Hi,
I had a question regarding the USSA Multhull Modification Factors. In particular, the correction for sailing
light
(either with a light total crew weight, or solo on a two-person boat, which I beleive gets the same adjustment), seems excessive. For 70% or lighter than the class minimum, you get slapped with a .970 reduction. This is more than if an
at weight
crew added a spinnaker! (which is .972). This equates to nearly 2 minutes per hour sailed (or approximately 18 sec/mile in the PHRF time-on-distance world). Even if sailing solo, which would be a significant weight reduction, on a normal course there is much to do on the boat by yourself, so you may have faster boatspeed, but reduced capacity for boat handling. I still don't think you would beat the same boat with normal crew weight and spinnaker. Maybe the spinnaker rating is the flawed one?
Any thoughts in this regard are appreciated.
There have been times/experiences in our Fleet when the feeling has been that the lightweight or
singlehanding
correction factor isn't enough of a penalty. In medium conditions sailing a two-up boat singlehanded can be a real ratings killer. In real light conditions or in heavier conditions your performance does not match the ratings hit, in my opinion, for many of the reasons you cite - too much to do and too few hands. As always, it also depends on the boat, but that's one of the rubs with Portsmouth correction factors. We use the default numbers due to the type of racing we do, I would expect the wind-corrected numbers to be more in line. But, for the record, you have probably just kicked the biggest hornet's nest you can find in open class racing!
Keith, Annapolis
H-18, Northstar 500
i club race my boat and am able to do everything solo. that is just the way i set my boat. it is easier with crew, but not as interesting at the windward mark. the club i sail from ran croection factors so fine that they had a number for new crew...short handed...solo...2 beers...it was great, but that was just the kind of sailing we did. more of an excuse to go for a sail and have a bbq. it was a lot of fun.