Damn! I wrote a long reply, but the website timed me out and I lost it trying to get back on. Here goes for a 2nd time since I feel it's important! ! ! !
Before this thread turns into a Sailing Anarchy, burn everything in sight thingy, I ask that folks read the NCPHRF Guidelines and even the NCPHRF Meeting Minutes. Both are easily available on the <yra.org> website.
Here's Section VI lifted directly from the NCPHRF Guidelines:
VI. ASSUMPTIONS
As noted previously Certificate ratings are based on sailing courses consisting of beating, reaching and running as well as those
of approximately equal amounts of upwind and off-the-wind sailing on San Francisco Bay and surrounding areas. They should
not be used for predominately downwind racing. Suggestions for modifying the ratings for downwind races are provided in
Article VII
Wind Ranges can be extremely varied as noted in Article 1 with an occasional 30+ knots gear-buster. As noted in Article 1 and
repeated here for emphasis, the ability of a yacht to achieve her best performance in other than the average conditions may be
taken into account when there is a significant difference observed in the yachts design parameters that would better suit her to
either of the extremes of conditions.
The NCPHRF Base Rating assumes that yachts:
A. Are in optimum racing trim with all normal equipment on board;
B. Have hull bottoms that are fair and clean;
C. Have sails in good condition;
D. Have a folding/feathering propeller or a stored or raised outboard;
E. Have no jib LP greater than 155% of J; For some yachts the manufacturer delivered configuration may differ and will
be so annotated in the NCPHRF Base Rating Report;
F. Have mainsail girths not to exceed the maximums for MGU and MGM as
prescribed in Article 7;
G. Have spinnaker, either symmetrical or asymmetrical
H. Have spinnaker maximum girth of 180% of J or 180% of SPL (spinnaker
pole length) whichever is greater;
I. Have spinnaker maximum luff of .95 * [(the greater of I or ISP) 2 +
(the greater of J or SPL) 2 ]1/2; For some yachts the manufacturer delivered configuration may differ and will be so
noted in the NCPHRF Base Rating Report;
J. Are well sailed;
K. Are not ‘stripped out.’ The intent of this rule is that the boat be sailed with all the equipment on board that she had when
the committee assigned the handicap. This means that all the doors, drawers; tables and systems are in place. If it is a
production boat, all the items that are considered stock by the builder are still on board. If it is a custom boat, it should
be as the drawings and photographs presented to the committee. If a rating certificate (IOR, IMS, IRC or MORC) was
presented to help assess the boat’s speed potential, she should have everything onboard that was present at the
measurement. If items have been removed, depending on the weight involved, the committee may adjust the NCPHRF
rating of the boat. An exception to the above stated guideline is that cushions may be removed;
L. All sails must conform to IMS sail dimension limitations, except as may be modified by these Rules and Guidelines.
Boats do not need to meet these guidelines. However, if they do not, the committee must be notified of such changes as
a rating adjustment may be made.
M. The NCPHRF Committee will review cases where the same class may have outboard or inboard engines and, where
appropriate, establish a different base rating for each type of engine.
"D" clearly states that is is assumed the boat has a "feathering/folding prop" or outboard "stored or raised." Clear? If you regularly sail without an engine, you must note that on your NCPHRF application. If you have an outboard and you "occasionally" leave it on the dock you are cheating. Simple.
"K"deals with stripping stuff out of your boat, so if you tear out your engine and tanks or other stuff, you need to tell the NCPHRF Committee that's what you've done and they'll adjust your rating accordingly. It's not fair to get a rating and then shed several hundred pounds. And, it's a good idea to keep some records of what things weighed and even take some photos; they'll most likely ask. A production boat should sail with everything the factory installed unless it has been noted.
Back in my Newport 30 days, tempers flared over "balsa wood" tables replacing 3/4 inch plywood ones; curtains replacing mahogany louvered head doors, and other "adjustments" to what was basically a "Cruiser/Racer." The famous "Waterpik" was not allowed to participate in one-design Newport 30 racing due to the modifications to the rudder, keel and rig. In my Coronado 25 days it was an Evinirude 6 (remember?) vs the new, lighter Hondas. "Honda boats" were required to carry 20# of lead in the lazzerette, and competitors checked.
If you think a competitor has modified his/her boat, call them on it. If they don't do anything, contact the NCPHRF Committee; it can call the owner in for a chat. Read the NCPHRF Committee Minutes; they're instructive. At a level of racing above the SSS, boats are constantly changing keels, rigs, sails, even something as minor as a different headstay fitting. "K" attempts to deal with those kinds of changes in all rated boats.
"M" applies to my Wyliecat 30, a production outboard model. Some Wylies have inboards, so I pay a 3-second-per-mile penalty for not dragging a prop through the water. There are other one-designs where inboard vs. outboard is a rating issue. There's even a Bird Boat with an inboard!
So, you can sail without an engine, but you must declare that; however, the ocean races with which I'm familiar have "propulsion" as a requirement for entry. You must sail with the "stuff" that came out of the factory unless you declare it. If you're rated for a small headsail and decide you need a genoa for Hawaii, you need to declare it. The SSS TransPac rating is based on the NCPHRF rating, so if you're not in compliance with the numbers on your Certificate, you're cheating. If you know someone who is out of compliance, I think it's your duty to call them. The "Corinthian Spirit" that SSS folks like to talk about is based on mutual trust because you know each of your competitors is doing the right thing, just as you are.
Since I'm not on the SSS TransPac Committee, I leave it up to them, but my assumption is that all the boats sailing this year will "reflect the configuration they are going to Hawaii in." If you're going to Hawaii and you suspect a boat is not in compliance, it's your duty to call them on it. It's unfair to you and the other competitors if you don't. Additional issues have surfaced in prior SSS TransPacs, including suspected motoring (banding props/transmissions), outside assistance, outside communication for some. The SIs have attempted to address these issues, without putting a boat name on each - just ask some old timers about that. --Pat
