Preparation for Racing
Racing Rules
AYC WNR Time on Time Calculation
Per the Southern Maryland Sailing Association and PHRF New England the conversion formulas from a time on distance (ToD) PHRF rating to a Time Correction Factor (TCF) is TCF = A / (B + PHRF) where A = 650, an arbitrary scalar chosen to produce values approaching 1.0 and B varies in Southern Maryland from 520 to 650 and in New England from 480 to 600 based upon wind conditions so that the sum (B + PHRF) approximates the number of seconds it takes to sail a nautical mile.
The correct time is actual time multiplied by the Time Correction Factor (TCF) calculated above.
- 2026-05-06: A = 650; B = 550 based upon Constance having sailed the A2R course in 01:23:36. AYC published a TCF of 0.8323 for our PHRF of 231. Corrected time was 01:09:35. At the Annapolis weather buoy, the winds were 6 to 9kts and the gusts were 9 to 11kts.
Handicap Certificates
An Example of Applying the Rules
Video of start
Here is the debrief by judge Jeff Borland.
“Starting line on a Wednesday night race. 351 on Starboard, 98, 201, 407, 202, 328 on port. Starting gun has gone off.
*351* altering course from 00:00 to 00:11 so must give all others room to keep clear under RRS 16.1 – Changing Course
00:11 – 00:16 351 holds steady course, - 407, 201, 202, 98 and 328 are subject to RRS 10 – On Opposite Tacks. They are on a collision course and make no effort to keep clear.
00:16 – 00:23 351 (still on starboard) makes rapid alteration to avoid collision with 407, 202 and 201 – as required by RRS 14 – Avoiding Contact. 98 and 328 alter to keep clear as required by RRS 10.
00:23 – 351 gybes and becomes weather boat subject to RRS 11 – On the Same Tack, Overlapped
00:24 – 00:33 351 does all she can to Keep Clear as the weather boat.
00:26 – 328 gains a leeward overlap from astern on 98 and is subject to RRS 17 – On the Same Tack Proper Course.
00:33 – 328 gains an overlap on 351 and becomes subject to RRS 11 and must keep clear. Her overlap is very close aboard 351.
00:33 – 00:38 – 351 keeps altering to weather to keep clear of 201 as she is required to under RRS 11.
00:38 – 351 is forced to curtail her luff due to 328 not keeping clear. At this point, 328 cannot keep clear due to the mark, so 351 acted under RRS 16.1 (giving room includes “seamanlike way”, and it is not considered seamanlike to hit a mark).
If this were an umpired fleet race, and there were appropriate protest hails and flags, etc. My opinion is that 407, 201 and 202 would be penalized for breaking RRS 10.
The move here by 351 to attempt to clear out the port tackers, is a good one and follows all the rules. Had 407, 201, and 202 all either headed up to avoid her, or gybed, 351 would have had an excellent clear start well ahead of the rest of the fleet.
