Crusing Class

PHRF Cruising Class is new for 2022! This class is designed for "true" cruising sailboats that are not designed as modern racers or sportboats. Application for cruising certificates are being accepted now and are free for 2022! Go to your certificates and click the link to apply for a cruising class certificate.

Here are the official rules for the class:

Cruising Class Rules -

PHRF Cruising Class (PHRF "" CC) is for cruising yachts that carry a Cruising non-spinnaker (CCNS) and Cruising spinnaker (CCS) rating that reflects the yacht's cruising capabilities as determined by the Handicappers.

Boats must have a valid PHRF of the Chesapeake handicap certificate to participate in the class. This handicap may be converted to a TCF (Time Correction Factor) and used to calculate a corrected time using a time on-time formula when sailing in the PHRF Cruising Class as noted in the Sailing Instructions.

In order to participate in the PHRF Cruising Class when offered in the Organizing Authority's Sailing Instructions, yachts must conform to the following class rules. These rules establish the requirements for cruising yachts to race with family and friends, with the intended benefit of eliminating the potentially high annual investment present in the unlimited racing classes. In addition to the PHRF rules that apply to the non-cruising classes, the following rules must be met to obtain Cruising non-spinnaker and Cruising spinnaker ratings.

A Yacht with a Cruising Class certificate can race under that certificate in a regular PHRF Class. However a Yacht with a regular PHRF certificate cannot race under that certificate in a Cruising Class because the OA have no way of determining if the yacht complies with the additional Cruising Class requirements especially Sail Area to Displacement and sail material construction.

Yacht:

o Boats must have an upwind Sail Area to Displacement ratio (based upon actual genoa size) of less than 22.0.

o The downwind Sail Area to Displacement ratio must be less than 55.0 calculated using the largest spinnaker.

o If sufficient entries allow, the fleet shall be sub-divided at an upwind SA/Displacement of 18.5.

Sails:

o Cruising non-spinnaker (CCNS) class is limited to a maximum of two headsails.

Only one headsail may be used at a time while racing, except for cutter rigs flying headsails in the normal configuration. Two headsails may be flown during a sail change, which must be completed in a seaman-like manner.

o Headsails and Mainsails must be constructed of woven Polyester (Dacron), woven Polyester/ PE(Dynema) blend or laminated Polyester/PE with woven or non-woven skins on both sides. The North 3Di 330 and 370 qualify.

o Carbon, Technora, Kevlar and other advanced material are not permitted.

o The headsail, once hoisted, shall not be changed during a day, race, series, or regatta unless:

o Race conditions requiring the use of a heavy weather sail permits a heavy weather sail (LP <110% of J) to be hoisted in place of the yacht's previously disclosed and rated headsail.

o When these conditions have abated, it is permissible to hoist the standard headsail for that sailboat.

o Large Roach Headsails (e.g. ""Code Zero' between 50 and 75% mid girth), drifters, reachers etc. can only be used in Cruising Class spinnaker (CCS) fleet.

o On a rolling 12-month calendar basis, beginning 12 months from the date that the yacht was purchased; sail purchases are limited to one non-heavy weather sail per year.

o Sails damaged beyond repair during any 12-month period may be replaced.

Crew:

o The number of crew allowed is limited to the number of berths defined below under Equipment.

o No more than one Group 3 coach are allowed for a race and no Group 3 coach is allowed to helm except in an emergency.

o Children under the age of 14 are not counted towards the crew limit.

Equipment:

o Single Berth: minimum width at head end of 22", minimum length of 68", parallel to waterline, minimum 8" elevation from floorboard

o Double Berth: greater than 44" width at head width, minimum 68" length, 8" minimum elevations from floorboard

o Cushions, minimum 2" thick, for those berths counted for crew limits, must be in place when racing.

o Boats will carry fuel for 8 hours of motoring at half throttle and normally used water tanks will be kept at least 1/3 full.

o All equipment including doors, tables, stoves, head equipment, floorboards, cushions, etc. must be carried in their normal position while racing.

Maintenance

o The boats must be painted with conventionalbottom paint and wet sailed.

o Bottom cleaning by diving is allowed within the spirit of the rule.

Haul outs in excess of 24 hours are limited to two per year including a yacht's off season haul-out.

Actual Sail Area Calculator

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