Club Handicap Racing Fleet 
Santa Barbara Yacht Club

 The system adjusts handicaps each time a boat races, using performance averages. Each boat that races in a given race has its elapsed time calculated and converted to seconds per mile. The median boat in the fleet (i.e. boat 6 in an 11 boat race) is used to calculate a “wind factor”.  The “wind factor” equals the median boat handicap divided by the median boat seconds per mile. All boats participating in the race then have their seconds per mile multiplied by the wind factor to arrive at an adjusted seconds per mile, (with an even number of boats, use the two median boats for the “wind factor” and average their handicaps and seconds per mile to calculate the “wind factor”). The wind factor is an important component in the handicapping calculations because it insures that boats participating in high wind races don't unfairly have their handicaps lowered by the fast conditions while the ratings of the non participating boats remain unchanged. The same applies to participants in low wind races. It would not be fair for a boat to gain a substantially higher handicap just because there was no wind. So the wind factor insures that ratings cannot be substantiality affected by the speed of the wind.

For each boat, the last five adjusted seconds per mile are used in handicap calculations; values for the race just run, and the last four races run by that boat.  The largest value is discarded and the remaining four are averaged; the resulting value is the boat's handicap for the next race.  That handicap will not change until the boat races again.Handicaps will increase or decrease depending on the wind encountered in a series of races, and frankly, on how hard one tries over time.  The main difference seems to be, however, whether a boat has a full crew of gorillas or not.  DNF and DSQ do not affect handicap.

We do not penalize a boat that uses a spinnaker or larger head sail.  In the interest of fairness and good sportsmanship, it is expected that boats remain as consistent as possible from race to race with respect to selection of sails or other variables that can affect the outcome of a race. All participants are expected to give a 100% effort for each and every race, otherwise the handicap system cannot apply to all boats fairly.

The simplicity of the CHRF format and the avoidance of complex rules make our program what it is; fun. Questions are constantly raised by fleet members regarding the use of spinnakers. Most new fleet members begin without a spinnaker, but in time decide to use one. First time spinnaker use usually has a dramatic affect on the outcome of a race, so when is the appropriate time to introduce the use of a spinnaker and remain within the boundaries of fair play and Corinthian spirit? The simple answer: Any time but a Perpetual Trophy race. 

For staggered starts, the boat with the largest handicap is scheduled to start first, usually at 12:30. The next largest handicap is scheduled next, at an interval calculated by multiplying the difference in handicap times the race distance in nautical miles, and so on through the fleet.  The Race Committee takes down actual start time (early starts of course not permitted) and actual finish time to use in determining seconds per mile.  Place is determined by actual finish order.  Races around our buoy courses are staggered starts and each skipper is provided with a spreadsheet showing the start times for all boats in the fleet for about 14 different courses. 

 For mass starts, spot times are calculated for all boats by multiplying the race distance times the difference in handicap between individual boats and the fastest boat in the fleet.  Place is determined by corrected time (elapsed time minus spot time).  Any boat which crosses the start time one minute or more after the scheduled start in mass starts has its actual start time taken, so that the delay can be accounted for in calculations of seconds per mile. Usually mass starts are used for longer races, such as a race to a distant harbor for an overnight.

 New boats entering the fleet may be assigned a start time, or they can start at the same time as a similar boat in the fleet. Alternatively, the new boat can show up at the start line and start at 12:30.  Handicaps then are calculated for new boats in the same manner as others, but with fewer adjusted seconds per mile values to average until five races have been run.  After three races a boat is considered qualified and is eligible for winning places. Three and four race series are scored by the USSA Racing Rules of Sailing (1997-2000) Appendix AA system. Take-home trophies are awarded.  Some series have perpetual trophies that are awarded at the annual awards bash.  There is an annual high point competition that counts the ten best races for each skipper (if a skipper gets a new boat, the old point values are saved). If the new boat has a PHRF handicap within 30 seconds per mile of the old boat it does not have to re-qualify, otherwise a new boat qualifies in the usual way. Usually we hold a skippers meeting about 11:00 on race day to decide what the course will be and make other announcements.

For the purpose of calculating the high point trophy winner at the end of the year, points are awarded as follows: 1st=20, 2nd=17, 3rd=15, 4th=14,5th=13, 6th=12, 7th=11, 8th=10, 9th=9, 10th=8,11th=7, 12=6, boats  13th place and higher each get 5 points. Each person standing race committee duty receives 19 points towards his high point total. To determine the High Point winner, only the best ten races count.

We usually have about 18 to 20 races with 8 trophy races and 3 4-race series per year.  Also we hold fleet meetings once a month, open to all members & guests.  At these meeting we review past races and plan future activities. Each year in January we hold our annual meeting to transfer command and select the Race Committee for each race. Names are drawn from a hat for each race and a skipper can only receive race committee points one time per year.