RENDEZVOUS YACHT CLUB (RYC)

PHRF RATING COMMITTEE
CONSTITUTION, BY-LAWS & RULES

Last modified January 26, 2003

Purpose:
To establish an independent, unbiased committee that will evaluate and establish performance ratings for yachts sailing in events and regattas sponsored by the Rendezvous Yacht Club.

Evaluation and rating will be carried out as may be deemed necessary by the PHRF Committee or upon request of the RYC Race Committee Chairman, or upon petition from a member yacht owner for review and modification of his or another yacht's rating.

Membership:
The PHRF Committee shall be comprised of at least three members and shall be the members of the RYC Race Committee. 

Sanctioned Events:
All sailing events sanctioned, sponsored, or associated with races by RYC shall be governed and scored by the RYC PHRF systems and ratings as adopted.

I. Class Rules & Requirements:

A.  PHRF handicaps on Rainy Lake are for use in RYC events.

B.  Unless class rules, club rules, or requirements for a race specify otherwise, each yacht is expected to meet the minimum accommodation and equipment requirements as specified in the Offshore Racing Council (ORC) Special Regulations Governing Minimum Equipment and Accommodation Standards, applicable race rules, and all Provincial, State and Federal regulations.

II. Handicaps:

A.  Handicaps in three (3) second increments per nautical mile are assigned to each boat, and represent a "base rating" with "adjustments". Standards and requirements are:

1.  Standard hull, interior, keel, and rig, as originally designed and built.

2.  All sails shall be cut in accordance with the latest International Sailing Federation (ISAF), or class rules; this includes girths on mainsails, head sails, and spinnakers/asymmetricals, the number, placement and length of battens (except as provided in the following sentence), and headboard restrictions. Full-length battens are permitted without restriction.

3. Jib overlap (LP) no greater than 155% of the fore triangle base (j).

4. Spinnaker pole length (SPL) no longer than J.

5. Spinnaker maximum width (SMW) no greater than 180% of SPL.

6. Spinnaker luff (SL) no greater than 95% x the sq. root of I Sq. + J Sq.

7. A folding prop, a prop solid in an aperture or a retractable outboard

8. A handicap may be assigned to a yacht, which does not conform to all of the above assumptions but does meet sail plan and hull requirements of a recognized one-design class.

B.  Ratings can be changed at any meeting of the PHRF Committee by a majority vote of the handicappers present. Any member of the RYC PHRF Fleet may appeal the base rating of any boat in writing. Such appeals, when accompanied by supporting evidence will be considered at the first subsequent meeting of the PHRF committee and may be determined by standard procedures or postponed for further investigation at the committee's discretion. Any decision of the PHRF Committee may be appealed by written appeal, together with supporting evidence, to an executive committee to be made up of the members of the PHRF Committee, the RYC Commodore, Vice Commodore, Secretary and Treasurer.

C.  Adjustments: Penalties or Credits, in seconds (3) per nautical mile, are applied to the base ratings for variations or modifications to standard boats. Specifically but not limited to:

1. Modifications: All modifications to hull, keel and rudder are handled on a case-by-case basis. Owners must report all such modifications to the chief handicapper prior to racing in any event. The PHRF committee may assess disqualification from a race and from future races for non-compliance. Rainy Lake PHRF generally assumes that all modifications are made to increase boat speed. Penalties or credits are in three sec./mile increments.

2. When modifications become too extensive, Rainy Lake PHRF may declare that the boat is a new class and will establish a new base rating different from the boat's original class. 

3.  At any time, a RYC member may petition the PHRF Committee to modify the rating of any boat. This should be in the form of a written letter to the PHRF Committee Chair in which he/she outlines the justification, including supporting data for a requested review. The PHRF Committee will consider all such requests and will make a positive or negative decision regarding the petition. In all cases, the owner of the boat shall be permitted an opportunity to submit information, data and arguments in support or in opposition to the requested change.  The Chair will notify the owner of the boat and the petitioning party in writing as to the Committee's decision. Any decision of the PHRF Committee may be appealed by written appeal, together with supporting evidence, to an executive committee to be made up of the members of the PHRF Committee, the RYC Commodore, Vice Commodore, Secretary and Treasurer.

4. If a boat owner makes any modifications to his/her boat that could potentially impact the sailing performance of the boat, the owner must notify (prior to the next opportunity to race) in writing, the chairman of Rainy Lake PHRF Committee as to the precise nature and specifications of such modifications. This matter will be brought before the PHRF Committee which will rule on the effect of any modifications and may change a rating as they deem appropriate.

III. Sail and Rig Limitations:
Normally, CYA, IMS, PHRF, US Sailing, and specific class rule limitations and restrictions apply regarding sails, methods of trimming, etc. unless specifically indicated in the sailing instructions of the event. The PHRF committee reserves the right to evaluate new developments and to adjust ratings as may be indicated.

IV. Rig and Sail Verification:
Since ratings are based on "standard rigs and sails," the verification of rig and sail dimensions by physical measurement is considered to be necessary to assure the uniform application of handicaps.  RYC PHRF Committee may accept the following as verification:

1. Any current or still accurate measurement-rating certificate, such as IMS, IOR, MORC, or other acceptable to the PHRF committee.

2. Physical measurement by a member of the PHRF Committee or other designated fleet handicapper.

3. Physical measurement certified in writing as accurate by the owner. Changes must be reported to the PHRF Committee Chair. If hulls, sails or rigs are protested through normal procedures, the PHRF Committee reserves the right to require actual measurement by a fleet handicapper. Disqualification or other penalties may result from non-reported changes or modifications to a yacht.

V. Penalties & Credits:
The following are the standard guidelines used by the committee for assessing penalties or credits. However, the committee will use its discretion in assessing the effect of changes to any yacht.

Jib/Genoa Sail Area Adjustments:

Spinnaker Adjustments For Over or Under Sized Sails: 

Asymmetrical Spinnakers:

Propeller Installation:

Crew Weight Adjustments:

We as a club will not use crew weight tables for our events.

VI. Base Ratings:
Initial base ratings will be established by the average of the ratings given by at least six other venues. Those venues will have similar sailing characteristics to those of Rainy Lake and will be determined by the PHRF Committee. Should a boat not have adequate data in the chosen six venues, the PHRF committee may choose to establish a base rating of a yacht using the best available data.  The committee may determine to modify these ratings based on performance that is observed while competing on Rainy Lake.

VII. Exceptions:
PHRF ratings are intended to provide equitable time allowances for yachts of different designs and balance fleet competition. Notwithstanding, the committee reserves the right to declare any yacht " exceptional" and adjust its rating accordingly.