RB,

I have a great deal of experience with several PHRF groups. Yes, the
initial PHRF rating is assigned to be a best guess based on similar
boats and it expected to be performance based on a well campaigned boat
that is properly setup and has a good crew.

The PHRF committees I have had dealings with have always done their best
to be fair. All PHRF committees have an appeal protocol. But, do not
go to them just to complain. If you go there, go armed with data.
(Case stories omitted for brevity.) Know before you go; does anybody
any where sail this boat to the same rating you are assigned?

There is no way a PHRF committee could rate boats so those that were not
well tuned and sailed with a less than good crew could be accommodated.
Yes, some boats ratings are unfair both ways and I could cite
examples of both easily.

If you want to be competitive:
First - sign up a dedicated crew of at least one man per ton (minimum 3
for spinnaker classes and one less of non-spin).
Second - make sure that the mast is over the boat and straight at the dock.
Third - have two full crew tune up days:
- one for the rig (is the mast straight on both boards and is the
prebend correct.
- one for the crew (does each man know his job, is your weight
distribution good).
Fourth - do your homework:
- make sure that all the race information is in an easily handled
form.
- have all the race marks loaded as waypoints (it may be
advantageous to route the race).
Fifth - you can't be skipper and crewchief(coach) and helmsman and
tactician:
- the skipper calls the shots.
- the crewchief organizes maneuvers and assigns the crew to tasks
as required.
- the helmsman has to have no other responsibilities
- the tactician must understand what and where any information is
and what the boat can do.

Good Luck

Matt Colie A.Sloop “Bonne Ide’e” S2-7.9 #1
Lifelong Waterman, Licensed Mariner and Pathological Sailor


Capt. Rob wrote:
Recently I spoke with several 35s5 owners who told me they had mostly
abandoned racing their boats because ratings (under 120) were unfair
for the boat. They claimed that very experienced crews could sail a
perfectly tuned 35s5 to 120 or better, but that most people couldn't
and a rating should be based on typical performance ratios rather than
a hard to achieve combo of excellent crew and rig tuning. Is this
bellyaching? When do boats get an unfair rating? A boat we sailed on
rated at 129 and did well in races, but perhaps the owner was fanatical
about it. He claimed he was a lazy racer and still won, but this
conflicts with other comments. How do some boats, such as an Elite 326
get a rating that is so easy to sail to or beat, while others have an
uphill battle?
A local J24 racer told me that a boat should NOT be rated to anything
less than it's best possible performance. Does this make sense and how
often and fairly is it applied?


RB
35s5...the better boat
NY