Fleet Breakout

[jmontani]

In an effort to get more boats into racing, our club has made a few changes.

We separated the roller mainsails into their own fleet (Leisure Fleet) and it had helped out in bringing additional boats to the line.

Moving forward, we will also allow "true" wing keel boats with traditional mainsails to join this fleet, but the roller mains will have an additional 8 seconds per mile. Our restriction for non-roller mains to get into this fleet will be a draft to beam ratio of 39% or less.

Have any clubs out there worked with this type of fleeting?

I think that it should work well since there is such a performance gap for wings vs fins on buoy racing. After owning both types of boats, I don't think that the PHRF does enough to compensate wing keel boats.

We have also done some additional pursuit/reverse starts this year and it has helped the newbies get more comfortable with the starts on the distance races.

Just curious to see what changes, if any, your racing clubs adopted this season and if they were well received.

[Rockman]

Great idea.
Does the club adjust your handicap based on your performance?
What about prop type (folding, feathering or fixed)?

[jmontani]

We do not adjust handicaps throughout the year based on performance.

Here is our time allotment schedule...

2.3.2. Spinnaker and Cruising Spinnaker Handicap Classes will use the following adjustments to the base PHRF number:
2.3.2.1. For headsails over 155% LP, deduct 6.
2.3.2.2. For oversized spinnaker and/or spinnaker pole, deduct 6.
2.3.2.3. For a fixed blade (non-optimized) propeller, add 3.
2.3.3. Cruising and Leisure Classes will use the following adjustments to the base PHRF number:
2.3.3.1. Maximum headsail LP 125%, add 6.
2.3.3.2. Roller furling mainsail, add 8.
2.3.3.3. Roller furling headsail as the only headsail, add 3.
2.3.3.4. For a fixed blade (non-optimized) propeller, add 3.
2.3.3.5. Headsails greater than 155% and double headsails are prohibited in Cruising and Leisure classes, except boats equipped with factory cutter rigs are allowed to fly double headsails.