HANDICAPPING

Each boat is placed into a fleet based on its PHRF handicap, a performance-based rating number allocated by Yachting New Zealand.

This system is made possible only with club participation and sportsmanlike self-regulation. It’s like a golf handicap in the sense that the better you become, the harsher you are ranked compared to others.

A boat’s total race time is simply multiplied by its PHRF handicap to give a ‘corrected time’ figure. This corrected time is how boats rank on the leader board.

“There are two components to a boat’s PHRF rating,” says Yachting New Zealand’s chief operating officer Andrew Clouston. “First, there’s a designated numerical range for the boat design in which the handicap must remain. Secondly, the boat’s race history over the preceding 24 months is assessed to scale its rating within that range.”

The Yachting New Zealand PHRF committee reviews each boat’s handicap three times a year, with the September 15 review being one that PIC Coastal Classic competitors keep a keen eye on. It’s a big job, and YNZ applauds the work this volunteer committee undertakes to support the sport and keep everyone on an even playing field.

If the PIC Coastal Classic is the only race the boat does each year, YNZ now offers a one-off event certificate for a reduced price.

Other handicapping systems are also used for scoring the race, such as the IRC system which purely measures on physical characteristics of the boat, and ‘line honours’ which is the traditional, simple, whoever-gets-there-first-wins.

Multihulls are handicapped on a completely separate system, administered by the New Zealand Multihull Yacht Club.

The race is a Category 3 event, so all participating boats need to comply with YNZ’S Safety Regulations of Sailing. They undertake the Category 3 safety inspection and obtain a certificate to demonstrate that the boat’s equipped to cope with the coastal environment.

Boats need to submit their Category 3 safety certificate number with their race registration. If a boat fails any spot-check at race time, the consequence could be disqualification.

Most vessels will require a Racing Risk extension to their insurance. PIC has a dedicated marine team with an in-depth understanding of the products and the cover you will require on and off the water.