I'm racing with a 135 rating in Monterey Bay California on a stock boat. We haven't sailed the boat well enough in my opinion to give a comparison to the Santa Cruz 27s, Moore 24s, Olsen 30's, and Santana 35s we are pitted against. I have a feeling that the rating should have changed a bit when reaches went away.

:: Our rating on Lake St. Clair (Detroit) is 138 with one
:: design configuration or 144 with a J-length pole.
:: Originally we got the same rating as San Francisco which
:: was tough in the predominantly moderate winds on Lake
:: St. Clair. Several years ago we spent nearly an entire
:: winter going to PHRF committee meetings and succeeded in
:: getting a 6-second increase. Most of our racing is one
:: design. In PHRF we have trouble beating a well-sailed
:: J-24 which rates 180. We are pretty even with S2 7.9s.
::
:: :: I am in Western Florida, base rating 141 with a -3 point
:: :: pole adjustment for a rating of 138. I have a masthead
:: :: kite but don't use it. Polished bottom, light as
:: :: possible and we follow the tuning guide. If I don't
:: :: screw up the boat is competitive with a 3 person crew.
:: ::
:: :: :: Im in Maine (as I think all NE)- base rating is 141. I
:: :: :: sail with masthead spin at 132 (9 sec penalty). We do
:: :: :: pretty well. We have long courses, often light air so
:: :: :: the masthead helps.
:: ::
:: :: :: We do well upwind in light air. It took me a long time
:: :: :: to be fast upwind in 10-15 knots with chop- have to
:: :: :: really work at it, keep boat upright , luff a lot to do
:: :: :: so, and feather upwind, cant foot off. We play with
:: :: :: weight distribution a lot down wind and reaching. we use
:: :: :: a number 2 jib a lot before going to the 3. We use a
:: :: :: (fractional)reaching cut spin for tight reaches.
:: :: :: Generally we change sails more than others. We try to
:: :: :: always have 5 crew for weight. We keep the boat as light
:: :: :: as possible.We have a very smooth bottom. We follow the
:: :: :: tuning guides
:: :: ::
:: :: :: :: In San Francisco, the base rating for Express 27s is
:: :: :: :: 135. However, none of the E27s ever get that rating...
:: :: :: ::
:: :: :: :: E27 class poles are greater than the "J" measurement of
:: :: :: :: the boat, and that also results in a larger girth on the
:: :: :: :: kites. Also, our one-design rating also includes a 155%
:: :: :: :: genoa. Thus the SF Bay one-design rating is 129, as we
:: :: :: :: are penalized for oversized poles (and kites), as well
:: :: :: :: as for the 155% genoa.
:: :: :: ::
:: :: :: :: I believe that if we ask for a rating without the genoa
:: :: :: :: (which may allow a #2, I'm not sure) then there is a 3s
:: :: :: :: credit for a rating of 132.
:: :: :: ::
:: :: :: :: E27s do well on rating in the bay area, but it is
:: :: :: :: usually >15 knots.
:: :: :: ::
:: :: :: :: Best thing to do is go out when it is blowing 25-30
:: :: :: :: knots and blow the doors off everyone! fast is fun...
:: :: :: ::
:: :: :: ::
:: :: :: ::
:: :: :: :: :: I am racing in Ontario and we use PHRF - Lake Ontario.
:: :: :: :: :: The express is rated at 135 and we race mostly <15 knots
:: :: :: :: :: with a couple of races over that in a year.
:: :: :: :: ::
:: :: :: :: :: I am finding that we race a good race but still have a
:: :: :: :: :: hard time being competitive overall.
:: :: :: :: ::
:: :: :: :: :: What are other people's PHRF rating and any tips on what
:: :: :: :: :: to check?
:: :: :: :: ::
:: :: :: :: :: Thanks,
:: :: :: ::
:: :: :: :: :: Don