Regardless of handicap rating system, they tend to work best when dissimilar boats race in fleets with similar design-types. However, a Seahorse magazine report by Andrew McIrvine of the International Maxi Association explains how his organization wants the rating rule to figure it out. Optimistic?
Campbell Field, owner of Field Yachting that specializes in navigation, electronic systems, and performance analysis, shares these comments:
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“Bring a ‘race-oriented boat’ or a ‘cruiser racer’ to a yacht race, who do you think stands a better chance of being in the chocolates? You don’t see air conditioning and ABS/traction control on track day specific high-performance cars…or teak on an AC75 for that matter.
“Many of the large ‘cruiser-racers’ invest heavily in performance just like the ‘race-oriented’ boats…design modifications, sail development, and a long list of professional crew with extensive training periods.
“And finally…change the rules and then watch the arms race (read: spend) take off as optimization starts all over again as the work of the previous years is made redundant. Sailmakers, VPP optimization and yacht design studios, start your engines.”
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Here’s an excerpt from McIrvine’s report:
Currently our maxi fleet spans Swan 65s to the very fastest maxi yachts with IRC TCCs ranging from 1.100 to 2.000. While previously we have grouped genres using designations such as ‘racer’, ‘racercruiser’, ‘cruiser-racer’ and ‘cruiser’, we have now dispensed with these, instead rating Maxis based on performance (TCC) alone, leaving IRC to assess the necessary parameters.
In all fleets using rating systems there are always a few boats deemed ‘too successful’, while others seem well prepared and sailed but never seem to enjoy success. Typically, the former are more race-oriented. For example, in the Maxi fleet the former Maxi 72s are the most developed machines; most heavily optimized for IRC; better equipped with newer sails; more professionals onboard and more training days than the rest of the fleet.
If a rating system is designed to create a level playing field between boats, while rewarding crew work, it is no surprise these teams so often beat the cruiser-racers. The same is seen in smaller boats where TP52s/PAC52s/IRC52s regularly win under IRC, ORC (and ORR!).
We are planning a full review of rating options for maxis with a panel of designers and pro sailors with experience of all systems. They will consider the best options for the future – though we have to protect the existing fleet from having to make expensive modifications or we will soon lose majority support.
At present no maxi has been designed to ORC, and we do not know how much change would be required simply to make the existing fleet ORC compliant.
Even if a change is made, crew performance would not be reflected in the rating. If maxi teams really wish for this then subjective handicapping such as Portsmouth yardstick/PHRF would be required… usually reserved for the most amateur areas of our sport.
Source: https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2024/12/02/not-all-equal-in-eyes-of-mother-nature/
