vary.

Fact of life... handicap racing can't separate two sailor's performance like a one design race. A single rating system will not be as resolving as a multiple number rating system.

The issue is... What rating system FAIRLY adjusts a rating for changes in key performance measures. Which Rating system FAIRLY gets a rating for a new design instantly... because having it fixed a year later is not acceptable.
The choices are
PHRF
Portsmouth
SCHRS or TEXEL (measurement)

In my opinion... the worst option in 2011 is Portsmouth.