Sailing Fleets and Handicaps

There are three broad categories of sailing fleets in DRYA races. (Each of these groups is represented by an officer, elected by the group to assist them and speak for their concerns on the DRYA Executive Committee.)

For about half of the races ("point-to-point" as we call them), the fleets sail in an area designated by the host club for the day, for the other half of the races ("closed-course"), they compete on a prescribed A, B, or C Course as listed below. (The general vicinity of the A, B, and C courses is shown on the chart in this section.)

Sailing Fleet Race Course

Performance Handicap Racing Fleet (PHRF) A

IRC

Offshore One Design B or C

Non-Cruising One Design C

Offshore One Design

One Design boats sail against each other without any time allowance handicapping. The simple order of finish determines the award places. For the 2007 season, Cruising One Design boats included:

North American 40's,  C&C 35's

 J 120's, J105's

Your Offshore One Design Representative is:

Commodore John Barbour

(H) (313) 882-2902

(O) (313) 882-9700

(fax) (313) 882-9780

email:  barbourlaw@att.net

Non-Cruising One Design:

Tarten 10's, Crescents, Express 27's

Cal 25's Flying Scots, Melges 24

Your Non-Cruising One Design Representative is:

Mr. Peter Fortune

(O) (313) 506-3760

email:  fortune021@comcast.net

In addition to the boats listed above, individual clubs may invite other one-design fleets to sail in their own regatta (Thistles, Snipes, Sharks etc.)

Finally, there is an "all others" class for yachts not included elsewhere.

Handicapped Fleets

Most of the boats which sail competitively, do so with a time allowance handicap. The allowance is intended to equalize boats of different speed potential competing in the same race. Handicaps are generally of two types: Performance or Measurement.

In the DRYA, we have a  person who is elected to oversee the handicapping processes. He is called the Chief Handicapper and is available to assist you in any matters relating to handicaps:

PHRF is a performance handicapping system. As the name implies, handicaps are based on the observed performance and speed potential of each type of boat in relation to other boats over a period of time in area races. These observed speed differences (for races and conditions that would be considered typical of this area) are then used to award time allowances between boats racing in the Performance Handicap Racing Fleet. (Note: Boats racing Jib and Main (JAM) are included in this category.)

Your PHRF/IRC representative is:

Commodore Maynard Rupp

1950 Huntington Blvd.

Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236

(313) 882-3230

email: maynardrupp@att.net

While PHRF does not rely on measurements of your boat in the same way that IMS does, it will be necessary to validate that your boat fits known production standards, that your sails fall within stated size parameters and that nothing has been done to alter the size of the mast, boom, etc.

Any of several individuals who help to determine the PHRF handicap figures would likewise be happy to assist you with any questions about the overall process and validation.

Mr. Kent Schwandt

(H) (586) 465-1215

(O) (586) 791-2580

Mr. Lee Smith

(586) 778-3565

PHRF handicapping takes place in open meetings and is an interactive process between boat owners and the individuals on the handicapping committee. We encourage you to become familiar with this process and to bring your questions and concerns to your elected representatives.

IRC

IRC is a measurement based rule that is administered in both Great Britain and France.  The rule and the formulas used include both subjective and past performance inputs.  The workings of this formula are known to only a few people in the IRC office.  Certification requires visits from an approved measurer.  Your boat must be weighed.  Weighing is available to all at Bayview Yacht Club for a nominal charge.  When your measurements and weighing are complete your measurer will submit your application to US Sailing for checking.  US Sailing will then forward your file to the IRC office in England.  The entire process takes about one month.  Your certificate is good for one calendar year.  Renewal is a simple matter of signing a form and paying the renewal fee.

IRC MEASURERS

MICHIGAN

Protest and Appeal Processes

This section is included in our information package to acquaint beginners and to remind the more advanced racers of the system of checks and balances that assure prompt and equitable resolution to alleged incidents of infractions to the racing rules. The information applies to all races in this area (designated as Area E by US Sailing).

The original Protest Hearing is arranged by the club hosting the particular race. There will be a notice in the Sailing Instructions for that race giving the guidelines for time and place and any special conditions pertaining to filing a Protest against a competitor or the race management.

The DRYA provides a resource group of certified and apprentice judges to assist clubs in hearing Protests. The DRYA Protest Committee chairman is:

CommodoreWilliam Thorpe

(H) (313) 8285-5466

(O) (313) 961-9700

fax (313) 961-0754

email:  wpthorpe@comcast.net

If requested, Commodore Thorpe  will provide judges to assist your club and will answer any questions that you as an individual may have about the Protest process.

If you believe that the decision of a local protest hearing is not equitable, an appeal to the DRYA Appeals Committee is required by US Sailing. The DRYA Appeals Committee chairman will assist you in that process.

Commodore Peter Griffin

962 Berkshire

Grosse Pointe Park, MI 48230

(H) (313) 823-2371

(O) (586) 445-6821

email:  petergriffin@comcast.net

If you wish to request a hearing after the judgment of the Appeals Committee, you may contact the United States Sailing Association and they will give you information on how to proceed.

US Sailing

P. O. Box 1260

Portsmouth, RI 02871

(401) 683-0800

Good Sailing!
Detroit Regional Yacht-racing Association

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