I misspoke. The 186 is a jib and main rating.

:: In Lake Ontario PHRF, the 186 is without a spinnaker.
:: Otherwise 168 is the standard rating.
::
:: We have two-three well sailed J's and they are hard to
:: beat at that rating. I can not imagine a 186 with a
:: spinnaker :)
::
:: :: Thanks for the comment, Bob. I was mistaken, the J24
:: :: that's been beating us is rated 186. I note from a
:: :: J-Boats site that they say the rating is 171. We'll be
:: :: looking into this before next year. I'm not sure where
:: :: the 186 came from. The J at our club is dry sailed which
:: :: is another factor that give it an advantage over the
:: :: E27s and S2 7.9s all of which are wet sailed.
:: ::
:: :: :: I guess you would have trouble beating that J24! LMPHRF
:: :: :: rates J24s at 168, and a well sailed one can be a weapon
:: :: :: with that rating. 180 would be a license to steal. For
:: :: :: comparison, S2 7.9s rate 165 over here.
:: :: ::
:: :: :: :: 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.