Racing. The new golden rule?

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1 Racing The new golden rule? Words Christian Stimson Photos Chris Cameron Handicap/rating rules are many and varied, but yacht designer Christian Stimsom really rates the new High Performance Rule (HPR) he s helping to develope. HPR stands for High Performance Rule and it is being developed by a group of designers, led by US-based Bill Lee, to promote top-tier international racing by creating fast and exciting raceboats. Lee is best-known as the guru of ULDB Sleds in the 1980s, and he also led the development of the TP 52 box rule. The question do we need another rule? bears further examination, and the answer centres around whether the rules currently employed are doing what s required for those who wish purely to race, and whether they do so in proper raceboats. The most popular, widely-used rules are IRC, ORC and PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet). Each takes a different approach to rating a yacht s performance and promotes different attributes in the yachts, and each has different implications for race managers and yacht clubs. Alongside the rating/handicap debate is the Box Rule option, again with its own pros and cons to consider. IRC IRC was developed from the old Channel Handicap System (CHS) which emerged in the UK to pick up the pieces after the demise of the International Offshore Rule (IOR) rule in It is run jointly by the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) in the UK and the Union Nationale pour la Course au Large (UNCL) in France. The letters IRC aren t an abbreviation but the IR used to stand for International Rule. It has been in use for 13 years and has approximately 7500 valid certificates in 30 countries. Of these, only 7% are in Australasia, the same percentage as in the United States. The sworn duty of the IRC rule is to protect the existing fleet, and by that it means the series-produced cruisers and cruiser-racers up to about 13.7m (45ft) LOA. It outputs a single number rating known as the IRC Time Correction Factor (TCC) to represent the yacht s performance across a range of windspeeds and angles. The maths of the rule is secret, but the performance assessment considers a number of subjective factors such as levels of accommodation, construction technology, keel configuration etc. It is, however, an inclusive rule that will attempt to rate anything (eg canting keels, water ballast, code zeroes), and above 15.2m (50ft) LOA it does a reasonable job for custom racing boats. The problem with IRC, besides the single number, one-size-fits-most TCC rating approach, is for those racing smaller yachts where there is a conflict between protecting the majority (production boats) and accommodating the minority (custom raceboats). The resolution of the conflict falls in favour of the majority, leading the custom raceboats to compromise themselves by fitting unnecessary accommodation, or shying away from exotic construction, thereby slowing the boats down or conversely seeing them rated harshly for not displaying those characteristics associated with the production fleet. But the positive outcome is the relatively free hand given to designers of the larger boats, and the massive development in the performance of the 88 Boating New Zealand June 2012

bound up in the computer code so the only way for a designer to beat the rule would be to identify areas of the mathematical model that are not accurately reflecting reality, something that happened

Since then the typeforming has been much more subdued as the aero and hydro-models in the VPP have improved, and both custom and production boats, when well-sailed, seem to do well in the high-level

2 bound up in the computer code so the only way for a designer to beat the rule would be to identify areas of the mathematical model that are not accurately reflecting reality, something that happened a decade ago which resulted in the low-stability boxy boats of that era, and prompted a wholesale overhaul of the ORC rule in late Since then the typeforming has been much more subdued as the aero and hydro-models in the VPP have improved, and both custom and production boats, when well-sailed, seem to do well in the high-level version of the ORC International rule. There have been over 8000 ORCi and ORC Club certificates issued in nearly 40 countries, and 126 entries from 16 countries are now entered at the 2012 ORCi Offshore World Championship. PHRF Performance Handicap Racing Fleet This differs from the two previous rules because it is a handicap, not a rating. Rating assesses a boat s performance potential and it is up to the crew to attain that potential (or otherwise!) but it is also blind to the tiredness of the sails, the production racer-cruiser offerings. The cruising sailor is reaping a huge benefit in that regard! ORC and ORCi club Offshore Racing Conference (International) These two groups could be regarded as the sons of IMS. Both are based on the International Measurement System velocity prediction program (IMS VPP), a complex computer model that assesses the performance of a yacht in a relatively sophisticated manner. It was launched by US Sailing at about the same time as CHS in 1985 initially under the name MHS (Measurement Handicap System) before it was renamed IMS (International Measurement System) to do the same job of filling the void after IOR in the USA. It was then widely adopted when MHS/IMS designs proved to be faster and more stable than their expensive and narrowly typeformed IOR brethren. Measurements are taken of the hull lines, appendage geometries, stability and the rig/sailplan, and the ORC VPP simulates the performance of the yacht through a range of windspeeds and wind angles by mathematically balancing the sail drive and heel forces with the hull drag and righting moment. The matrix of results is converted to predicted speeds for each wind speed/wind angle combination. These are then run through the rating rule and expressed as time-on-distance or time-on-time ratings, and for different course types such as windward-leeward or ocean courses. This scoring variety gives a race manager the flexibility to use a more accurate selection of ratings for use in a race. A single number General Purpose Handicap (GPH) had been used for scoring like an IRC TCC, but now is only used to make fleet divisions into classes. While the VPP is a publicly available piece of software, the inner workings are About the writer Christian Stimson graduated from the Southampton Institute Yacht Design Course in 1987 and has been running his own design practice since. His wide-ranging portfolio of nearly 100 vessels afloat encompasses superyacht tenders, sportboats, IRC racers and cruisers from 28ft (8.5m) to 66ft (20.1m), plus performance cruisers up to 80ft (24.4m). He was originally based in Cowes on the Isle of Wight but moved to Auckland with his family in He had been a regular visitor to NZ for the Yacht Vision Design Symposia since 1995 as part of the Whitbread/ Volvo Ocean Race, for the 2003 America s Cup as part of the GBR Challenge design team, and more recently the HPYD symposium. Christian is now on the review panel for the development of the new HPR rule. dirty bottom, or an error-prone tactician. A handicap accounts for such factors using the yacht s achieved race results, so a consistently under-performing campaign will be recognised with a favourable handicap. A yacht s basic parameters are measured and assessed to produce a baseline rating, which might be subjectively modified by local-based PHRF officials in light of such factors listed above. In addition, this handicap method recognises that a particular design might fare better or worse than other boats in the locally prevailing weather conditions. For example, a heavy and under-canvassed yacht might do well in a windy venue, but the same design would fare less well in a light airs venue. As a result the same design can have a different PHRF rating in different locales, leading to rating disputes when travelling to a distant regatta in a different PHRF region. While PHRF can give a rating to any type subscribe online at 89

of boat, since it is not a measurement 0612301 rule, like IRC it can suffer due to the single-number approach for dissimilar designs.

mid-season rating review home wins and no time correction takes place. If someone deliberately factors are applied.

only incremental as the fleet- be in order.

3 of boat, since it is not a measurement rule, like IRC it can suffer due to the single-number approach for dissimilar designs. emphasis in the performance profiles The issue of sandbagging can also to favour upwind or downwind, light be significant in PHRF fleets where an airs or heavy airs etc, but the first boat end-of or mid-season rating review home wins and no time correction takes place. If someone deliberately factors are applied. sails under par at the beginning of the The impact of the tightly-controlled series, the results sheet would indicate type-form is that season-by-season that an increase in handicap would gains are only incremental as the fleet- be in order. The strategy here is to do wide performance is very, very similar, just badly enough in the first half of and the box constrains the possibilities Delivering Reliability and a Choice! the series to reduce the rating, yet still accrue sufficient points that the second half charge when you are sailing at full potential with a favourable rating allows you to take an overall series win. It is a black art! Box rules for exploring different areas off the design space. Incremental gains tend to be very expensive; an old adage says the last 10% gain costs 90% of the total and it certainly applies. The TP52 rule was originally conceived as a US offshore racing class to compete in the TransPac, but it has more recently The most widely known box rule at the found success as an inshore class on moment is the TransPac 52 class. Box the Mediterranean. rules offer the perfect solution to the Other recent box rules include debate between One Design/ first boat the ORC s GP classes at 26, 33 and home wins and design development/ 42 feet (7.9, 10 and 12.8m). As with rating of performance differences. the TP52 rules, the type-form leads The box in the case of the TP52 rule to an aggressive design that is very defines limits for length (52ft or 15.85m), light and well canvassed, sporting beam, draft, sail area and displacement. large bowsprits with asymmetrical There are controls on the keel, bulb and spinnakers, deep keels and large mast dimensions etc, but the designer ballast bulbs. These typify the modern Phone: Fax: sales@diversifiedproducts.co.nz has complete freedom with the hull shape, deck layout, foil section shapes and sail proportions, all of which are open to development. This allows for similar but subtly different designs with shifts of genre of racing yacht, with a powerful hull form free of distortion other than chines which promote the high planing speeds attainable with such power to weight ratios. But if you don t want to travel to the 90 Boating New Zealand June 2012

massive simrad price reduction nx 40 navigation package Was $2995 now $1,995 save $1000 I 8.

(LOA) of 12.2m, with Base and Measured values for the following parameters of: Parameter Base Measured Factor Value Displacement 3850kg 3850kg Dempty 1.0000 at base value Draft 2.850m 2.790m DRAc 0.

0150 more than base = faster Freeboard 1.160m 1.176m FRc 1.

0000 x 0.9996 x1.0150 x 1.0021 12.397m This indicates the net effects of the changes from Base speed the yacht up to the level of a nominally 12.4m long Base yacht.

Med, can t raise the crew for a 52-footer or don t want to take a GP-style boat to an IRC event with a rating from Hell, there wasn t much alternative, until now.

4 massive simrad price reduction nx 40 navigation package Was $2995 now $1,995 save $1000 I 8.4 colour LcD display I colour Sounder & chartplotter I Radar capable I 600w or 1kw Sounder options I includes gps antenna I excludes transducer and chart Our nominal 40-footer has a measured Length (LOA) of 12.2m, with Base and Measured values for the following parameters of: Parameter Base Measured Factor Value Displacement 3850kg 3850kg Dempty at base value Draft 2.850m 2.790m DRAc less than base = slower Upwind SA 107m² 107 m² USAc at base value Spinnaker Area 184 m² 169 m² SPAc less than base = slower Beam 3.800m 3.900m BMc more than base = faster Freeboard 1.160m 1.176m FRc more than base = faster nx 45 navigation package Was $3995 now $2,995 save $1000 Calculation Rating = LOA x Dempty x DRAc x USAc x SPAc x BMc x FRc x???? Rating = 12.2m x x x x x x m This indicates the net effects of the changes from Base speed the yacht up to the level of a nominally 12.4m long Base yacht. All this is very simply calculated and transparent using the Excel spreadsheet the rule makers have developed. Med, can t raise the crew for a 52-footer or don t want to take a GP-style boat to an IRC event with a rating from Hell, there wasn t much alternative, until now. HPR High Performance Rule On the face of it, HPR offers the best of all worlds to the dedicated racing yacht crew: intentionally type-formed, offshore- capable, fast boats of a style we d all like to race. an open, published rule maths that we can all understand and experiment with to shift the rating/ performance profile to suit our locale no subjective assessments of any attributes an uncomplicated one number rating with the possibility for level rating, ie the first boat home wins. I 12 colour LcD display I colour Sounder & chartplotter I Radar capable I 600w or 1kw Sounder options I includes gps antenna I excludes transducer and chart 383 New North Rd, Kingsland subscribe online at 91

5 How is this achieved? The underpinning concept is what might be described as a sliding continuum box rule. That is, a set of primary dimensions (displacement, draft, sail area, beam etc) for any length on the spectrum 24ft to 72ft (approximately 7m to 22m LOA). The default dimensions at a given length define the Base Boat at that length, ie what the rule regards as typical and representative of the typeform desired. The designer can then modify the design and deviate from the Base values, within limits, to shift the balance of the performance profile. For example, they might add more sail, reduce displacement and increase draft for a more potent (faster) combination. (See HPR 40 image, previous pages) The base values have been determined by identifying existing designs that represent, more or less, the typeform the HPR wishes to promote. Those boats can be identified as (loosely) the Melges 32, Soto 40/Farr 400, TP52 and mini-maxis like the 72ft RAN. The dots are joined between those points for each parameter, the curves smoothed and nudged to even them out and the result is a continuum along which, for a given length, the ideal or base values, are described. The rating accounts for varied performance by assigning a factor to each of the parameters of sail area, draft, displacement etc. The factor is determined by the extent the measured value differs from the base value and by how much. The idea is to keep the typeform within fairly tight limits. For each parameter, the relationship between the difference from Base and the rated factor is initially linear (ie, the variation in rating is proportional to the resulting performance change). But as the parameter deviates more from Base, a disproportionate penalty is applied in order to discourage it. If plotted out this results in a soup bowl curve, encouraging the middle ground, but allowing small wanderings from there at a low penalty level, while discouraging larger wanderings. A VPP has been used to determine the implications on performance of varying the parameters from Base so it s a scientifically sound set of algorithms. (See Displacement Model 1 above.) The rating (in linear metres) is obtained by multiplying the yacht s length in metres by each of the factors for the measured parameters. Base value parameters attract a factor of 1.0, which as a multiplier has no effect on the rating, whereas a parameter that differs from Base in a manner deemed to decrease performance has a factor less than 1.0, and one that increases performance has a factor greater than 1.0. The resultant Rated Length indicates the size of Base Boat with equivalent performance. With this information class breaks can be determined based on Rated Length, and Level Rating classes of tightly limited rating bands created Displacement: HPR40 Model WW LW10 Sec/Mile WW LW12 Sec/Mile GPH Sec/Mile OO12 Rule Fit TYPE-FORMING BOWL Upper Limit Lower Limit Linear (WW LW10 Sec/Mile) Poly. (WW LW12 Sec/Mile) Linear (WW LW12 Sec/Mile) Linear (GPH Sec/Mile) Linear (OO12) DSPM for first boat home wins race structure. Given a successful uptake, and that the HPR is aligned with the ORC (who run the ISAF-sanctioned keelboat World Championships), the recreation of Level Rating classes like the extremely popular Ton classes under IOR leading to true top-level international competition is a distinct possibility. There is momentum already at circa 40ft that would be a logical starting point. HPR in NZ What does it mean for yacht racers in New Zealand? It opens the door to a style of custom raceboat that has been sorely missed here, and worldwide, for many years. To encourage take-up and to build fleet numbers, HPR will embrace existing designs, granting grandfathering of some aspects and accounting for off-optimum characteristics (such as overhangs, which will be assessed to determine a Rule Length which is operated upon by the factors as described above). In a subsequent article we will look at how much this might affect fleets around New Zealand, and what level of adaptation or modification might be needed or possible. There are a few brave souls racing lightweight, stripped-out, well-canvassed boats under IRC, but they don t fare particularly well when confronted with the IRC typeform cruiser-racer. It is evident from the bar chat after every race that there is a strong desire for a big sportboat that has a Spartan but functional interior. HPR requires only OSR-compliant (Offshore Sailing Regulations) Category 1-2 minima, and there is no need to carry anything in addition to fool the rule. High on the list of positives is a deck layout with room for a race crew to swing without tripping over cockpit seats or coamings, and a boat which is fun, offshorecapable, and fast, fast, fast! Boats designed to HPR will plane in 15knots of breeze, and with undistorted hull lines they will behave well at speed. Best of all they will be fairly rated for being that way. It s important to note that HPR does not set out to replace IRC, ORC or PHRF but to exist in addition to those rules, and give the yachtsperson who only wants a raceboat the opportunity to go racing and be competitive, thereby taking the heat off the cruiser-racer fleets. While it s recognised that above 45ft it s big boys rules and full-on carbon is the expected construction technique with no benefits for lower tech, there are plans in the works to make lower tech construction competitive in the smaller boats (sub 40ft), reducing costs and cultivating the fleets at the club level. (See generic HPR 30 image above.) It could herald a return to the much wished-for heyday of the IOR but without the bad bits! 92 Boating New Zealand June 2012

PRESS PACK n. 1 January 2010

PRESS PACK n. 1 January 2010 The KIWI 40FC the birth of an iconic yacht In 2004 the first of a new breed of 40 foot yachts was launched in France. Fast and capable offshore, it could be raced hard or cruised