Handicaps

So why do we need handicaps?

In order that different designs of boat can race against each other we adopt a handicapping system.

In a perfect world we would all sail identical boats and there would be no need for handicaps however everyone has their personal preferences.

The challenge of handicapping yachts is on what basis do you set it? Even then a handicap is at best an average of a yacht’s speed relative to other yachts dependent on the conditions on the day and crew onboard.

There are an number of different ways to set handicaps:

Portsmouth Yardstick (PY)

At Penzance our main handicap system is Portsmouth Yardstick (PY), which is a relatively simple performance based system. The system we use is based on that run by the RYA.

We record the performance of yachts through the season in order to adjust the handicap for future races.

Pros
It is free to use
Clubs that use PY report to the RYA at the end of the year, which then publish national handicaps, these we can use as the basis for our figures

Cons
We have to assess every race to see how boats preformed, this can be very time consuming
If there are only a few boats in a race there is not a big enough sample to compare performance and we cannot use it to improve the handicaps.
It is difficult to allow for the crews performance. For example, if a boat wins every race in a series it is tempting to adjust their handicap. However, how do we know they shouldn't have won for sailing the best?

PY Guide
Our guide to using PY handicaps can be found download below:

PY Handicap Calculation Guide
The above form is in PDF Format, if you have problems viewing this document see our help page

IRC

We also run a secondary system, IRC is a international rating system used for many major yacht races. 

It is a measurement system, however it is administered by RORC which keeps the formula secret.

You can measure your own boat but some events insist an IRC measurer certifies your certificate.

Pros
Used and trusted by sailors worldwide
Once you have measured your boat and you have a number you are sorted for the season.

Cons
RORC charge a fee to issue a number, which you have to renew annually.

Need More Information?

Contact Us
For more information about Cruiser Sailing at Penzance contact us at cruiser@pzsc.org.uk

Handicaps
Information on the Club Handicaps [Handicaps...]

Safety Guidelines
links to safety related sites plus information about CG66 [Safety Guidelines...]

Courses
How we set our racing courses [Courses...]