FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Cynthia Goss, US SAILING, 203-453-2731
US SAILING Launches Three Online Tools for PHRF Sailors
Portsmouth (R.I.) August 15, 2007 — US SAILING has launched three online
tools for Performance Handicap Racing Fleet sailors. Launched by the United
States Performance Handicap Racing Fleet Committee (USPHRF), working in
concert with US SAILING's Offshore Office, these tools include two
databases—which contain handicap ranges and critical rig and hull dimensions
for many production boats raced throughout the U.S.—in addition to an analysis
tool that allows sailors and handicappers to develop a picture of how a given
boat performs in relation to its handicap.
The strength of the PHRF handicapping system is local administration, where
handicaps are developed and adjusted according to a boat's observed
performance in the region's local wind and course conditions. There are no
nationally determined performance handicaps.
According to US SAILING Offshore Director Dan Nowlan, "The important role that
US SAILING can play in the PHRF community is to serve as a central technical
resource and information source. For sailors and handicappers, these online
tools developed by members of the USPHRF Committee are valuable resources to
have access to. They are not unlike the Encyclopedia Britannica: I may not
read it every day, but it's important to know it's there when I need it."
The first database, High/Low/Mean PHRF Handicaps as determined by USPHRF
Affiliated Fleets, lists the high, low, and average PHRF handicaps for over
4,100 production boats that are raced in the U.S. under this handicapping
system. The figures are the reported handicaps from affiliated fleets sent to
USPHRF for the period running from March 1995 to March 2007.
The second database, Critical Dimensions of Boats for Handicapping, lists
critical hull and rig dimensions for over 6,000 boats. This information was
supplied by USPHRF affiliated fleets, boat manufacturers, naval architects,
and other individuals who have made contributions to this database.
There is a self-correction feature built into the Critical Dimensions
database; individuals can add and request modification of records by
submitting a form to USPHRF and the US SAILING Offshore Office for
verification and inclusion in the database.
The third, Graphic Display of Imputed Handicaps, is an analysis tool that
allows sailors and handicappers to develop a picture of whether a given boat
is sailing well above its handicap, within expectations, or well below its
handicap. By plugging fleet data into a spreadsheet for a series of races,
handicappers can develop a picture of how a given boat is performing by
calculating an imputed handicap and tracking that in a graph format.
"Sailors and handicappers like to know how well they are doing, and for
different reasons," said Paul Ansfield, chair of USPHRF. "This analysis tool
is valuable because it is a simple empirical method that uses easy
calculations within spreadsheets and displays a picture of racing performance
through the presentation of related graphs. Development of the tool will
continue: we hope handicappers in the PHRF community will use this type of
tool and submit feedback to our committee."
For more information on these online tools, please visit the
website for USPHRF at
www.ussailing.org/phrf or contact Paul Ansfield, chair of the USPHRF
Committee, by following the link on the USPHRF homepage.
About USPHRF
The United States Performance Handicap Racing Fleet Committee (USPHRF) is a
technical rule committee of US SAILING that promotes performance handicap
racing for monohull and multihull sailing yachts applying the PHRF rule. The
Committee researches, develops, and distributes guidelines for performance
handicapping using systematically applied empirical methodology to determine
estimates of speed potential. The Committee maintains a database of critical
dimensions for production boats and a database of handicaps assigned by local
and regional fleets associated with USPHRF. It publishes these data, periodic
bulletins, and handicapping guidelines that are mailed to member fleets
associated with US SAILING. Three subcommittees have special tasks. The
Executive Subcommittee deals with management and evaluates application of the
rule. The Technical Subcommittee updates the procedures and methodology for
performance handicapping. The National Appeal Subcommittee hears appeals of
handicaps forwarded from associated local and regional fleets.
About US SAILING
The United States Sailing Association (US SAILING) is the national governing
body for sailing. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Portsmouth, Rhode
Island, the organization provides leadership for the sport of sailing in the
United States. US SAILING offers training and education programs for
instructors and race officials, supports a wide range of sailing organizations
and communities, issues offshore rating certificates, and provides
administration and oversight of competitive sailing across the country,
including National Championships and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Sailing
Teams. For more information, please visit
www.ussailing.org.
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