Terra Nova Trading Key West 2003
PHRF CLASS BREAKS - Comments and Insight from your Race Chairman
I hope that participating PHRF boat owners and crews will assess the class breaks in the context of the facts and considerations that we are sharing with you in this letter. As always, we welcome your feedback and comments, but I ask that you first take a few minutes time to read this information before you send us an email or pick up the phone.
BACKGROUND
The event-specific PHRF Rules & Regulations and the Official Notice and Conditions of Race both speak to our philosophy on PHRF class breaks. We fully recognize that getting class breaks right is as important to 'good PHRF racing' as assigning proper handicaps. There are a multitude of factors that need to be taken into account when assigning class breaks including rating bands, LOA, displacement/length ratios, etc. There are of course, some limiting factors from an event and race management standpoint. These include practical class sizes and the number of starts per division.
Premiere Racing determines class breaks only after considerable dialogue with the PHRF Consortium, Appeals Committee, naval architects and a few experienced boat owners (those without a conflict of interest, of course). We all agree on one thing - that there are many ways to divide the 106 PHRF entries into classes. Before setting the preliminary breaks, many people have spent a significant amount of time and effort analyzing the different scenarios. In my capacity as Race Chairman, I am responsible for making the final decision on class breaks.
One of our primary goals, based on feedback from participating PHRF owners over the years, is to provide 'like racing', that is to ensure that boats which perform in a similar fashion in a variety of different conditions are racing together. There are a number of factors we take into consideration in our efforts to ensure like racing - even if that means expanding rating bands beyond what one might normally desire. A boat's displacement/length ratio and sail area/displacement ratio are two factors that come into play. Determining class breaks solely on handicap would be a simple task, look neat and tidy on the scratch sheet, and result in notably small rating bands. But this clearly wouldn't provide 'like racing' and the quality competition that PHRF boat owners are seeking in Key West. A C&C 40 and Olson 30 racing together - with nearly identical handicaps - is not the kind of racing that the majority of our PHRF owners are looking for.
The remarkably close racing in last year's PHRF fleet speaks to the steady progress and successes with the regatta's handicapping process and class breaks. Last year, winners from 6 of the 9 classes were decided by 2 points or less (read more about this). First through fifth and first through fourth place in two of the classes were separated by a mere 5 points. Additionally, the 'Boat of the Week' (most competitive and closely contested class at race week) runner-up came from the PHRF 5 class (see 2002 Results).
2003 CONSIDERATIONS / ISSUES
On any given year there are considerations and limitations concerning class breaks.Here are a few for 2003:
* The 106 entries is the largest number of PHRF boats in recent years (101-103 boats in the previous 3 years). As it turns out, it's quite a different mix of boats than we had last year.
* To ensure quality racing, we limit ourselves to 6 starts on any one division. Divisions 2 and 4 will host all PHRF racing as well as the J/29, Corsair 28R and IMS classes.
* These preliminary breaks feature 10 different PHRF classes (1 more than 2002) with the eight T-10s broken out into their own class.
* It should be noted that many of the class rating bands in excess of 30 seconds actually feature a group of boats with a relatively tight range with one boat on the top or bottom of the class accounting for the 'wide' band.DIVISION 2
* 6 starts / 63 boats* There are only 4 IMS entries this year, so they will share a start as they did in 2002. The big difference from last year is that the PHRF entries sharing this start can race for IMS trophies and the IMS entries can race for PHRF awards. This 'dual scoring' is commonplace in Europe, particularly in the big boat classes. Boats electing to race under IMS and PHRF in this class must fulfill the applicable entry requirements.
* The new Farr 36 design presents an interesting placement challenge because of its relatively small size and exceptional speed potential.
* The '30-foot sportboat' class is back again, starting fourth.
* The Corsair 28R trimarans return to Division 2, starting fifth.1/3/03 Comments added re: the Thompson 870 in PHRF 6
1/7/03 Shared Start on Division 4 Eliminated
DIVISION 4
* 6 starts / 71 boats* PHRF 6 is in some respects a 'small sport boat class' with displacement/length ratios on the lighter side.
* The J/29 class (11 entries) will start second (their PHRF handicap would be in the 111-114 range)
* We are referring to PHRF 7 as the 'Almost MORC Class'. While the rating band is relatively wide (not uncommon in MORC racing), the performance characteristics of these ten boats are very similar. Five of the ten designs actively race in MORC, while the remaining three designs fit the D/L and Sail Area/Displacement profiles.
* Unlike in 2002, this year we were able to put together a 'heavy displacement class' (D1/PHRF 8). It is a small group featuring only 8 boats. With a practical limitation in the number of class starts, PHRF 8 will share a starting line with the T-10 class. They will be scored separately and have their own trophies daily and for series (1-3). The alternative would be to incorporate either the heavy displacement boats or T-10's into other PHRF classes - an option which we feel is less desirable for those boats. We are cognizant of the 'downside' with shared starting lines and have had lengthy dialogue on the subject. Shared starts have been utilized numerous times in past years at Key West, including 2002, with IMS and PHRF1 sharing a starting line. In this particular case there are only 8 boats in D1 and 8 boats in D2. In most conditions, we anticipate that the boats in D1 should sail away from the T-10's on the first leg and the two classes should not be intermingled throughout the race. 1/7/03 Shared Start on Division 4 EliminatedAs always, we welcome your constructive criticism and feedback. Please keep in mind that we are very reluctant to make last minute changes and timely feedback is essential. If you see something you don't agree with, please don't just state that a boat does not belong is a certain class. It will be far more effective to present the perceived problem along with a potential solution and your justification for the change.
We look forward to another week of excellent PHRF competition at Terra Nova Trading Key West 2003.
Sincerely yours, Peter Craig Race Chairman
More about PHRF at Key West PHRF RACING - As Competitive as it Gets
Close Racing and Owner Survey Validates Handicapping Process
Countdown to Key West - October 2002
Please click on the individual Division Names to view the Preliminary Splits
| DIVISION 1 | DIVISION 2 | DIVISION 3 | DIVISION 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Countdown to Key West - October 2002 | PHRF RACING - As Competitive as it Gets Close Racing and Owner Survey Validates Handicapping Process |
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Bruce Bingman * Chesapeake Bay Paul Ansfield Lake Michigan Wayne Beardsley Long Island Russell Cardoza Narragansett Bay John Collins New England David Kurtz South East Florida Jim Tichenor Galveston Bay Bob Warnecke Lake Michigan Dan Nowlan * California /National Dave Anderson South Carolina Joe Krolac Chesapeake Bay |
With PHRF entries topping 100 boats in each of the past two years, the competition in Key West has been fierce. Last year 100 PHRF entries, competing in 9 separate classes, comprised over 30% of the 321-boat fleet. Entrants hailed from 25 different states. Since 1998, Premiere Racing has committed itself to providing top quality PHRF racing in Key West through their event-specific PHRF Rules & Regulations and a handicapping and appeals process that is continually under review. After each event, consortium members rigorously assess the assigned handicaps and the final results. This post-regatta analysis becomes part of the ever-growing 'data bank' that the members draw on for the next year's event. The end result speaks for itself. Close Racing... With a large nucleus of boats, Premiere Racing is routinely able to achieve a primary goal with the all-important class breaks - 'like racing'. Very few sailors enjoy racing when it's a Mumm 36 versus a 70 foot sled for class honors, or a Swan 48 is competing against a 30 foot light displacement sport boat. Likewise one hopes for rating bands measured in seconds per mile - not minutes. The close racing in last year's PHRF fleet speaks to the steady progress and successes with class breaks and the regatta's handicapping process. Among the Race Week 2002 highlights: * Winners from 6 of the 9 classes were decided by 2 points or less * 1st through 5th place in PHRF 4, and 1st through 4th place in PHRF 5 were separated by a mere 5 points * A tiebreaker was necessary in PHRF 2 with the 3rd place finisher 2 points back * The 'Boat of the Week' runner-up came from PHRF 5 (the most competitive, closely contested class at Race Week) Survey Says.... Premiere Racing actively seeks feedback from participating boat owners and closely examines every aspect of the event each year. Based on lessons learned, and with the goal of providing even better racing the following year, we effect changes as necessary. Last year we mailed out a formal survey (40% return) which included 6 PHRF-specific questions. Knowing full well that there are few owners that are enamoured with their boat's PHRF handicap or the rating process, we were pleasantly surprised by the survey responses: * 92% - PHRF Rules & Regs acceptable (3% not) * 80% - handicapping process acceptable * 76% - weight limits acceptable (18% not) * 76% - class splits acceptable * 71% - appeals process acceptable * 69% - handicaps fair Handicapping Process / Class Breaks With over 100 PHRF entries from abroad and across the United States each year, our challenge is to pool wisdom and experience and apply it to racing in the waters off Key West. The 2003 Race Week Consortium will continue those efforts. We fully recognize that class breaks are a critical component of successful PHRF administration. There are a multitude of factors that need to be taken into account when assigning class breaks, including rating bands and displacement/length ratios. There are of course, some limiting factors from an event and race management standpoint. These include practical class sizes and the number of starts required. For complete information on the handicapping process, you are encouraged to read the PHRF Rules & Regulations. If you do not have access to the Internet and require copies of the Notice of Race, PHRF Rules & Regulations or the Application contact Premiere Racing at (781) 639-9545. Entry lists and assigned handicaps are updated regularly. Please do not contact the individual members of the Consortium or Appeals Committee concerning PHRF issues. |
Regarding
the Thompson 870 in PHRF 6 - we can appreciate concerns about the age of the
Thompson 870 and the fact that she is a sprit boat, and have observed her performance as well and have data indicating we misplaced her last year in Key West.
This Thomson 870 is not to be confused with a Thompson 30. The numbers, photographs, interior and observed performance in Key West last year substantiate that the
Thompson 870 is more like a B-32 or SR33 than a stripped out 30 foot sport boat.
We all know how important the Sail Area/ Displacement and Displacement /Length ratios are to 'similar performance' on the race track. The D/L ratio for some of the boats we are discussing follow:
Melges 30:- 70
Henderson 30: 70-80
Olson 30: 80
Thomson 30: 83
B-32: 88
Thomson 870: 98
SR33: 120
The SA/Disp and the D/L ratios show that the Thompson 870 is not a true sportboat, but in line with 'sporty boats' in PHRF 6 where we placed them. The observed performance last year with the designer aboard backs this up. Additionally, the boat has a full interior - at least relative to the
Thompson 30 and Henderson 30s.
The argument that the Thompson 870 is a relatively new 'sprit-boat' design and therefore should be in PHRF 4 is not the overriding factor by any means. The Mount Gay 30 is a sprit boat. We have numerous PHRF classes with a mix of sprit boats and boats carrying conventional spinnakers. One has to take all of these factors into consideration before placing the boat.
PSC 1/3/03
Shared Start on Division 4 Eliminated
I have now heard from 3 of the 8 owners/charterers in PHRF 8 concerning the shared start with the T-10 class. One owner insisted that this situation would be unsafe, an assessment that I do not agree with. My explanation as to why we created the shared starting line and why I feel it is a better alternative than having these 8 heavy displacement boats race with dissimilar boats in other classes can be found below.
That said, it appears that a shared start is not a scenario that the owners are happy with. If we were starting the class break process now, I would incorporate these 8 boats into the PHRF fleet as best we could. From a race management standpoint, I still feel strongly that 6 starts on any one circle should be the maximum (particularly with 2 and possibly 3-race days). However, placing heavy displacement PHRF 8 boats in other classes now, where they wouldn't be competitive in and in some instances adversely affect those classes, has downside as well. Given these factors, we will add a 7th start on Division 4 this year.
I do not anticipate having the luxury of providing a separate start for 8-boat PHRF classes in 2004 with a fleet of over 300 boats expected and a return to our policy of a 6-start maximum. PSC 1/7/03