RACER-CRUISERS: PHRF FLEET RACING 1978-1986

COMMODORES

"RACER-CRUISERS" AS AN EMPHASIS IN DESIGN

It is interesting that the introduction of a new handicap system, which was designed to simplify multi-design racing fleet handicaping, occurred in the Valcour Sailing Club at about the time that so called "racer-cruisers" first appeared in the Club. Also, many of the racer-cruisers which would appear in the VSC racing fleet from 1978 to 1984 were designed to a measurement rule, mostly the Midget Ocean Racing Club rule for boats of about 22 to 30 feet in length over all.

There probably cannot be any consensus today in the Club regarding what constitutes a racer-cruiser as differentiated from the cruiser-racer; hard and fast definitions in yachting are rather rare because of such diversity of design philosophies among designers. Generally speaking, a racer-cruiser is a sailboat that gives the appearance to the experienced skipper of being designed and rigged primarily to race, with cruising amenities as an afterthought. More often than not, the racer-cruiser is a fractional rig with additional running rigging, such as baby-stays and/or running stays, to control sail shape on a bendy mast. Also characteristic is a rather low cabin overhead with simple interiors designed to support minimum crew needs as opposed to lengthly cruising needs.

In many racer-cruisers, the auxiliary power is a transom mounted outboard which can be easily dismounted and stowed close to the boat's center of gravity. Below the waterline, wetted surface is kept to a minimum, fin keels of moderate to deep draft predominate, and there are no thru-hull fittings except probably a knot-meter paddle wheel. Rudders could be balanced spade or transom hung but always with a tiller rather than a wheel in boats typical of the VSC.

RACER-CRUISERS IN THE VALCOUR SAILING CLUB

One of the first "racer-cruisers" on the scene in the Valcour Sailing Club was Bill Rowe's CRISIS, J-24 #21896, which he campaigned in 1978 with a PHRF rating of 168 seconds per mile. In 1987, the J-24 class would celebrate its tenth anniversary as one of the most successful and popular one-design classes in the United States and the world. Designed by Rod Johnstone, the original J-24, RAGTIME, was built in his garage in 1976. Since that year, several thousand have been built world wide. J-24 #21896 was active for several years in the VSC racing fleet having been campaigned as OBSSESSION (1979) by Kjell Dahlen, GRUINARD III (1982) by Derek Allan, and OUTLAW (1983-86) by Andy Edwards. In 1979, Skip Barnett was campaigning LOLIGO, J-24 #1399 while Bill Rowe was in a new CRISIS that year, another racer-cruiser, Tartan Ten #22998, with a PHRF rating of 126 sec/mi.

In 1980, there were two new Tartan 10s: Bill Rowe's SPIRIT OF VALCOUR #30110, and Kjell Dahlen's OBSSESSION #23571. In 1983, Derek Allan was campaigning BRENDAN J, J-29 #117 and in 1984 there were several racer-cruisers in the VSC racing fleet including David McDowell's Olson 30 Ultra Lite Displacement Boat (ULDB) #32942 weighing only 3800 lbs. David Gorman & Mike Parsons likewise had an Olson 30 ULDB, WITCHCRAFT; Bill Rowe campaigned GHOST OF VALCOUR, J-29 #32293; and Jim & Alice Connors were in a Poitin 24.

Other racer-cruisers in the VSC fleet included Dave Bruner's PEGASUS, a Farr 1/2 Ton (1985-86), and Bill Rowe's GHOST, a Beneteau First Class 8 (1986). Another boat, better called just a racer, is Gene Grafals' FREE SPIRIT, an Irwin mini-ton rated at about 216 sec/mi. Other racer-cruisers in the Club have included Randy Kruger's J-22 #32 MAJIC, and possibly Todd Wufson's Ranger 23TM #395 THUMPER. Kjell Dahlen's OBSESSION, J-35 #33751, is arguably a racer-cruiser with rather comfortable accomodations below.

Probably the quintessential racer-cruiser, first appearing in Club and LCRC races in 1985, was Tim McKegney's ADRENALIN, Kiwi-35 #33924. Aptly named for the chemical response possible among its crew, the winged hull allows - even mandates - its human ballast to shift their weight to keep her on her "feet." ADRENALIN is the scratch boat in the Club and LCRC fleets with a base PHRF rating (1986) of 21 secs/mile and an adjusted rating of 12 secs/mile with her oversized (198%-213%) spinnaker. At that rating she gives a J-35 (1986 PHRF 72 secs/mile) one minute per mile! Long distance races must be a rather lonely affair for boats that must sail that far out in front of the fleet to be competitive.

PERFORMANCE HANDICAP RACING FLEET RULE

In 1978, the Valcour Sailing Club, as did the Lake Champlain Racing Conference, went to the Pacific Handicap Racing Fleet (PHRF) rule. Originating in southern California (most areas now substitute "performance" for "Pacific"), it had spread to the major racing centers in the Northwest, the Great Lakes, Long Island Sound, and Chesapeake Bay. This from the Encyclopedia of Sailing (1978):

"The concept of PHRF is that a boat is handicapped in accordance with the way it actually performs in races. If a class or boat never wins, the handicap is adjusted to a more favorable one; if a boat consistently wins, its handicap will be unfavorably adjusted until equity is approached. This differs from the mathematical-formula type of handicapping used by IOR and CCA, in which many features of a yacht are measured and these measurements become factors in a series of empirical equations used to compute a rating. If a rating is unfavorable {under CCA, IOR, or MORC}, the owner has no recourse other than to modify the yacht, which is usually expensive and sometimes impossible."

Performance handicapping attempts to rate any yacht so that, if well sailed, it has a fair chance of winning. In the Valcour Sailing Club, as part of the LCRC, this is done by a group handicappers from the three conference clubs. They generally meet in the Spring of each year, assign initial ratings, and adjust existing ratings. In the LCRC, ratings from thruout the United States are examined for boats in the local fleets. Since PHRF data were computerized early on, there exist a huge data bank on which to base decisions. Newly introduced boats present a special challenge to rate accurately and are normally given a tentative rating until performance data are available from actual race results. All racing done in the VSC since 1978, with the exception of one-design events such as the J-24 fleet included in LCRC events sponsored by the VSC, have been under the PHRF system of handicapping. Club boats that are not members of the LCRC are rated by their respective clubs; the Valcour Sailing Club has been responsible for rating entries in the Mayor's Cup which do not otherwise have a rating on Lake Champlain.

PHRF LAKE CHAMPLAIN

PHRF Lake Champlain is a board of handicappers drawn from the member yacht clubs of the Lake Champlain Racing Conference: the Lake Champlain Yacht Club, Shelburne, Vermont; the Mallett's Bay Boat Club of Burlington, Vermont; and the Valcour Sailing Club, Inc. of Plattsburgh, New York. It has been in existence since 1978 and "functions under the control of the LCRC. It is also a member of the United States Yacht Racing Union (USYRU) PHRF network and draws information through this organization from over forty other PHRF organizations around the country."

"The aim of PHRF is to furnish each boat with a rating that fairly represents the speed potential of the boat when well maintained, fully race equipped including new racing sails and sailed by a highly proficient crew to the full racing capability of the boat. PHRF is not intended to reflect skipper or crew ability and every effort is made to keep to this intent. PHRF does not use formulas to determine handicaps. It is subjective and, as such, all ratings and adjustments are known to contain a "probable error" of unknown magnitude or direction. When evidence shows the need for corrections, they are made. Because of this, no rating is ever "final"; PHRF is always open to new evidence and any rating may be changed at any time without prior notice. However, it should also be noted that the ratings of boats on which PHRF has extensive data and experience tend to be very stable. It is the new designs or boats which have been modified which tend to be looked at the hardest and are most likely to have their ratings changed as a data bank of actual racing experience is built up."
(draft, "PHRF LAKE CHAMPLAIN EXPLAINED", March, 1987)

PLANNING IN THE SPRING OF 1978

The minutes of the Valcour Sailing Club during the Spring of 1978 reflect much activity in several areas other than discussions regarding handicapping, which have previously been summarized. Most prominent that spring were discussions regarding the first running of the Mayor's Cup which would follow in July of that year. Other subjects included closing the old (1971) account on the VSC committee boat, small boat classes, leasing of shoreside facilities, cruising activities, and the race schedule in general. Portions of the record are included here inasmuch as they permit the reader some degree of insight into the dynamics of the Club at that time. Also illustrated is the amount of off-season work by the Executive Committee which goes on each winter in preparation for the next season's activities. The minutes of the Executive Committee in 1978 also illustrate excellent record keeping which makes the task of reconstructing the Club's chronicle easier work years after those events have occurred.

Minutes of VSC Executive Committee - January 11, 1978

".... The treasurer was authorized to pay a bill from the Larchmont Yacht Club for membership in USYRU, and for registration in the North American Yacht Register. He was also authorized to pay for trophies in the amount of somewhat over $200. ... It was further authorized ... to pay those who contributed to the initial purchase of the Committee Boat. It was felt at this time that approximately $450 could be expended from the special account for that purpose.

"... A report of the rating systems survey conducted by the LCRC was reviewed as well as a paper from the Lake Champlain Yacht Club discussing their rating problems. The following motions were made, seconded and approved insofar as ratings and rating systems for the forthcoming year:

1. The Valcour Sailing Club will use MORC rules as its primary rule for the forthcoming year
   
2. The Commodore is directed to recommend to the Lake Champlain Racing Conference that the LCRC should race under MORC rules as is applicable, and that boats over thirty feet which cannot be rated under MORC should be rated under IOR in two classes
   
3. The MORC standard printout of ratings will be adopted by Valcour Sailing Club for the forthcoming season. Actual MORC measurements may be made and will be accepted. The measurer may assign ratings for boats not covered under the standard printout
   
4. Valcour Sailing Club will make no allowance under the MORC measurement for genoas of less than 170% and recommends to LCRC that they adopt the same stand
   
5. Boats which are not measureable under MORC for club races will have ratings assigned by interpolation of the table with the appropriate measurements being made
   

"Tom Harwood brought up the subject of a Class for trailerable boats, to be raced on shorter courses and at different time from the regular fleet, and to be subject to different awards. This was expanded to include, possibly, another working sail class as we previously have had. It is worthy of note that the working sails class has gradually disappeared inasmuch as they have now joined the regular racing fleet. Tom Harwood and Ed Goodrich were appointed as a committee to set up plans for the two classes and to arrange for publicity for same.

"The recruitment of Canadian sailors was discussed. Jim and Alice Connors, and Hilton Dana will check with Dock and Coal for their reservation list and call names for potential racers to be contacted by the club.

"It was decided to have a party on .. February 24. The program will consist of awarding of the plaques from last year as well as a set of photographs of the Tall Ships program. The Commodore will initiate arrangements for the party inasmuch as the Rear Commodores will not be available....

"Safety requirements for boats participating in overnight races were discussed in great detail, being initiated by David Gorman. Considerable concern was evidenced by all present at the inability of Class D boats to have adequate safety material on board for overnight racing. It was also felt advisable that boats in Class A, B, and C ..... should be required to have life rafts for overnight racing as well as the other offshore requirements. The Commodore was instructed to bring this to the attention of the LCRC.

"Ed Goodrich reported on the 'Mayor's Cup' which has been suggested by Mayor Ianelli. It was felt by the group that this race should be conducted by Valcour Sailing Club and should probably include IOR, MORC, and working sails boats. It was further felt that this should not be within the framework of the Lake Champlain Racing Conference, but should be a Club activity in co-ordination with the Mayor's office. A starting point off of Dock and Coal was suggested. This will be discussed in more detail at the forthcoming Executive Committee meeting.

...Respectfully submitted, David B. McDowell, Commodore"