How to Correct the Time for Sail Races

Sailboat races use handicap scoring systems, similar to those of golf and bowling, to even out the competition. Faster boats have smaller handicaps than slower boats. Therefore, the first boat to cross the finish line is not always the winner of a race. Sailing dinghies use the Portsmouth handicap system and larger boats often use the PHRF handicap system. With simple formulas, competitiors' handicaps are calculated into the finish times to obtain the corrected times.

Things You'll Need

  • Finish (elapsed) times of competing sailboats
  • Calculator, pencil with eraser, paper and/or scoring software
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Instructions

  1. Gathering the Data

    • 1
      Compiling information

      Gather finish (elapsed) times and PHRF course distances from the race committee whose job it is to run sailboat races and record the times it takes for boats to sail the race courses.

    • 2
      Separate the data

      Separate the data according to different fleets --- Portsmouth or PHRF.

    • 3
      Crunch the numbers

      Calculate the corrected times using the following formulas:

      Portsmouth: Finish or Elapsed Time x 100/Boat's Portsmouth Handicap or D-PN = Corrected Time.

      PHRF: Finish or Elapsed Time - (Racecourse distance x PRHF Handicap)/60 = Corrected Time.