PHRF Rating Hit for Nonstandard Bowsprit

[Ryan Ericson]

I just received my PHRF rating certificate for PHRF-NW. Bob Aman had #71 registered in 2021 with 159 (the standard in PHRF-NW is 156). I received a 154 as the handicapper determined I had a nonstandard spin pole/bow sprit which increased the SMG from 17' 8"  to 23' 7". The handicapper used 12.79' as the standard bowsprit length which is the same number as the JSP in Figure 7 on page 18 of the class rules. I almost used the Class Rules JSP, however trying to be honest, as the definition of bowsprit length is the measurement of mast face to spinnaker tack point I used 13.12' which was based on Figure 1 on page 12 and rule 9.1:

Mast face to stem + stem to tack point on bowsprit (tack point is 1" back from the end of #71's bowsprit)

87.5 (Figure 1) + 70" (1" back from full extension) = 13.12'

Is the JSP number in the class rules in correct? Is this a legacy from when the boat come with Symmetrical or Asymmetrical spinnakers?

I reverse engineered the JSP number. It appears to be J dimension + 70" or 83.5" (6' 9.5") + 70" = 153.5/12 = 12.79'. The issue here is the the J dimension is the mast face to forestay attachment location which is about 4" inboard from the stem.

Adding 4" to 153.5 is 157.5/12 = 13.125'

Has anyone had similar issues or is this why OD racing is superior?

Kind Regards,

Ryan

[Steve Shaw]

As someone on a PHRF board, I can say that they are correct in taking the SPL and multiplying by 1.8 to get the SMG per PHRF rules.
Yes, the benefit to having a ODR (One Design Rating) can be beneficial when it comes to certain class rules.
If you want to race open PHRF, then you can get a larger spinnaker.  Not only can the girth be bigger, but the luff can be longer also (the real benefit).
Be aware, you have a gift right now as it is.  U20's sail with a 141 PHRF ODR here and still win just about every race on Lake Norman.

[Ryan Ericson]

Steve,

Thank you for the comments and reassurance on the rating, there is not a ODR rating here. I was mostly surprised that the standard rating did not include the stock bowsprit and the fact that Bob's rating from the same PHRF fleet was different. Chief Handicapper reconsidered the rating he looked at ORC rated U20s with 13.2 as the JC. I now rate 162.

We will see how we do this Saturday racing against J/70s and Martin 242s in 10-15kts.

Kind Regards,

Ryan

[Glenn VanHeel]

138 here in so. Cal.
Consider yourselves lucky!