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	HOMETOWN LISTINGS DIVISION 1  -  DIVISION 3		ACURA KEY WEST 2008, presented by Nautica  SCRATCH SHEET - JANUARY 18, 2008   Division Classes Boats       2 A - IRC 1 10         B - Swan 42 12         C - PHRF 1 9         D - IRC 2 10         E - PHRF 2 9           50       PRO Bruce Golison                     Division Classes Boats       4 A - Corsair 28R 9         B - PHRF 3 8         C - PHRF 4 10         D - PHRF 5 8         E - PHRF 6 11           46       PRO Wayne Bretsch

CLASS BREAKS - PHRF and IRC     posted December 28, 2007

January 2, 2008 Update

Division 2 Start Order Changed

PHRF 1 and IRC 2 have been reversed. PHRF 1 (now Class C) will start after the Swan 42s and before IRC 2 (now class D)

Division 4 Changes

Antrim 27 withdrew (PHRF 3 now 8 boats), J/24 added (PHRF 6 now 11 boats)

Comments and Insight from the Race Chairman...

I am pleased to be able to post the preliminary class breaks for Acura Key West 2008 more than 3 weeks before the racing begins. This year, there are 76 handicap entries (56 PHRF and 20 IRC), representing approximately 30% of the 2008 fleet. PHRF entrants will be competing for the 2008 PHRF National Championship with 3 beautiful Chelsea Clocks to be awarded to the top performers. The championship scoring criteria is posted at KW08_PHRF_championship.htm

Before getting into the class breaks, this is an appropriate time for me to thank the PHRF Consortium Chairman and his team for the time and effort spent in researching, evaluating and debating to establish fair Key West specific handicaps for our PHRF fleet. The work is not yet finished as some information submitted by boat owners is incomplete and a number of boats are still under review.

Participants should be aware that in some cases, preliminary PHRF handicaps that have been posted will be adjusted based on which class the boat will be racing in (in accordance with the event specific PHRF Rules & Regulations).

Once again this year, I ask that participating IRC and PHRF boat owners assess the class breaks in the context of the facts and considerations that I will share with you in this letter. As always, I welcome your feedback and comments, but will ask that you first take the time to read my letter before contacting me with feedback or questions. My second request is that only the boat owner or his/her designated representative contact us and to do so via email. It is the most efficient way for us to manage the process going forward and provide you with a meaningful response in the limited time we have before racing begins on January 21st.

BACKGROUND
The event-specific PHRF Rules & Regulations and the Notice & Conditions of Race both speak to our philosophy on PHRF class breaks. The same basic philosophy applies to IRC. We fully recognize that getting class breaks right is as important to 'good handicap racing' as proper handicaps. There are a multitude of factors that need to be taken into account when assigning the class breaks including rating bands, LOA, Sail Area/Displacement Ratios (up wind and down wind), etc. There are of course, some limiting factors from an event and race management standpoint. These include, but aren’t limited to, the number and type of boats entered, practical class size and a maximum number of starts per division in order to achieve 2 or 3 fair races on any given day. (It’s worth noting that we have 10 races scheduled for the first time, which means one or more 3-race days aren’t out of the question). 

Premiere Racing publishes preliminary class breaks only after considerable dialogue with the PHRF Consortium, Appeals Committee, naval architects and some experienced boat owners (those without a conflict of interest). We all are in agreement on one fact - that there are a number of different ways one can divide these handicap entries into classes. Before posting these preliminary breaks, a number of us have spent a significant amount of time and effort analyzing potential scenarios. In my capacity as Race Chairman, I am the one responsible for making the final decision on class breaks.  

One of our primary goals, based on feedback from participating 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 Sail Area/ Displacement Ratio (both the upwind & downwind numbers) and Displacement/Length Ratio are two key factors that come into play. We have posted approximate ratios with the PHRF boats so you can see those important numbers right alongside the assigned handicap. This worthy goal is more challenging in 2008 than in previous years based on the number of IRC boats entered and the composition of the PHRF fleet.

Determining class breaks solely on handicap would be a simple task, look tidy on the scratch sheet, and generally result in notably small rating bands. But this clearly wouldn't provide 'like racing' and the quality competition that handicap 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 owners are looking for. 

2008 CONSIDERATIONS / ISSUES

On any given year there are unique considerations and limitations concerning class breaks and this year is no exception:

·         There will be 76 boats racing under handicap rules in Key West next January. The IRC fleet will feature 20 entrants (down from 27 last year) while the PHRF fleet totals 56 boats - close to last year’s 62 boat tally.

·         The composition of the 2008 PHRF fleet has very few “big boats” while the IRC fleet features a wide range in size from the 37’ Grand Soleil Kalevala II to the 80’ swing keel Wally Highland Fling.

·         There will be a total of 16 classes spread over 4 divisions next month (17 classes last year):

-       Div 1 (66 boats):               Farr 40 / Melges 32 / M 30

-       Div 2 (50 boats):               IRC 1 / IRC 2 / Swan 42 / PHRF 1 & 2

-       Div 3 (98 boats):               Melges 24 / J/105 / J/80

-       Div 4 (47 boats):               Corsair 28R / PHRF 3-6

·         These preliminary breaks feature 8 handicap classes (6 PHRF and 2 IRC) with 9-11 boats in each class.  

·         IRC Racing returns to Key West for its third year with 20 boats racing (2006-17 / 2007-27 / 2008-20).These 20 boats broke logically into what should prove to be two very competitive classes – both racing on Division 2.

·         The mix of PHRF boats led to logical class breaks in some instances. There are no larger size classes this time around, and the smaller class size (9-10 boats) and additional trophies work toward the goal of participants having a meaningful competition with boats that should be racing together.

·         To ensure quality racing and the ability to get 2 and even 3 races completed on any given day, we achieved a notable goal of having a maximum of 5 starts on Divisions 2 and 4 this year. Many of us can remember past years with 7 and even 8 starts on one division.

·         Some of the posted rating bands can be deceiving. It should be noted that 4 of the 6 PHRF classes have rating bands of 33 sec/mile or less. There are also reasonable bands within the other two, with one boat at the top and/or bottom boats in those two classes accounting for the wider spreads.  

·         Sub Classes: We will be recognizing two ‘Sub Class’ groups this year - the TP52s and J/109s. They have 4 and 6 boats entered respectively with the J/109 class projecting one design status again next year as they had in 2006 and 2007. A daily and two series Sub-Class trophies will be awarded to these two groups within their PHRF classes. 

DIVISION 2

5 Starts / 50 Boats

            IRC 1 (Class 2A):  A 9-boat class with the biggest boats in fleet, including one of our largest entries to date (the swing-keel Wally 80 Highland Fling). Two new IRC designs are the J/V 66 Numbers and R/P 55 Rima 2. The balance of the class is composed of six TP52s - most have been optimized for IRC in some fashion. The TP52’s will be eligible for ‘Sub-Class’ trophies.

            Swan 42 (Class 2B): 12 boats making their Key West debut as a one design class. 

            IRC 2 (Class 2C):  This 11-boat class is a fairly diverse group of boats with a Swan 45 as the high rater (1.20) and an X-382 (1.038) as the low rater (pending final IRC ratings).  A Farr 40, X-41, pair of J/122s, J/44, Ker 11.3, Mills designed Sllim 37, Grand Soleil 37 and C&C 121 round out this second IRC class.  

PHRF 1 (Class 2D):  This 9 boat class includes a Rodger Martin 40 (Gwaihir) which is significantly faster than the other boats in class. The other 8 are primarily light displacement boats. While the rating band is not ideal, this is not uncommon for the “big boat” PHRF class with one boat rated significantly faster than the others. Rating adjustments may be made to the boats at either end of the class (as allowed for under the PHRF Rules & Regs) to account for the rating spread and size differences.

PHRF 2 (Class 2E):  This 9-boat moderate displacement class of 35-40 footers will likely feature some of the most competitive racing in this year’s PHRF fleet. A narrow 21 sec/mile rating band and similar boat types will make for close racing. A pair of Beneteau 40.7’s will join a J/120, Sydney 36, C&C 115 and four J/109’s. The J/109’s will be eligible for Sub Class trophies.

DIVISION 4

5 Starts / 46 boats

            CORSAIR  28R (Class 4A):  The trimarans will again be the lead class in Division 4 with 9 boats vying for their 2008 Mid Winter Championship.

            PHRF 3 (Class 4B):  This 9 boat light displacement class features smaller boats (28-33’ LOA) with a rating band of 42 sec/mile. Boat types include a pair of Esse 850’s and Hobie 33’s, an SR 33, Antrim 27, Columbia 32, Evelyn 32-2 and Olson 30.

PHRF 4 (Class 4C):  This is a medium displacement class with mid-sized boats. The 10 boat class, which includes a pair of J/35’s and J/92s’ along with a Cape Fear 38, Tripp 36, Tripp 33, C&C 40-2, Dickerson 37 and J/100, will feature a narrow 24 sec/mile rating band.

PHRF 5 (Class 4D):  This class consists of the smaller medium to light displacement boats with three J/29’s, a pair of Andrews 30’s, a Beneteau 10M, Donovan 27, T-10 and B-25. The class has a rating band from 99-132 and all the boats are “MORC like”.

PHRF 6 (Class 4E):  Our “small boat” PHRF class has a reasonable 30 sec/mile rating band. This class features three S2 7.9’s, a Colgate 26, Mac 30 and a pair of Wyliecat 30’s and J/24’s.

As always, we welcome your constructive criticism and feedback. Keep in mind that we are reluctant to make last minute changes, hence timely feedback is essential. If you see something you don't agree with, we ask that you provide useful feedback.  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, why it is a problem, along with a potential solution along with your justification.

We anticipate another excellent week of IRC and PHRF competition at Acura Key West 2008. I look forward to seeing everyone next month.

Sincerely yours,

Peter Craig
Race Chairman