SHYC Race Handicaps

RYA PY system

SHYC operates the RYA's Portsmouth Yardstick (PY) on all club races including the Spring, Winter and Frostbite series, but also on Offshore and Wednesday Evening races plus all 'occasional' races. To obtain a PY number for your boat, please contact a member of the race committee as explained in the SHYC Sailing Instructions extracted below:

3.2 For a yacht to be eligible to race in the PY Class, she shall have submitted a completed SHYC PY application form to the appointed Race Officer prior to the event. Portsmouth numbers will be those published in the current YR2, adjusted as necessary for variations from base rig. Yachts without Portsmouth numbers published in the current YR2 will be allocated numbers by use of the Trial Number method described in 7.3 of the current YR2. The Race Committee will review Portsmouth numbers for adjustment at intervals to be determined by the Race Committee.

A full explanation of the history and current status of the PY handicap is available on the RYA website at the following link. The Race Committee do recalculate every boats PY number based on the races she completes at SHYC in an endeavor to achieve a fair handicap based on the boats actual performance in SHYC races. Until several races are completed, a boat will race off a PY number which may not accurately reflect its performance in SHYC races. This is particularly the case when a 'new' boat to the SHYC race fleet joins the Club and participates part way through a particular Race Series. We again follow the RYA recommendation that a provisional PY number be allocated which will allow the boat to race, but not affect the other boats position results in the Series. Usually after 3 or 4 races the 'new' boat has its original PY number reviewed and then again after every race along with all other boats so the racing reflects a more accurate and realistic PY number within the Club fleet.

RORC IRC system

SHYC Club races offer IRC based races during the Spring, Winter and Frostbite series. Certificates are issued by the RORC rating office to a secret rule based on measurements and data provided by the owners. Changes to a boats IRC certificate number must be provided to the Race Committee immediately as the race results are calculated on the current IRC rating as explained in the SHYC Sailing Instructions

3.1 For a boat to be eligible to race IRC, she shall have submitted to the appointed Race Officer of the SHYC a current IRC certificate issued by RORC and keep a copy of such certificate on board. Prior year certificates remain valid up to the end of the Frostbite Series only, unless superseded by a current year certificate.

Sussex Combined Clubs Handicap

The four Sussex clubs who make up the SSCC require their form to be completed and they will issue their PY number for use in Sussex Combined Club Races. In addition to the SCCH individual club races, 2010 and 2011 have seen a season long Series of races with each club hosting a weekend race or regatta. The SCCH PY handicap is based on different criteria to the SHYC club PY handicap. The form is available from download at the SHYC website:

Finally..........!

Everyone has their own view on whether a handicap for their boat is right and a view on other boats handicaps............its inevitable, its human nature, and its never going to stop being a source of debate at the bar!

However, please remember that each form of handicap is calculated from different data and they should never be compared. For instance, a boat's IRC handicap bears no relation to its SHYC PY handicap which is calculated on the boats performance in SHYC races.

Happy Racing!
Race Committee