Current Handicap Sanctioned Classes

Sanctioning of Classes

The CBYRA Handicap Division recognizes three levels of classes: Prospective, Provisional, and Sanctioned. 

Application for Provisional Status

Any properly organized Prospective Class or Fleet may apply to the Handicap Division for Provisional Status leading to Sanctioned Status. 

A. Any Class or Fleet (Class) of sailboats of (1) sufficient numbers and (2) racing under a defined handicapping system will be deemed to be a Prospective Class for consideration by the Handicap Division Committee for entry into the CBYRA Handicap Division. 

B. A Prospective Class whose members desire to become a part of the Handicap Division of CBYRA must submit a written application for Provisional Status to the Handicap Division Committee by November 1^st of the year prior to the proposed racing schedule. 

C. The application must be in writing and include the following minimum information: 

• A letter from the Fleet Captain, President, or Commodore of the Class expressing a desire to join the Handicap Division. 
• The number of sailboats that are Class members and their location by CBYRA region. 
• Class organization, including the class bylaws, slate of officers, proposed Division representative, history, and Class approved High Point Rules and Regulations. 
• Evidence of methods used to require compliance with Class rules by all owners in regard to hulls, sails, rigging and equipment so as to permit fair competition within the Class. 
• Certification that the sailboats in the Class meet minimum standard sail and safety equipment. 
• Any other information the Class wishes to offer for consideration. 

D. The current voting members of the Handicap Division Committee will review the application and vote to accept or reject the Class. Acceptance or rejection of the Class will require a majority vote. The Handicap Division Chair will only vote on behalf of the Fleet/Class they represent. The Class may appeal any rejection to the CBYRA Executive Board. 

E. Classes accepted by the Handicap Division Committee will be placed in Provisional Status during the next following competitive season in CBYRA. 

Provisional Status

The Provisional Class is a member of the Handicap Division: 

A. The Provisional Class will have voting rights for all Division business, except they may not vote on Division membership applications or changes in status (including their own) until reaching Sanctioned Status. 

B. The Provisional Class representative may serve as CBYRA Division Chair. 

C. While in Provisional Status, the Class must accomplish the following minimum requirements for two (2) successive years:

• Maintain an active class association that polices its rules in a creditable manner. (The Class Rules must be submitted to the Handicap Committee for review prior to November 1^st of the first year of Provisional Status. Particular attention will be paid to the provisions dealing with required safety devices for night racing.)
• Participate in a minimum of five (5) Events scheduled and sanctioned by CBYRA for High Point Awards. 
• Have an average of at least five (5) boats participating in the Events scheduled and sanctioned by CBYRA for High Point Awards. 
• Produce at least ten (10) members of the Class who maintain current individual (or family) CBYRA membership. 
• Have a minimum of three (3) owners (and their boats) qualify for the CBYRA High Point Award. 
• Each Class is entitled to an average participation “throw-out.” This means that only for purposes of determining average participation, without affecting a position or score of an individual competitor, a Class may drop the lowest participated event from the average after completing a minimum number of events as determined by the class rules. 

D. If a Class fails to meet the above criteria during the first year of Provisional Status, they may be denied further approval and must wait two full years before re-applying for consideration. 

E. If a Class fails to meet the above criteria during the second year of Provisional Status, they may be denied acceptance into the Handicap Division as fully Sanctioned and may be denied continuance in Provisional Status. In the latter instance, the Class must wait two full years before re-applying for consideration.

F. Classes that meet all of the requirements for two successive years shall be elevated to fully Sanctioned Status, shall be entitled to full representation on the Handicap Committee, and shall be entitled to all the privileges of a fully sanctioned Class. 

Sanctioned Status

Fully Sanctioned Classes shall meet the following annual requirements to retain their status: 

• Have an average of at least five (5) boats participating in the Events scheduled and sanctioned by CBYRA for High Point Awards. 
• Have a minimum of ten (10) boat owners who hold current individual membership in CBYRA. 
• Have a minimum of three (3) owners (and their boats) qualify for the CBYRA High Point Award in the pertinent Class or Class Section. 
• When the class has elected to be recorded for High Point Awards on other than a Bay Wide basis, the above minimums must be met in each of the Regions in which the Class is competing for separate awards.
• Each Class is entitled to an average participation “throw-out.” This means that only for purposes of determining average participation, without affecting a position or score of an individual competitor, a Class may drop the lowest participated event from the average after completing a minimum number of events as determined by the class rules. 

Probationary Status

A. Any fully Sanctioned Class or scored region of a class that fails to meet the above criteria as of the end of the competitive season in a single year shall revert to Probationary Status for the following year in the Region(s) in which it failed to meet the minimums. 

B. Continued failure to meet the minimum requirements while in a probationary status may be cause for removal from High Point Awards competition in CBYRA.

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Class Rules & Regulations

This next section provides specific class rules and regulations for the Multihull, CHESSS, CRCA, ORC of the Chesapeake, and PHRF members of the Handicap Division.

Multihull Class

The Multihull Class operates under the sanctioned Multihull Class Association (MCA) that operates under the auspices of the Chesapeake Multihull Association (CMA).

Eligibility

To be able to compete in CBYRA sanctioned MCA events a boat must:

A. Have a valid rating issued by the MCA/CMA.

B. Be a member of the Multihull Class Association/CMA.

C. Be an individual member of CBYRA.

Member applications forms and information about CMA can be found at: www.chesapeakemultihulls.org.

Ratings

A. To obtain a rating, contact measurer and rating chair.

B. Ratings will be developed in accordance with the current MCA/CMA Rating System. The rating formula is given as:

MR = (1 + EDF/100) (SR x LR / WR ) ^0.69 / 2.538

where: 
MR = Measured Rating
SR = Rated Sail Area
LR = Rated Length
WR = Rated Weight
EDF = Exceptional Design Factor

C. At the MCA/CMA Rating or Race Committee’s discretion, unmeasured sails and/or boats may be given provisional ratings.

D. All boats will be considered for a rating change:

1. Upon submission by the owner of extenuating circumstances.
2. At the end of the year, or
3. Upon change of the rating parameters.
4. Corrected Time.

The rating system is a time-on-time system. Corrected time is developed through the use of the following formula:

Corrected Time = Elapsed Time x Measurement Rating.

Late Ratings

Race committees are encouraged to accept ratings by telephone from the MCA/CMA rating committee when the owner has not had time to receive their certificate.

Equipment and Accommodations

Multihulls shall meet the standards set forth in the current US SAILING publication of the Offshore Racing Council’s (ORC) “Special Regulations Governing Minimum Equipment and Accommodations Standards for Category 4 Races” and shall also comply with the rules of the CBYRA Greenbook Sailing Instructions or those of the sponsoring club or class.

Inspection

Owners are advised that the Race Committee and the Multihull Class Committee have the right to inspect any boat at any time for compliance with measurements and equipment standards.

High Point Scoring Rules and Exceptions

This Class consists of a single grouping and is recorded Bay Wide.

Qualification

To qualify for High Point, a boat must be owned by an individual who must:

A. Be a member of the Multihull Class Association and CMA.

B. Be an individual member of CBYRA.

C. Be scored in not less than five (5) sanctioned races.

Discards of Races

An owner may elect to discard one (1) event from his High Point records after being recorded in at least eight (8) events.

Chesapeake Shorthanded Sailing Society

The Chesapeake Shorthanded Sailing Society (CHESSS) is a paper club that supports and caters to minimalist sailors who manage their boats without a traditional crew complement. CHESSS is mainly concerned with serving solo and doublehanded sailors within the Chesapeake Bay environs, and is the only such organization on the US East Coast.

Eligibility

To qualify for High Point, a boat must be owned by an individual who must:

A. Be a member of CHESSS.

B. Be an individual member of CBYRA.

C. Abide by CHESSS Racing Rules.

Ratings

CHESSS does not have the expertise to independently develop and maintain rating systems which would permit mono-hulls of different designs or multi-hulls of different designs to compete against each other, or for mono-hulls to compete against multi-hulls.

CHESSS defers to the expertise of organizations dedicated to developing and maintaining rating systems for sailboat competition.  These include, but are not limited to, PHRF of the Chesapeake, Chesapeake Multi-hull Association (CMA), Offshore Racing Congress (ORC, ORC Club, ORC Double Handed), and the Offshore Racing Rule (ORR, ORR-EZ).

CHESSS will utilize PHRF of the Chesapeake Circular Random (CR) ratings and Time-on-Time scoring for mono-hulls, and CMA ratings and scoring for multi-hulls.  When there are insufficient numbers of multi-hulls to form a division, multi-hulls will use the special PHRF ratings specifically created by PHRF of the Chesapeake for use with CHESSS when competing against CHESSS mono-hulls.  All CHESSS competitors are required to have valid PHRF and/or CMA rating certificates.  CHESSS encourages its members to obtain an ORC rating certificate and to participate in ORC racing where shorthanded racing is allowed.

The Time Correction Factor (TCF) for Time-on-Time scoring shall be calculated as
TCF = 650/(550 +PHRF CR Rating)

Classes

The CHESSS class is divided into Spinnaker, Non-Spinnaker, and Multi-hull divisions.  Single and double handers shall compete against each other in these divisions.  Multi-hull vessels may compete in all CHESSS exclusive-sanctioned races, but may NOT compete in the CHESSS division in any CBYRA-sanctioned race where a CMA class exists.

The Chesapeake Racer Cruiser Association

1. The primary goal of the Chesapeake Racer Cruiser Association (CRCA) is to establish and support a racing community of boats, owners, and crew that comprise primarily cruising-oriented boats in the Chesapeake and Delaware Bay regions.

2. CRCA will ensure as level a playing field as possible by using an objective handicap rating system for mixed fleets in a wide variety of courses and conditions.

3. CRCA supports the scoring, publication, and awards for multiple series over the course of the sailing season, including for CBYRA High Point.

Eligibility

A. Be a member of CRCA.

B. Have an ORR-Ez certificate for their boat.

C. Be an individual member of CBYRA.

D. Be scored in not less than five (5) sanctioned races.

Ratings

CRCA uses the ORR-Ez handicap rating system for scoring. This system provides different ratings based on five wind strengths and six course types. More information may be found here: https://offshoreracingrule.org/orr-ez.

Classes

CRCA has two classes: CRCA Cruiser and CRCA Racer. The Cruiser class consists of boats of a more cruiser-oriented nature and a lower performance potential for their rated length. The Racer class consists of boats of a less cruiser-oriented nature and a higher performance potential for their rated length. Boats are separated into the two classes using a formula based on a boat’s Froude number and it’s rated length. For complete information see the CRCA Class Rules on the CRCA website at https://sailcrca.org.

High Point Scoring Rules and Exceptions

CRCA’s High Point scoring system applies to the full, overall class (Bay Wide) and there are no regional awards. CBYRA High Point awards will be given for CRCA Cruiser and CRCA Racer.

Discards of Races

No races may be discarded.

ORC of the Chesapeake

ORC of the Chesapeake, LLC supports the best handicap racing of keel boats on the Chesapeake Bay using the premier Velocity Prediction Program (VPP) handicapping system known as ORC which is produced by the Offshore Racing Congress. The ORC rule accurately predicts boat speed throughout all points of sail and wind speeds producing fair handicap scoring.  We have two divisions outlined below using the ORC rule and serving a wide array of boats.

For complete information about racing under the ORC rule on the Chesapeake Bay please visit:

• ORC of the Chesapeake: orcches.org
• Offshore Racing Congress: orc.org
• U.S. Sailing Offshore Office: ussailing.org/competition/offshore/orc

Eligibility

To qualify for High Point, a boat must be owned by an individual who must:

1. Be a member of ORC of the Chesapeake, LLC.
2. Be an individual member of CBYRA.

Classes

ORC OPEN

• This division provides the highest level of handicap racing on the Chesapeake Bay. Racing features windward/leeward courses, government mark courses, and point-to-point races. There are four splits within the ORC Open.

ORC PERFORMANCE CRUISER

• For dual purpose racer/cruisers and performance cruisers who wish to compete with simplicities such as headsail furling. Eligibility is objectively determined by classification displayed on every certificate. ORC Performance Cruiser classes will sail fixed courses using government marks or point to point races in all events. There are two splits within ORC Performance Cruiser.

High Point Scoring Rules and Exceptions

This Class consists of two divisions each with separate groupings and is recorded Bay Wide.

Performance Handicap Racing Fleet

The Performance Handicap Racing Fleet of the Chesapeake (PHRF) has been active on the Chesapeake Bay since 1977. Currently, PHRF has approximately 900 members throughout the Chesapeake Bay.

PHRF ratings are based on the speed potential of the boat, determined as far as possible on observations of previous racing experiences. The intent of PHRF handicapping is that any well-equipped, well maintained, and well-sailed boat has a good chance of winning.

The fundamental concept of PHRF is to adjust ratings as needed based on a boat’s performance so that each well-sailed boat has an equal opportunity to win. PHRF ratings are not intended to reflect skipper and crew capability. Ratings are not adjusted to encourage a poor or careless skipper, and conversely, no rating adjustment is made to penalize proficiency. Intensity of competition and the influx of new sailors require each skipper to maintain consistently high performance in order to place well.

See PHRF’s website for more information: www.phrfchesbay.org

Eligibility

To be able to compete for High Point awards in PHRF events sanctioned by CBYRA, the owner or charterer shall:

A. Be a member of CBYRA.

B. Be affiliated with a CBYRA Member Club.

C. Have a PHRF of the Chesapeake, Inc, Valid Certificate.

D. Have a number listed in the CBYRA roster of sail numbers that is a unique US SAILING sail number, a number assigned by a National governing body, a unique One Design class number of a recognized ISAF class, or a unique One Design class number as maintained by the class association of a recognized CBYRA Cruising One Design class.

Safety Equipment Regulations

The PHRF of the Chesapeake leaves it totally up to the Organizing Authority(OA or Clubs) to set forth in the events Notice of Race (NOR) or  Sailing Instructions(SI) the appropriate Safety Standard for the local race and weather conditions.

The Organizing Authority(OA) can select among the appropriate US Sailing Safety Equipment Regulations(SER) categories of Nearshore, Coastal or Offshore or add select sections appropriate to local conditions from a higher standard such as Coastal to a base lower standard like Nearshore or other appropriate safety requirements.

PHRF of the Chesapeake fleet members must comply with the safety regulations in each event’s NOR or Sailing Instructions. Enforcement is up to the OA and competitors via US Sailing Racing Rule’s  Protest procedures.

Ratings

Volunteer members of the PHRF Board of Handicappers are responsible for assigning handicap ratings. PHRF is a dual number rating system – a base applies to a boat no matter wind, sea state, or other conditions occurring during any given race for a typical windward – leeward course. A second rating (CR) applies courses with portions to windward, reaching and downwind.  It is up to the OA in the NOR and SIO to select the appropriate rating before the start of the race. PHRF ratings are expressed in seconds per mile to be deducted from elapsed time to produce corrected times. The higher rating indicates the slower boat. PHRF time allowances are not related to other systems such as IMS or IRC. Handicappers assign ratings using guidelines described on the PHRF of the Chesapeake web site: www.phrfchesbay.com. The web site also provides dates of monthly Handicapper meetings.

Fleet Regions & Classes

PHRF breaks boats into rating bands or intervals which race as individual classes that may vary based on the location on the Chesapeake Bay.. PHRF breaks the Bay into five sections for High Point scoring:

1	Maryland North of the Bay Bridge
2	Eastern Shore of Maryland south of the Bay bridge, Southern Maryland and Potomac River
3	Annapolis, West River
4N	Rappahannock River area of Virginia
4S	Hampton Rhodes and York River

The events NOR and SI may include classes for PHRA A, B, C, non-spin, Cruising Spin and Cruising Non-Spin. Furthermore  the OA can depending on the number of boats sub divide the PHRF A rating band into even smaller classes (A0, A1, A2).

High Point Rules and Exceptions

PHRF of the Chesapeake adopts the standard CBYRA High Point rules with the following notations and exceptions.

Class Codes and Splits

PHRF High Point is recorded on a Bay wide basis using class codes as denoted in the following table. Note that the class codes are not the same as the code flag shown in the class splits.

PHRF CLASS	REGIONS
PHRF A0 (Spinnaker)	3
PHRF A1 (Spinnaker)	3
PHRF A2 (Spinnaker)	3
PHRF SB (Sport Boat)	3
PHRF A (Spinnaker)	1,2,4N,4S
PHRF B (Spinnaker)	All
PHRF C (Spinnaker)	All
PHRF CS (Cruising Spin)	All
PHRF CN (Cruising Non-spin)	All
PHRF N (Non-spinnaker)	All
PHRF N (Non-spinnaker)	All

The class codes must be included with the race results reported to CBYRA for proper recording of high point scores….

Region	Class	2024 Class Rating Splits
3	A0	up to 025
3	A1	026 to 070
3	A2	071 to 109
1, 2, 4 North	A	Up to 109
1, 2, 3, 4 North	B	110 to 148
1, 2, 3, 4 North	C	149 and up
2	Spinnaker	All
4 South	A	Up to 099
4 South	B	100 to 151
4 South	C	152 and up
All Regions 1, 2, 3	Sport Boat	All
All Regions 1, 2, 3, 4	Cruising Class	All
All Regions 1, 2, 3, 4	Short-Handed	All
All Regions 1, 2, 3, 4	PHRF N	All

Declaration of Region

For all classes, both Spinnaker and Non-Spinnaker, each boat/owner must declare with their application for CBYRA membership or renewal, a Region for High Point, which Region shall be fixed for the season. If no region is declared, the region in which the primary boat club is located shall be designated as the declared region.

Qualification for High Point awards

A. Spinnaker classes – To be considered for any High Point award, a yacht/owner must have been scored in at least five (5) sanctioned events that started or finished in his/her declared region. A race that transits multiple regions may be scored as a home qualifying event in any of the transited regions.

Without regard for region, the results for each event shall be scored and totaled on a Bay wide basis for each class. The highest scored Skipper/Boat for each class, in the resulting overall standings, shall be declared the overall winner in that class. The highest scored Skipper/Boat in each Region (or sub-Region) in the overall class standing shall be declared the regional winner.

B. Non-Spinnaker classes – To be considered for any High Point award, a yacht/owner must have been scored in at least five (5) sanctioned events in Regions 1, 2, or 3 for PHRF N North, or at least five (5) sanctioned events in Region 4 for PHRF N South.

C. Local clubs may schedule, through CBYRA, multiple race events in a single day and each event may carry a separate CBYRA race number.

D. All Annapolis Race Week, Northern Bay Race Week, Screwpile Lighthouse Challenge,,,,Stingray Point Regatta or Southern Bay Race Week events will be considered as wild card races for boats from “declared regions” outside of the regatta venue region, and will be scored as home region events for all boats only after that boat from “declared regions” outside of the regatta venue region, has qualified in it’s declared region. The wild card races shall be scored on a daily basis.

E. In the event that less than five (5) qualified races occur in a boat’s declared region, that boat may qualify by being scored in at least fifty (50%) percent of the declared regions races.

F. Boats whose home region is either Region 1, or Region 2, may use events from either Region 2 or Region 2, as qualifying events for high point scoring.

G. Discarding a Race:

1. One event may be discarded from the records in which a boat has been recorded for at least nine (9) events. The race dropped may be one in which the yacht was scored as ‘DSQ’ by the Race Committee unless the DSQ was for “significant damage” or the race was scored as DNE (Disqualified, Non-Excludable), or DGM (Disqualified for Gross Misconduct).
2. The competitor shall notify the High Point Scorer by no later than November 1^st of the year as to which race they wish to discard. In the event no notification is received, no races will be discarded. When a boat is scored as DNS or DNC, the race will not count as a race started for High Point and will not contribute to the record for High Point.