In general, the PHRF-LO P2P ratings are recommended if the following conditions are met:

  1. The course is not set up to be primarily W/L or Triangle/W/L.
  2. The planned course length is six NM or more.
  3. The course can be anticipated to have steady wind, preferably over 8 knots.

Standard P2P Races (ToT)

PHRF-LO P2P ratings are provided as a Time on Time (ToT) Time Correction Factor (TCF) published on the certificate.

The TCF is multiplied by the elapsed time (ET) to get corrected time (CT):

CT = ET x TCF

Registration forms for standard ToT P2P races should be revised to ask for the P2P TCF, rather than the ASP.

All boats in a fleet MUST be using P2P ratings with no mixing standard W/L PHRF TOD ratings or W/L ToT conversions in the same fleet.

Scoring Considerations

Most scoring software assumes that PHRF ratings are Time-on-Distance (ToD).  They support converting ToD to ToT based on the input A and B factors[i]. Examples of this scoring software include Sailwave and YachtScoring.

Time Correction Factors are supported by virtually all scoring software; however, it is not labelled as PHRF TCF.  When scoring PHRF-LO P2P rated classes, the generic scoring option of TCF or General ToT needs to be selected and the PHRF-LO P2P TCF input for each boat.

Table 1 Scoring Software TCF Verbiage

SCORING SOFTWARE

SCORING OPTION

DISPLAYS AS

Sailwave

TCF

TCF

YachtScoring

General ToT

ToT

 

Figure 1 Rating System Selection in Sailwave

Race Documents

Suggested wording to be included in race documents:

<<Group List>> will be scored using the PHRF-LO Point-to-Point (P2P) Time Correction Factor (TCF).

Where <<Group List>> is replaced by the list of groupings defined/used in the race documents that will be scored using the PHRF-LO P2P Ratings.

Examples:

  • Fleets racing under PHRF will be scored using the PHRF-LO Point-to-Point Time Correction Factor (TCF)
  • The PHRF Division will be scored using the PHRF-LO Point-to-Point Time Correction Factor (TCF).
  • The classes PHRF 1, PHRF 2, and PHRF 3 will be scored using the PHRF-LO Point-to-Point Time Correction Factor (TCF).

The wording in italics aligns with how the groups of boats are referred elsewhere in the race documents.

Pursuit P2P Races (ToD)

PHRF-LO P2P rating was developed as a ToT rating. This was to ensure that the two ratings were not interchanged. For pursuit racing only, the Time-on-Distance (TOD) equivalent is provided.[ii]

The PHRF-LO P2P ToD rating is not found on the certificate but can be found under the Certificate Details tab in the Certificate Query section of the PHRF-LO website[iii] as the Pursuit ToD. It can also be calculated from the ToT value using the following equation:

Pursuit TOD = (650 - [550* P2P TCF])/ P2P TCF[iv]

Scoring Considerations

For a ToD pursuit race, starting times are calculated from the differences between the Time-on-Distance (TOD) ratings of the registered boats. There are many spreadsheet applications that will do this. They can be found online or are simple to construct.

Race Documents

Suggested wording to be included in race documents for a Pursuit race:

Starting times for <<Group List>> will be calculated using the PHRF-LO Pursuit TOD ratings.

Where <<Group List>> is replaced by the list of grouping defined/used in the race documents that will be scored using the PHRF-LO P2P Ratings.

Examples:

  • Starting times for fleets racing under PHRF will be calculated using the PHRF-LO Pursuit TOD ratings.
  • Starting times for the PHRF Division will be calculated using the PHRF-LO Pursuit TOD ratings.
  • Starting times for the classes PHRF 1, PHRF 2, and PHRF 3 will be calculated using the PHRF-LO Pursuit TOD ratings.

The wording in italics aligns with how the groups of boats are referred elsewhere in the race documents.

 

 Special thanks to Graham Dougall, NRO, CJ, RMCC, PHRF-LO Assistant Club Handicapper at Queen City Yacht Club for his assistance in creating this guide.

 ©PHRF-LO May 2024

Version 1.0

 

[i] A and B factors for P2P ratings are different from those used in the primary PHRF-LO formula for W/L. See https://www.phrf-lo.org/index.php/en/handicapping/races-analysis/point-to-point

 

[ii] Time-on-Distance ratings do not provide all the benefits of the P2P TOT ratings. Alternatively, race Organizers can use a ToT based pursuit model, whereby the average course time is estimated.  A template can be found at the Race Management section of the IRC Rating website: https://ircrating.org/irc-racing/race-management/

[iii] https://www.phrf-lo.org/index.php/en/searches-queries/certificate-query

 

[iv] The final value should be rounded to a single whole number.