How to Build a Really Good Race

The team at Stephens Waring Yacht Design, who have a jonesing for fast hull designs with classic yacht styling, offer this commentary on how the foundation for having a good time competing is rooted in the format of the competition.

Contrary to popular belief, it takes more than two sailboats in close proximity to make a race. Or, at least a GOOD race. In fact, it takes a committee. A race committee, with a feel for the nuance of the handicap rule used in that race, and how that rule interacts with the course for that race.

Like most sailors we’re competitive bastards. Any time we see another boat we start tweaking sails to beat the band. But we learned a long time ago that some boats are just plain faster than others. And we don’t get the right gratification if our “amazing victory” is just because we happen to be aboard the faster boat. That’s why handicap racing was invented.

Funny thing about handicap racing, it requires a solid handicap rule. That is, a rating system that levels the competition from one boat to another. A rating system theoretically helps us assess how fast one boat should be compared to all other boats in the world.

There’s a huge range of handicap rating systems in the world today; from simple rules-of-thumb based on statistical systems like the Performance Handicap Rating Formula, or PHRF; to full-on computer-administered Velocity Prediction Program-based rules that attempt to “know” the speed potential of any boat in any condition.

But even the most complex, exotic, and costly velocity prediction rule makes assumptions that lower the resolution of that rule, and render it less than perfect. And it is these imperfect assumptions that throw monkey wrenches into race organizers’ best-laid plans. And often determine whether a regatta is a success …

Or a pointless parade of expensive things that float.

Much more… click here.