Handicap numbers explained:
This stuff is confusing so hear is my layman's explanation (let me know if I
am wrong. It has been known to happen.) Most small boats don't have a PHRF
rating so they use the Portsmouth Yardstick, a/k/a Portsmouth Number (PN), D-PN,
and Handicap Number (HC). Portsmouth Numbers are defined as the length of
time boats would take to sail a common but unspecified distance. For example,
the distance Kyle's Bucc18 rated at 87.1 could cover in 87 minutes should be
able to be covered in the same race by my boat, a C-15, in 92 minutes with a
rating of 91.9.
The handicap
numbers above do not factor in wind conditions, as some regattas do.
US Sailing maintains handicap numbers for each boat for varying wind
conditions here.
The lazy
man's explanation:
In a race where
3 boats all finish in 60 minutes the following would be the time allowance
from a Bucc 18, the "fastest" boat
registered, in the following wind conditions:
Minutes allowed in a 60 minute
race from a Bucc 18:
Wind speed in knots
|
N/A
|
0-1
|
4-10
|
11-16
|
17+
|
Coronado 15
|
-2.1
|
-2.3
|
-3.5
|
-2.4
|
-1.4
|
Mutineer 15
|
-6.1
|
-6.2
|
-6.5
|
-6.7
|
-7.2
|
The good
news:
The regatta race officials will do all of the math for us and tell us who
won!
The math:
CT (Corrected Time) =
|
ET (Elapsed Time)
|
X 100
|
HC (Handicap Number)
|
Beufort Scale
|
D-PN
|
0-1
|
2-3
|
4
|
5-9
|
Wind speed in
knots
|
N/A
|
0-1
|
4-10
|
11-16
|
17+
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Handicap
Numbers:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bucc 18
|
87.6
|
89.1
|
87
|
86.5
|
85.8
|
Coronado 15
|
90.4
|
92.2
|
91.6
|
89.6
|
87.6
|
Mutineer 15
|
96.1
|
98.1
|
96.1
|
95.7
|
95.6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Corrected Time
(assuming we all finish in 60 minutes):
|
Bucc 18
|
68.5
|
67.3
|
69.0
|
69.4
|
69.9
|
Coronado 15
|
66.4
|
65.1
|
65.5
|
67.0
|
68.5
|
Mutineer 15
|
62.4
|
61.2
|
62.4
|
62.7
|
62.8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Minutes allowed
in a 60 minute race from a Bucc 18:
|
Wind speed in
knots
|
N/A
|
0-1
|
4-10
|
11-16
|
17+
|
Coronado 15
|
-2.1
|
-2.3
|
-3.5
|
-2.4
|
-1.4
|
Mutineer 15
|
-6.1
|
-6.2
|
-6.5
|
-6.7
|
-7.2
|
|