25 November 2024, PHRF-NB Meeting Minutes

Posted on March 1, 2025 - Uncategorized

           PHRF-NB
Minutes
November 25, 2024

Date:          Monday, November 25, 2024
Time:         1800
Location:   Zoom

  1. Call to Order: 6:30 pm
  2. Roll Call: Don Kern, Commodore; Roy Guay, Treasurer; Bob Horton, Secretary; Will Museler, Rating Chairman, Committee Members: E.C. Helm, Moose McClintock, Randy Shore, Todd Johnston, PHRF-NB Administrator: Kathy Rotsky, not in attendance: Mark Nannini, Vin McAteer, Matt Smith, Ken Madeiro
  3. Approval Meeting Minutes: Minutes of the October 28, 2024 approved by the members present.
  4. Appeals: None
  5. New Base Ratings Needed: None
    Annual Ratings Review: Review for the easy decision
    Next Wave certificate 15146 has been sold out of the area and will be removed from review
    It was agreed that results from 2024 should be reviewed to assist in determining the accuracy of 2024 ratings. Randy Shore will obtain results for Brigadoon and Mark Rotsky will be asked for results on Hope.
  6. Old Business:
    1. Will Museler – Results of discussions with YRALIS Chairman, Alistair Duke, concerning a gathering of the regional PHRF groups to discuss regional common issues. – Will reported that there is no update regarding any upcoming meeting.
    2. Status of updates to web page. Cert – Add pervious name/ homeport (Roy) Roy Guay reported that he has submitted a request to add the previous boat name on the application for a new certificate. The previous homeport was not submitted but will be researched for being added.
    3. Roy Guay reported that as his November 15, 2024 email of stated we have failed the ASV Vulnerability Scan for the PCI Site Certificate. Roy has passed it along to Daniel at 6 Square to see if he can resolve it.
  7. New Business:
    1. Potential Rule adjustments:
      1. 2025-2028 RRS 52 Manual Power A boat’s standing rigging, running rigging, spars and movable hull appendages shall be adjusted and operated only by the power provided by the crew. – It was agreed by the members present that we should not add this restriction to the PHRF-NB rules.
      2. US Sailing Prescriptions for 2025-2028 Add to rule 63.5(d): US Sailing prescribes that the authority responsible for interpreting the rules of a handicap or rating system is the organization that issued the handicap or the rating certificate involved. – After an interesting discussion it was agreed that since we are not a dues paying member to USSailing to not take a position on this Prescription.
      3. Will Museler provide formula and new adjustment table, using Jim Teeters’ GPH algorithm. The members present reviewed the information provided and Will suggested that he use the 2024 certificate database to run all the boats and see the overall impact. The goal of this effort is to level the playing field for cruising boats that have small non-overlapping headsails and could be at a disadvantage against boats with large headsails. A concern was that if a significant adjustment were made on a rating would an existing boat racing spinnaker decide to race non-spinnaker to achieve a finish higher than in their existing fleet. It was noted that this could be a tool for clubs and race committees to draw more boats into their fleets. It was agreed to but this subject on the agenda for the annual meeting.
      4. Other rule changes to the web site discussed were:

2025 Rule modifications:

  1. Headsails
    c. Roller Furler Credit (+3)
    Class Boats or a custom boat equipped by the original manufacturer with a roller furler, upon which the base boat handicap is established, are not eligible for a roller furl credit.
    Headsails shall comply with the following:
    i.     All sails to be used shall have a luff length 2.5% of the “I” measurement shorter than the head stay length as measured from the deck sheer line to the mast intersection.
    ii.    Furler bottom drum mounted above the deck.
    iii.   The sail shall be attached to the bottom drum, hoisted in a foil extrusion and have a top swivel, the system shall be functional.
    iv.    The sail shall be furled when not in use and racing.
    OR   (This was agreed by the members present to eliminate the word OR)
    d.    Cruising Headsail Credit (+3)
    Cruising Headsails shall comply with the following:
    i.      The cruising headsail shall have a luff length 2.5% of the “I” measurement shorter than the head stay length as measured from the deck sheer line to the mast intersection.
    ii.     The cruising headsail shall be attached to the bottom drum, located above the deck, (members present agreed to not add this) hoisted in a foil extrusion and have a top swivel, the system shall be functional.
    iii.    The cruising headsail is the primary headsail used on the boat.  Any additional headsails used must be less than 110% LP.  The cruising headsail is stored on the head stay when not racing.
    iv.     The cruising headsail has a UV leach cover attached to the sail (e.g. stitched or glued).
    v.       Sail’s material must be: Woven Polyester, Polyester Composite or Polyester laminate, with an additional layer of woven polyester (taffeta), or Composite skin, both with the intent of adding durability to the sail.  Exotic materials are not allowed; (Pentex, PEN, Aramid, Technora, Carbon, Spectra, Ultra-PE).
    vi.      The cruising headsail is regularly used as the primary genoa/headsail when the boat is racing, day sailing or cruising and will be the only PHRF-NB certificate issued during the sailing season.A certificate holder approached a committee member of the evening racers in the JYC series about the JPK 45 Take Two.  He stated how the rating isn’t right. The JPK only sails in Jamestown for the ATI every year.However, one thing he brought up was the sails on the boat, particularly the jib. The JPK is getting a 6 second credit for having a cruising headsail, it has a cover and stays on the furler all the time.  However, in looking at pictures from the most recent race, the jib (North) is all black.  It confirmed with North Sails that the sail is indeed a polyester/Dyneema hybrid, which would take him out of the cruising credit.
    Will Museler will contact the owner of the boat to inform him of the correct interpretation of the rule to obtain a cruising credit.6.5 Non-Spinnaker adjustment (Members present agreed that this should reference Spinnaker)
            k.   Staysails, tallboys and bloopers are permitted in spinnaker class racing and will not exceed the sail area of the largest genoa rated.7.3 Displacement Changes (Members present agree on this wording)
    The typical adjustment for displacement modifications is based on 5 sec/mile for 10% of displacement.  Rating adjustment based on equipment additions will not be considered until a minimum of a 10% change is made to the vessel.  The committee will review all displacement adjustments on a case-by-case basis.
  2. Annual Meeting: Wednesday, 1830 Jan 15, 2025, Newport YC.
    8. Adjournment: 8:13pm