INDIANAPOLIS SAILING CLUB Keelboat Fleet PHRF RACING MANUAL INTRODUCTION: The Keelboat Fleet at Indianapolis Sailing Club focuses on building camaraderie among sailors in the Keelboat Fleet while offering interesting racing to participants. Sailing on Geist Reservoir the courses are often short. Short course racing helps to build boat handling skills in beginning racers as well as providing experienced racing crews challenging wind conditions. The boats in the fleet range from a Phil Bolger, Mary Jane 23 to modern popular small keelboat designs. Using the Performance Handicap Racing Fleet (PHRF) ratings ensures competitive racing for a wide range of designs. A Handicapping Committee reviews handicaps for boats in the fleet to ensure that ratings are consistently applied across the fleet. This manual describes the procedures and processes used within the Keelboat Fleet to administer its rules and ensure that we remain focused on providing fun; family oriented racing that is the cornerstone of the Indianapolis Sailing Club. It is the intent of the Keelboat Fleet to foster recreational racing opportunities that will be fun for all participants. Questions should be directed to the Keelboat Fleet Captain or anyone on the PHRF Handicapping Committee. Remember it is every boat owner’s responsibility to read and understand this manual. Weather on Geist Reservoir Weather on Geist Reservoir can be unpredictable. Severe weather can come up very quickly resulting in gusty and shifty wind conditions. While this is a small body of water, Keelboat Fleet members are advised to exercise prudent judgment when sailing these waters. Current weather forecasts can be obtained from a number of sources. Mt. Comfort airport is located 11 miles from the Indianapolis Sailing Club and provides current weather conditions by calling (317) 335-3037. Additionally, you can do an internet search for current weather conditions. Indianapolis weather is broadcast by the National Weather Service on KEC-74, 162.550MHz. PHRF Handicapping Committee The PHRF Handicapping Committee has the responsibility for administering the rules, scoring, and handicapping of Keelboat Fleet races held within the Indianapolis Sailing Club. Members of the Handicapping Committee must possess an interest in learning about boat design and performance characteristics of a wide range of sailing vessels raced within the Keelboat Fleet. Requirements for membership on the Committee include participation in conference calls, meetings, reviewing registration and applications for ratings, REVISED 03/2010 Page 1 of 23 PHRF Racing Manual Ver. 3.1.0 INDIANAPOLIS SAILING CLUB Keelboat Fleet PHRF RACING MANUAL working with boat owners to obtain information about their boat and reaching consensus on the assignment of ratings used for scoring of Keelboat Fleet events. Additionally members of the committee will periodically review the Keelboat Fleet rules, sailing instructions, and this manual to ensure that it contains current information. The committee shall contain at least 7 members in good standing of the Keelboat Fleet. GENERAL INFORMATION 1.0 MAILING ADDRESS Keelboat Fleet c/o Indianapolis Sailing Club 11325 Fall Creek Road Indianapolis, IN 46256 2.0 HOW TO JOIN THE KEELBOAT FLEET 2.1 Obtain a PHRF Information Form (PI-Form) from the PHRF Handicapping Committee Chair or the Keelboat Fleet website (www.keelboatfleet.com). Fill in the requested data and send to PHRF Handicapping Committee Chair. 2.2 Send check for appropriate dues amount to: George Broadlick Keelboat Fleet Treasurer P.O. Box 36574 Indianapolis, Indiana 46236 2.3 Dues amounts are currently $20.00 for Owner/Co-Owner and $10.00 for Associate Members. Dues payments are due and payable upon joining the Keelboat Fleet and annually prior to April 1st. 2.4 Visiting Boat Owners are eligible to race in Keelboat Fleet Events by completing the PHRF Information Form and paying any applicable entry fees. 3.0 EXCHANGE OF OLD BOAT FOR NEW BOAT (OR USED BOAT NEWLY ACQUIRED) 3.1 Make out NEW PI-Form. 3.2 List sail number and name of old boat. 3.3 Send to your PHRF Handicapping Committee Chair. 3.4 If you have paid dues for current year, don't pay again. REVISED 03/2010 Page 2 of 23 PHRF Racing Manual Ver. 3.1.0 INDIANAPOLIS SAILING CLUB Keelboat Fleet PHRF RACING MANUAL 4.0 ANNUAL DUES 4.1 Dues are $20.00 per Owner/Co-Owner. Each Co-Owner must pay annual dues. 4.2 Associate Member dues will be $10.00/Associate Member 4.3 Dues will be set on an annual basis by the Fleet Executive Committee at an amount designed to cover the anticipated costs associated with the Keelboat Fleet racing and social programs. 4.4 Checks payable to ISC KEELBOAT FLEET or money orders acceptable. NO CASH PLEASE 4.4 For present members, Annual Dues are payable by April 1st of each year. 4.5 For new members, Annual Dues must accompany the application. 4.6 For new members, joining after October 1st, dues will be credited towards the next season. 5.0 BOATS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR PHRF ARE: 5.1 Boats that do not comply with the ISC Keelboat Policies as indicated in the ISC Welcome Aboard. 5.2 A boat with a planing hull that uses crew weight predominantly for stability is also prohibited from racing in the PHRF fleet. 6.0 RATINGS 6.1 PHRF Ratings (Ratings) are assigned by the Handicapping Committee and are based upon the published average PHRF ratings plus any applicable credits/penalties and local area adjustments associated with information provided by the owner on the PI-Form. A member can look up comparable PHRF ratings by searching the internet and/or the US Sailing PHRF Handicap Listings. 6.2 Boats that do not have a PHRF handicap will be assigned a provisional handicap by the Committee. This provisional handicap may be adjusted during the course of the season by the Committee, if it deems necessary. Adjustments to an individual boat’s handicap by the committee will not constitute a requirement to rescore prior races but will apply to all subsequent races run. 7.0 PHILOSOPHIC BASIS OF PHRF RATINGS 7.1 The ratings and rating adjustments are intended to represent the sailboat as it is declared on the PI-Form and are not intended to favor one design over another. 7.2 The aim is to furnish each boat with a rating which fairly represents its racing speed, regardless of age, design or origin. All boats are assumed to be maintained in racing condition. REVISED 03/2010 Page 3 of 23 PHRF Racing Manual Ver. 3.1.0 INDIANAPOLIS SAILING CLUB Keelboat Fleet PHRF RACING MANUAL 7.3 All ratings and rating adjustments are known to contain a "probable error" unknown in amount and direction. Whenever evidence indicates a change, corrections will be made so as to reduce the "probable error". These corrections may be made at any time without prior notice. 7.4 Because of "probable error" no rating is ever finally settled and PHRF is always open to new evidence. 7.5 PHRF Handicappers do not actually measure boats but rely on honesty and good will of owners to supply correct information. This works well, but other contestants are urged to protest or contact a Handicapper when violations are discovered. 7.6.1 If an owner makes a change in a PHRF rated boat, he is obligated to report the change to his Handicapper who will reflect the change in a changed rating. 7.7 Violations will result in adjustments and/or rescoring of the entire season or series. 8.0 SCRATCH SHEETS AND SUPPLEMENTS 8.1 Data from the PI-Forms are used to determine final handicaps and prepare scratch sheets used to score races. 8.2 The Scratch Sheet information is input into the scoring program used by the Keelboat Fleet and is deemed accurate as of the date of issue of the scratch sheet. The Scratch Sheet shall be posted on the Keelboat Fleet Bulletin Board at the Indianapolis Sailing Club as well as its website. 8.1 If changes are made to a boat’s rating, prior results will not be amended to reflect changes. 9.0 PERFORMANCE HANDICAP RACING FLEET (PHRF) RATINGS 9.1 When possible, PHRF ratings are assigned using the US Sailing PHRF average handicap with adjustments for deviations from the standard hull/standard sail configuration of the boat in question. 9.2 Boats that declare that they do not have a spinnaker shall be assigned the average Non-Spinnaker handicap. 9.3 Boat owners are encouraged to use PHRF-NE or LMPHRF handicap information to compare their assigned ratings. This is for informational purposes only for the owner to compare their rating to other boats. The Keelboat Fleet does not endorse another club’s ratings. 9.4 The PHRF Handicapping Committee will review actual race data periodically to determine if discrepancies exist for boats handicapped vs. their assigned ratings. If such discrepancies exist, then a boats rating may be adjusted at any time. Large variances in performance will not be considered in this evaluation. 9.5 The base or standard ratings of boats assumes the following: 9.5.1 – Spinnaker Pole or Whisker Pole length equal to 110% “J”. See diagram in Appendix E. 9.5.2 – Spinnaker Maximum Girth is 180% of J REVISED 03/2010 Page 4 of 23 PHRF Racing Manual Ver. 3.1.0 INDIANAPOLIS SAILING CLUB Keelboat Fleet PHRF RACING MANUAL 9.5.3 – Spinnaker Maximum Luff is equal to ISP 9.5.4 – The largest headsail is 155% or less 9.5.5 - The boat is in racing condition 9.6 Adjustments to base handicaps are as follows: 9.6.1 – Headsail between 135% - 116% - 3 Second Credit 9.6.2 – Headsail between 115% - 0% - 6 Second Credit 9.6.3 – Roller Furler Credit – 6 Second Credit 9.6.4 – Other variations in Rig/Sail Dimensions will be adjusted by the Committee 9.6.5 – Spinnaker (Base Rating) or Non-Spinnaker Handicaps (NSHCP) will be assigned depending on the information provided on the PI-Form by the owner for boats with PHRF ratings above 200.