PHRF FAQ

This page is about often misunderstood facts concerning SAIL's Performance Handicap Racing Fleet.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is SAIL PHRF?...

The Sailing Association of Intermountain Lakes (SAIL) formed a Performance Handicap Race Fleet (PHRF) in 1999 as a self-governed, independent racing organization to promote, administer and handicap open fleet keel boat racing in the SAIL region. The PHRF Fleet operates as a committee under SAIL. SAIL chooses the committee chair; each member club & fleet with PHRF-eligible boats is expected to appoint a representative to the committee.

What's in it for me?...

Fair, consistent handicap racing. Having SAIL PHRF issue ratings insures that a yacht will have the same rating anywhere it races in our region. This is a requirement of SAIL for all participants in the Open Regattas on the SAIL Tour. SAIL PHRF will be scoring all the major regattas and compiling a master database of local boat performance. You will receive a PHRF certificate assigned to your yacht to verify the base handicap and adjustments you have made. Postings will be made for all appeals and the results will be made public.

Does SAIL have a profit motive for PHRF?

No. SAIL's only interest in PHRF is providing a service to its members and it seeks only to recover the cost of it.  Most years, income from PHRF certificate fees just covers the cost of annual dues to national PHRF. In some years, the PHRF fees don't cover the costs and SAIL subsidizes the national dues.
 

How does PHRF relate to the rules?

PHRF is a class under the Racing Rules of Sailing. PHRF rules are "class rules", which apply to each event with the same status as the rules of one-design class associations; they take precedence over the notice of race and sailing instructions and apply even if the NOR & SIs are silent. Rule 87 specifies that sailing instructions may change a class rule only if permitted in the class rules or by written permission of the class posted on the official notice board. A PHRF rating protest is considered a measurement protest and handled as stated in rule 64.3. 

Does a One-Design yacht need a certificate?...

Boats do not need a PHRF certificate to race in one-design fleets (non-handicap racing). But if there not enough yachts to make a one-design fleet for a particular regatta then you will need a PHRF certificate to race in the PHRF fleet.

One local fleet is the exception to not needing a PHRF certificate; it chooses to race by PHRF handicaps, rather than head-to-head, due to variations in the boats.

I already know my PHRF rating number, do I need a certificate?...

Yes. PHRF ratings are only valid for the locale and time in which issued. They vary from place to place and time to time.
 

My One-Design fleet allows techniques or equipment that violate PHRF rules...

A One-Design yacht that is a member of a class association, and in compliance with the class association's One-Design Rules, will be issued an ODR PHRF certificate. A yacht sailing in One-Design configuration (ODR) can employ any techniques or equipment allowed under its class rules. That way, ODR sailors can practice these techniques and improve their skills for their ODR events. However, the yacht must strictly comply with ODR rules and no other PHRF adjustments will be allowed while using ODR techniques &/or equipment. A One-design yacht may also be issued a base PHRF certificate and then must comply with PHRF rules when racing. A One-design yacht must decide with rating to use before the start of a regatta and must use that rating for the entire regatta.

How often will my handicap be adjusted?...

PHRF members may appeal their own or another yacht's rating at any time. Appeals will be heard by the PHRF committee and ruled on based on statistical performance, race performance and other information brought forth by the membership. Ratings will only be adjusted/reviewed as appeals are received. SAIL PHRF will not arbitrarily adjust handicaps.

Who can join SAIL PHRF?...

Any SAIL member who has a PHRF-eligible boat and  wants to participate in SAIL sanctioned regattas to compete in PHRF fleet keel boat races can join. Boats wishing to join need only submit a measurement entry form and membership fee. SAIL PHRF will issue a PHRF certificate for that particular boat along with all adjustments & exclusions allowed. SAIL PHRF will also issue temporary certificates at regattas upon joining the fleet. Membership will be required to participate in SAIL PHRF sanctioned regattas.

What's a "PHRF-eligible boat"?...

Formerly, a boat eligible for PHRF was a self-righting monohull. Now, the definition has been broadened to include centerboard boats and multihulls. In SAIL PHRF, multihulls may receive a certificate if approved by the event's organizing authority.

What are the costs?...

The total annual cost for a current PHRF certificate for one boat is $20.00, including SAIL membership dues of $15.00 annually and PHRF membership of $5.00 per certificate. Additional certificates cost $5 for each boat. This is by far the cheapest PHRF fee in the United States.
 
A recent change is to issue temporary, "one-time" certificates at a $5.00 cost; these do not require SAIL membership but are valid only for the event at which issued.

Do I need to join every year?...

Yes. A certificate is valid only for the season in which it's issued. A temporary certificate is valid only for one event.

How do I join?...

Pay your SAIL dues of $15 per year (Send in a check plus membership form ) and PHRF fee of $5; then go here and complete the PHRF application. The detailed specs are necessary only if you're a new PHRF member or have modified your boat since the previous certificate.

What if I don't join SAIL PHRF?...

Some clubs assign PHRF-like ratings to boats of their members. These ratings are valid only for club races and will probably not be accepted in open regattas. The sailing instructions for some open events allow the race committee to assign handicaps for other than PHRF members, however it may choose. You can not appeal these ratings, nor ratings of your competitors. Only SAIL PHRF members may appeal a rating.

I'm not a member of PHRF. Can I appeal a rating?

No. Only PHRF members can appeal ratings. If you are a non-member and have a rating issued by a race committee, you have no recourse.

As a member of PHRF, can I appeal a rating of a non-PHRF member boat?...

Yes. Any regatta in the SAIL region that has a fleet called "PHRF" invokes the PHRF rules, which are "class rules" in the RRS, unless the NOR & SIs specifically state otherwise. These class rules are to be enforced by the class -- in this case, SAIL's PHRF Fleet. The PHRF Committee may direct the race committee to re-score the race(s) with different handicaps.

Who hears Rating appeals?

Rating appeals are referred to the PHRF Committee by the organizing authority.

Who hears PHRF-related protests?

PHRF rules specify that protests alleging violation of PHRF rules or failure to abide by a rating certificate will be heard by a protest committee made up of PHRF members at the event. The decision of the protest committee is given to the race committee for redress or rescoring.