PHRF

Performance Handicap Racing Fleet system


The largest handicap fleets in the United States currently sail under PHRF. PHRF supplies a single correction factor that is applied regardless of the conditions of the race, and the numbers are assigned locally to reflect actual performance of the boat type sailing in local conditions. Both time-on-distance and time-on-time handicapping is used.

The basic time-on-distance formula is: TA = ( D x PHRF ) / 60
TA = Time Allowance in minutes
D = course length in miles
PHRF = rating in seconds per mile

Subtracting the time allowance (TA) from the actual time it took the boat to sail the race (elapsed time or ET) equals the corrected time (CT).

Utilizing PHRF for time-on-time corrections is done by first calculating a time correction factor (TCF).
The simplest way to calculate TCF is; TCF = 600 / (480 + PHRF).
Corrected time then equals elapsed time multiplied by TCF. More Information on PHRF Time on Time.

The above formulas represent the simplest form of the PHRF system only and additional information is available
from the PHRF Committee. Computer scoring information for PHRF is also available.

Portsmouth Yardstick Handicapping System Ð The Portsmouth system is a time-on-time system that uses the Thistle as the standard boat in the United States. While PHRF generally addresses what we term as "offshore boats", Portsmouth addresses up to medium-sized production cruiser-racers as well as multihulls and centerboard classes. Each boat is assigned a series of numbers that are applied based on the average wind conditions of the race. Using the Portsmouth system corrected time (CT) is calculated using: CT = ( ET / HC ) x 100 ET = Elapsed Time HC = Applicable Portsmouth Handicap number

Refer to the Portsmouth Committee for additional information. Computer scoring information for Portsmouth is also available.

Midget Ocean Racing Fleet Ð MORC is a measurement system of single-number handicapping limited to offshore capable boats of less than 30-ft. overall length. MORC is a time on distance system that uses its own allowance tables published in a handbook. ÊThere are computer programs for MORC scoring.

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