Handicap Formulas

Compiled by Robert Murray, 741-0730 (rmurray@kcnet.com).

The following handicap numbers were last modified on September 19, 2008.

 

Link to US Sailing Portsmouth Numbers:  Portsmouth Yardstick

 

Standard Handicaps, Basic and Wind Handicap (HC) by Beaufort Range

Beaufort Range

0 - 1

2 - 3

4

5 - 9

Wind Speed (knots)

0 - 3

4 - 10

11 - 16

17 - 47

Wind Speed (MPH)

0.0 - 4.0

4.1 - 12.0

12.1 - 18.9

19.0 - 53.9

Description

dead calm

light breeze

moderate breeze

whitecaps

The Race Committee should observe sea conditions at the start, during and at the finish of the race and determine an average Beaufort Number for that race. Round off knots to nearest whole number or MPH to nearest tenth to determine Beaufort Number if anemometer is used. Care should be taken in observing that wind strength approximates that of the race course.

 

Classes:  KB=KeelBoat,  OS=OffShore,  CB=CenterBoard,  MH=MultiHull

 

OPTIONAL ALLOWANCE MODIFICATION FACTORS
and
US SAILING ALLOWANCE CODES
(D-PN) modified = (D-PN)(MF)1(MF)2
(HC) modified = (HC)BN(MF)1(MF)2
US SAILING
Code for                
Allowance                  Description of Allowance


Modification Factor for D-PN
and Beaufort Number Ranges
Alpha Codes1 D-PN 0-1 2-3 4   5-9
* Class normally with spinnaker, not equipped with one 1.010 1.008 1.010 1.000 1.000
S Class normally without spinnaker, carrying one 0.972 0.986 0.979 0.972 0.986
G Genoa, size undetermined (CB, MH Classes) 0.985 0.974 0.980 0.995 0.990
1 Spinnaker modifications are not appropriate for short races (i.e., less than 30 minutes).

 

2008 Handicap Numbers:

 

Handicap Numbers by Beaufort Range or D-PN (April, 2008)

These handicaps assume standard class equipment:

Boat Type

Code 

Cls

Spi

D-PN

0 - 1

2 - 3

4

5 - 9
Sonar (Class Jib) SNR23OD KB yes 81.0 83.3 81.9 79.8 (75.0)
J/22 (Class Jib) J-22 OS yes 82.7 84.2 82.7 82.2 82.0
Star (Int.) ST KB no 83.1 83.9 83.3 82.4 (81.5)
Highlander HI CB no 84.3 87.8 86.3 82.7 80.5
Y-Flyer YF CB no 86.7 89.5 87.9 86.4 83.4
S2 6.7 Grand Slam S2-6.7 OS yes 87.4 90.2 88.3 86.0 [85.2]
San Juan 24 SJ-24 OS yes 90.2 90.7 90.5 90.2 89.2
Santana 20 & 20W SNT20 OS yes 90.1 91.0 90.2 89.9 89.3
Laser (Int.) LASE CB no 91.1 93.7 92.3 91.0 88.2
US-1 (Int.) US-1 CB no 91.5 90.6 91.3 92.3 91.9
Snipe (Int.) SN CB no 91.9 94.8 92.5 91.4 89.0
Laser II (Int., w/Trap & Spi) LASE-2 CB yes 92.8 95.6 94.6 93.6 88.8
Sweet 16 SWSX CB yes 96.2 99.4 95.9 94.7 94.3

Catalina 22 (SK/WK, No Spi)

 CAT22 OS no 96.3 98.4 96.3 95.3 95.1
Rebel REB CB no 96.9 96.2 96.1 96.0 96.0
Butterfly BUT CB no 108.3 110.1 109.4 106.9 106.7
Optimist Pram OP CB no 123.6 -- 124.0 -- --

Parentheses "( )" around numbers indicate numbers based on a limited amount of race data (5 to 15 data points) and are suspect. Brackets "[ ]" around numbers indicate numbers based on estimates from less than 5 data points or calculated from other rating systems formulae.  Braces "{}" means the number is calculated from the f factor.

 

These handicaps incorporate the alpha (a) correction:

Boat Type

Code 

a

D-PN

0 - 1

2 - 3

4

5 - 9
Sonar (Class Jib, w/Spi) SNR23OD   81.0 83.3 81.9 79.8 (75.0)
Sonar (Class Jib, No Spi) SNR23OD * 81.8 84.0 82.7 79.8 (75.0)
J/22 (Class Jib, w/Spi) J-22   82.7 84.2 82.7 82.2 82.0
J/22 (Class Jib, No Spi) J-22 * 83.5 84.9 83.5 82.2 82.0
Star (Int.) ST   83.1 83.9 83.3 82.4 (81.5)
Highlander HI   84.3 87.8 86.3 82.7 80.5
Y-Flyer YF   86.7 89.5 87.9 86.4 83.4
S2 6.7 Grand Slam (w/Spi) S2-6.7   87.4 90.2 88.3 86.0 [85.2]
S2 6.7 Grand Slam (No Spi) S2-6.7 * 88.3 90.9 89.2 86.0 [85.2]
San Juan 24 (w/Spi) SJ-24   90.2 90.7 90.5 90.2 89.2
San Juan 24 (No Spi) SJ-24 * 91.1 91.4 91.4 90.2 89.2
Santana 20 (w/Spi) SNT20   90.1 91.0 90.2 89.9 89.3
Santana 20 (No Spi) SNT20 * 91.0 91.7 91.1 89.9 89.3
Laser (Int.) LASE   91.1 93.7 92.3 91.0 88.2
US-1 (Int.) US-1   91.5 90.6 91.3 92.3 91.9
Snipe (Int.) SN   91.9 94.8 92.5 91.4 89.0
Laser II (Int., w/Trap & Spi) LASE-2   92.8 95.6 94.6 93.6 88.8
Laser II (Int., No Spi) LASE-2 * 93.7 96.4 95.5 93.6 88.8
Sweet 16 (w/ Spi) SWSX   96.2 99.4 95.9 94.7 94.3
Sweet 16 (No Spi) SWSX * 97.2 100.2 96.9 94.7 94.3

Catalina 22 (SK/WK, No Spi)

 CAT22   96.3 98.4 96.3 95.3 95.1
Rebel REB   96.9 96.2 96.1 96.0 96.0
Butterfly BUT   108.3 110.1 109.4 106.9 106.7
Optimist Pram OP   123.6 -- 124.0 -- --

(Note: It is assumed that all boats listed above normally carry a spinnaker as part of class racing equipment, except for the Star, Laser, US-1, Snipe, Catalina 22, Rebel, and Butterfly.  The J/22, S2 6.7 Grand Slam, San Juan 24, Santana 20, and Catalina 22 are OffShore Class boats, not CB or MH Class, so the Genoa correction does not apply.)

 

Starting Times for LD Classic race, using D-PN handicaps

Boat Type

Code 

D-PN

time (min)

start time
Butterfly BUT 108.3 194.94 (45:04)
Sweet 16 (No Spi) SWSX 97.2 174.96 05:02
Rebel REB 96.9 174.42 05:35

Catalina 22 (SK/WK, No Spi)

 CAT22 96.3 173.34 06:40
Sweet 16 (w/ Spi) SWSX 96.2 173.16 06:50
Laser II (Int., No Spi) LASE-2 93.7 168.66 11:20
Laser II (Int., w/Trap & Spi) LASE-2 92.8 167.04 12:58
Snipe (Int.) SN 91.9 165.42 14:35
US-1 (Int.) US-1 91.5 164.70 15:18
Laser (Int.) LASE 91.1 163.98 16:01
San Juan 24 (No Spi) SJ-24 91.1 163.98 16:01
Santana 20 (No Spi) SNT20 91.0 163.80 16:12
San Juan 24 (w/ Spi) SJ-24 90.2 162.36 17:38
Santana 20 (w/ Spi) SNT20 90.1 162.18 17:49
S2 6.7 Grand Slam (No Spi) S2-6.7 88.3 158.94 21:04
S2 6.7 Grand Slam (w/ Spi) S2-6.7 87.4 157.32 22:41
Y-Flyer YF 86.7 156.06 23:56
Highlander HI 84.3 151.74 28.16
J/22 (Class Jib, No Spi) J-22 83.5 150.30 29:42
Star (Int.) ST 83.1 149.58 30:25
J/22 (Class Jib, w/ Spi) J-22 82.7 148.86 31:08
Sonar (Class Jib, No Spi) SNR23OD 81.8 147.24 32:46
Sonar (Class Jib, w/Spi) SNR23OD 81.0 145.80 34:12

(Note: The above times are computed by assuming that the LD Classic race lasts exactly three hours (180 minutes), for a hypothetical boat with a handicap of 100.0.  All boats should finish at the same time, in place.)

 

Current Handicap Fleet

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