Using PHRF as a guide

[stlcat22]

So as I look through boats on sites like Yachworld, I've been looking up PHRF ratings to get some idea of the relative performance of various designs. Are there any pitfalls I should keep in mind? Two things have occured to me already. First, unless you are actually racing, your boat is likely to be heavier than the rated boats. This might wipe out some of the advantage of the purer racing boats. Secondly, is there a difference in what kind of sails are assumed? In particular if a boat is rated as faster because it is generally sailed with a spinnaker that might not matter much if I'm too lazy/short handed to fly it much myself. I'd greatly appreciate any instruction from those here that know more about this stuff.

[pigslo]

Another factor you might consider is that if a specific boat, say a Swineflyer 32 keeps on winning on a certain sailing area, say the Gulf of New Mexico, with a certain club sponsoring the races, say the Desert Drifters; they will lower the rating. It is a handicap process much like the NFL gives better draft picks to losers and later draft picks to winners.There is a site on this vast internet that explains the starting point before all this figures in.
pigslo

[Faster]

PHRF ratings are fairly subjective and can vary significantly between identical models and regionally. Boats that tend to excel in light air will have faster ratings in areas that experience more light air conditions than in other areas. Boats that have been consistently well campaigned may well have a locally adjusted rating that is different from "the book"

When looking at ratings, look at the code if its available. A code of "5555" or "555M" means that the rating is for a standard boat with standard dimensioned sails (155% Genoa) and spars and a folding prop. The "M" means such a boat with an outboard. For example, a boat with a code of 375M would have an undersized jib, oversized spinnaker and/or pole, and a "standard" main and is outboard powered. A code 5553 could mean a standard boat with a fixed prop.Rating adjustments are made for each increment off "5". Ratings are also adjusted for boats that do not use flying sails (but you can't decide that in the middle of a race).

The ratings also assume that all sails are new, that the boat is perfectly prepped and well sailed. The initial rating for two indentical boats would be the same - put a crew of newbies on one and semipros on the other and see how differently they perform on the water - ratings will have little to do with that.

So use the ratings as a very general guide to a particular design's performance potential, but use ratings from a single region to be sure you are comparing apples to apples.

[SailorMitch]

Faster hit the nail with his head. I use PHRF ratings as a general guide only. There also are enough ratings online from around the country to check out regional differences if you want to. But if I want to compare Boat A to Boat B, I will stick to one region -- but also check other lists to make sure the difference is generally the same. For me, I usually use the ratings here on the Chesapeake, but I also will look at those from NE or the left coast if I want to.

As for sails and other equipment -- I make no assumption other that what the numbers say. Usually the list will state a difference (say for roller furling, or for a shoal draft.)

[paulk]

PHRF ratings are based on the performance of boats sailing a theoretical triangular course. A boat that is a pig upwind might catch up going downwind, and thus get a higher rating than a boat that is slower both upwind and down. If you only plan to cruise in the trades - reaching all the time - the PHRF rating will be less valid as a guide for what you're seeking. Taking that into account, though, PHRF ratings still serve as a reasonable benchmarks.