MDR Cruising Class – CRUISING RATINGS

Details for MDR Cruising Ratings are set forth below. Some general overview and background is provided on the main page. A link to the Application for 2019 Cruising Ratings is near the bottom of this page and will become active at a later date.

List of 2019 Cruising Ratings (Details)

CRUISING RATINGS – "VALIDATED" vs. STANDARD

There are two categories of Cruising Ratings – "validated" and standard. Boats may have one or the other but not both. Ratings are "validated" if a "Rating Information" (also referred to in the SoCal PHRF Class Rules as a "Rating" and sometimes referred to as a "certificate" on the SoCal PHRF website) for a boat has been posted on the SoCal PHRF website; otherwise, they will be standard (i.e., "non-validated") ratings. Unless the Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions specifically require "validated" ratings then either category of ratings will satisfy a requirement for MDR Cruising Ratings. A page with recommendations for race committees is available, including language to use in the Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions.

Validated ratings require that a Rating Information (aka "certificate") be posted for the boat, which requires the owner to join PHRF and involves some time and cost. Such a requirement may not appropriate for events where new sailors are being encouraged to participate in order to introduce them to the sport (ASMBYC Home Port Regatta, SMWYC Barbecue Series and CYC Sunset Series might be good examples).

GETTING A PHRF "RATING INFORMATION" FOR YOUR BOAT

In order to have a SoCal PHRF Rating Information posted for your boat you must first join SoCal PHRF and then apply for ratings. You can get more information about the process at www.phrfsocal.org. As of September 2018, the SoCal PHRF website indicates that it costs $65 to join SoCal PHRF and that entitles the member to a single Rating Information. [Note: In 2014, SoCal PHRF revised its Class Rules and deleted all references to "certificate" and replaced them with "Rating Information" or "Rating" but the SoCal PHRF website still refers to a "Rating Information" as a "certificate" in places – they are the same thing.]

In 2016, SoCal PHRF introduced the concept of "Adjusted Corinthian Ratings" (ACRs) [see SoCal PHRF Class Rules Appendix F, "Corinthian Racer Adjustments"]. If the posted Rating Information for your boat indicates that you have "Adjusted Corinthian Ratings" then the Cruising Adjustments will be applied to your base PHRF ratings, not your ssigned Adjusted Corinthian Ratings.

The "Cruising" concept is "race what you own." It is about "fun" racing and not serious competition; for that you should be racing under PHRF or in a one-design class. Accordingly, there are certain actions with respect to PHRF that are inconsistent with the "Cruising" concept: more than one posted Rating Information for your boat on the PHRF website (since we won't know which PHRF ratings to apply the MDR Cruising adjustments to; the only exception is if one posted Rating Information has Adjusted Corinthian Ratings and the other does not and the configuration on both is identical) or repeated attempts to change your assigned PHRF ratings. Either of those could mean that it might not be appropriate to assign MDR Cruising Ratings (and any assigned ratings might possibly be revoked).

CHANGED PHRF "RATING INFORMATION"

If the posted Rating Information for your boat changes when "validated" ratings have been assigned then you MUST notify the Cruising Class Coordinator by filling out a new application to "Report changed configuration" and report the change under "Additional Information" (do not submit the application until after the changed Rating Information has been posted on the SoCal PHRF website). If a new Rating Information is posted for your boat when "standard" ratings have been assigned then you MUST notify the Cruising Class Coordinator by filling out a new application for "validated" ratings (do not submit the application until after the Rating Information has been posted on the SoCal PHRF website).

If your assigned PHRF ratings (a) are lowered or (b) were temporary and are no longer valid (120 days from the temporary date) or (c) are on a new Rating Information and you have been assigned "standard" Cruising Ratings then your assigned MDR Cruising Ratings automatically become invalid and using them to race could break Racing Rule of Sailing 2 ("Fair Sailing") or be considered misconduct under Racing Rule of Sailing 69 ("Misconduct").

ADJUSTMENTS

The table below lists the adjustments that apply for 2019 MDR Cruising Ratings (the adjustments may change from year to year; also, clubs may provide additional modifications of their own, see below). The same adjustments applied in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.

Anchor Chain (stored in bow and accessible from the foredeck) *
   At least 100 ft (but less than 200 ft) +3
   At least 200 ft +6
* Minimum chain size: 5/16″ if hull length is <35 ft; 3/8″ if hull length is >=35 ft.
Propeller with inboard engine
   Fixed, two-blades +6
   Fixed, three-blades +9
Roller Furling Sails (can be furled during the race)
   All headsails (jib or genoa) +6
   Mainsail (in-mast only) +9
Sail Material (100% Dacron, except small corner patches)
   All headsails (jib or genoa) +6
   Mainsail +6
Non-Standard Maximum LP% (requires validated ratings for credit)
   For every 10% or portion thereof larger -3
   For every 10% smaller +3
Credits are only available for a boat with validated ratings. Credits are given for full 10% increments below the LP% shown on the boat's posted PHRF Rating Information. For example, for a boat with155% on its PHRF Rating Information a boat would receive a credit of +3 sec/mi for a 138% genoa. For boats without a posted PHRF Rating Information, penalties will be assigned at the discretion of the Cruising Class Coordinator based on the likely configuration of the boat.
Non-Spinnaker **
   Standard adjustment for all boats +15
** For a boat with validated ratings, no credit is available unless the configuration on the boat's posted PHRF Rating Information includes a standard-sized spinnaker. For non-standard spinnakers and for boats without validated ratings, the adjustment will be at the discretion of the Cruising Class Coordinator based on the likely configuration of the boat.
Oversize Spinnaker
   For every 7% or portion thereof larger -3
For a boat with validated ratings, this adjustment will only apply if the size is larger than declared on the boat's posted PHRF Rating Information. For other boats, this adjustment will apply if the size is larger than a standard PHRF-size spinnaker.
SoCal PHRF Performance Factor
   If 1.90 or greater -27
For a boat with validated ratings, this adjustment will be based on the boat's posted PHRF Rating Information unless there is an obvious error, in which case the adjustment shall be at the discretion of the Cruising Class Coordinator based on the likely configuration of the boat. For boats without validated ratings, the adjustment will be at the discretion of the Cruising Class Coordinator based on the likely configuration of the boat.

CUSTOMIZED ADJUSTMENTS

Some clubs may not want to use all of the standard MDR Cruising adjustments. If so, then the club needs to be specific in both its Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions. For example, if the club does not want to use the adjustment for the SoCal PHRF Performance Factor then in both the NOR and SIs it would say "Races will be scored using [year] [validated] MDR [buoy] [random leg] Cruising Ratings except that the adjustment for the SoCal PHRF Performance Factor will not apply." A club could also add its own unique adjustments in the same way. In either case, the club would have to take the standard MDR Cruising Ratings and make its own modifications. Those calculations should be posted for competitors to see.

In some circumstances, it may be appropriate to modify an MDR standard adjustment. For example, it probably isn't appropriate to have the entire non-spinnaker adjustment apply if the race finishes inside the Marina del Rey harbor and boats cannot use spinnakers inside the harbor. In such a case, both the NOR and SIs could say: "Races will be scored using [year] MDR [buoy] [random leg] Cruising Ratings except that the non-spinnaker adjustment will be [xx] sec/mi." The amount of the adjustment would vary based on the percentage of the race for which spinnakers are prohibited for all boats. These calculations should be posted for all boats to see and for each race there should some public posting of which boats have declared "non-spinnaker" so other competitors will know.

CHANGE IN CONFIGURATION

The "Cruising class" concept is "race what you own." Therefore, it is generally not appropriate for a boat to change the rated configuration during the course of a year unless the reason to do so is unrelated to racing. Changing the configuration of your boat during the course of the year in an attempt to gain a rating advantage is not within the spirit of the "Cruising class" concept. Buying, and declaring, new sails is perfectly appropriate and allowable and the restriction on changing configuration does not apply to new sails. Also, declaring "non-spinnaker" is not considered a change in configuration and it is up to individual clubs whether they want to allow a change in spinnaker/non-spinnaker status during the course of a series of races.

A change in configuration will only be allowed at the discretion of the Cruising Class Coordinator. Generally, not more than one change per category per year will be allowed. For example, you could take chain off your boat and would lose that adjustment; however, you would not then get any credit if you put the chain back on your boat as that would be a second change in the "anchor chain" category.

Sailing your boat in a configuration that could potentially be faster than as declared would be improper and could result in action under Racing Rule of Sailing 2 ("Fair Sailing") or Racing Rule of Sailing 69 ("Misconduct") and exclusion from future races. If you have taken a credit adjustment and change your boat such that you will no longer be entitled to the credit adjustment (or change your boat such that a penalty adjustment would apply) then you MUST report the change by filling out an application to "Report changed configuration." You may or may not be assigned revised MDR Cruising Ratings – in other words, you may be required to change your boat back in order to sail in an event that requires Cruising Ratings. Therefore, before making changes to your boat you would be well advised to contact the Cruising Class Coordinator (see contact info below).


Application for 2019 Cruising Ratings check back for an active link

Allow a minimum of 2.5 business days for processing. For "validated" Cruising Ratings, the SoCal PHRF website must show a Rating Information (also known as a "Rating") before you apply. Under certain circumstances we may provide expedited processing of applications ($20 for 2nd business day and $35 for next business day); this will only be done by special arrangements so contact the Cruising Class Coordinator for more information.

If you make a mistake in your application then simply fill out and submit a new application (indicating "validated" or standard) and indicate under "Additional Information" that you are re-submitting to correct a typo or other mistake. If you are changing your declared configuration then submit a new application with "Changed configuration" as the type of application, fill out all of the information and but also please indicate what is changed in the "Additional Information" section of the application.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

For additional information, you may contact the Cruising Class Coordinator, Art Engel, at mdr-cruising[at]racingrules.org.

RATINGS FROM PRIOR YEARS

[These ratings are no longer valid for use; they are only provided as an indication of the prior rated configuration of boats.]

List of 2017 Cruising Ratings (Details)
List of 2016 Cruising Ratings (Details)
List of 2015 Cruising Ratings (Details)
List of 2014 Cruising Ratings (Details)