PHRF, light air?

[micksbuddy]

Does a lower phrf rating usually correlate to better light air performance, or are the ratings more based on moderate to heavier wind conditions?

[JimsCAL]

The PHRF rating is a combination of performance under a variety of conditions - light and heavy air, upwind and downwind, etc. Every boat has a set of conditions where it has an advantage and will sail faster than the PHRF rating will predict. A better indication of light air performance is the sail area to displacement ratio (SA/D). A higher ratio would indicate better light air performance.