This page contains some information that race committees will find helpful for setting up and scoring events that use MDR Cruising Ratings.
There are two types of Cruising Ratings: validated and standard. If a boat has current, valid PHRF ratings (in other words, if a "Rating Information" for the boat is currently posted and available on the SoCal PHRF website) then it must have "validated" Cruising Ratings. Otherwise, the Cruising Ratings are "standard" ratings. A boat can have either "validated" or "standard" Cruising Ratings but not both.
Clubs may wish to restrict the boats that can enter a race or series by the type of Cruising Ratings they have. "Validated MDR Cruising Ratings" means that only boats with validated ratings can enter and race; "standard MDR Cruising Ratings" means that only boats with standard ratings can enter and race; "MDR Cruising Ratings" or "MDR Cruising Ratings (either validated or standard)" means that boats with either type of rating can enter. (Note: If you don't specify which type of ratings are required, validated or standard, then by default either type is acceptable.)
Ratings are assigned for two types of courses: buoy and random leg. If you want to use "random leg" Cruising Ratings then you must specifically say that in both the Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions. The default Cruising Ratings to be used are the "buoy" ratings unless "random leg" ratings are specifically called for in both the Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions.
In the paragraphs below, square brackets [ ] indicate alternative wording.
Requiring PHRF ratings:
Buoy courses: "This [race] [regatta] [series] will be scored using <insert current year> validated buoy MDR Cruising Ratings." Alternative: "This [race] [regatta] [series] will be scored using <insert current year> validated MDR Cruising Ratings."
(Since buoy ratings are the default you can use the alternative second version. However, it is recommended to use the more specific version to eliminate possible confusion.)
Random leg courses: "This [race] [regatta] [series] will be scored using <insert current year> validated random leg MDR Cruising Ratings."
(Random leg must be specified if you don't want to use "buoy" ratings; validated must be specified if you don't want both types of rating to be acceptable.)
No PHRF required:
Buoy courses: "This [race] [regatta] [series] will be scored using <insert current year> buoy MDR Cruising Ratings (validated or standard)." Alternative: "This [race] [regatta] [series] will be scored using <insert current year> MDR Cruising Ratings."
(The default is that either type of Cruising Ratings are acceptable and that buoy ratings will be used so you can use the alternative second version. However, it is recommended to use the more specific version to eliminate possible confusion.)
Random leg courses: "This [race] [regatta] [series] will be scored using <insert current year> random leg MDR Cruising Ratings (validated or standard)." Alternative: "This [race] [regatta] [series] will be scored using <insert current year> random leg MDR Cruising Ratings."
(Random leg must be specified if you don't want to use "buoy" ratings. However, the default is that either type of Cruising Ratings are acceptable so you can use the alternative second version. However, it is recommended to use the more specific version to eliminate possible confusion.)
Standard ratings only (boats with PHRF ratings not eligible to race):
We're not sure why anyone would want to exlude boats that also have PHRF ratings but below is the wording to use if you want to do that:
Buoy courses: "This [race] [regatta] [series] will be scored using <insert current year> standard buoy MDR Cruising Ratings." Alternative: "This [race] [regatta] [series] will be scored using <insert current year> standard MDR Cruising Ratings."
(Since "buoy" ratings are the default you can use the alternative second version. However, it is recommended to use the more specific version to eliminate possible confusion.
Random leg courses: "This [race] [regatta] [series] will be scored using <insert current year> standard random leg MDR Cruising Ratings."
Non-Spinnaker (to be used if you want to allow boats to take a credit for sailing non-spinnaker)
NOR: "Boats that declare 'Non-Spinnaker' will be scored using the Non-Spinnaker version of the applicable rating. Boats shall declare 'Non-Spinnaker' by <insert description of how boats will declare 'Non-Spinnaker'>."
SIs: "Boats that have declared 'Non-Spinnaker' [by <insert description of how boats will declare 'Non-Spinnaker'>] will be scored using the Non-Spinnaker version of the applicable rating. Such boats may not use a spinnaker while racing."
Assigned MDR Cruising Ratings are listed on the summary sheets and individual datasheets for each boat linked as follows:
List of 2019 Cruising Ratings (Details)
[Ratings from prior yearz 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)
If a boat doesn't have a datasheet posted and is not listed on the summary sheet then the boat does not have MDR Cruising Ratings. All postings are updated when ratings are initially assigned or subsequently changed.
When MDR Cruising Ratings (validated or standard) are required by the Notice of Race then technically a boat should not be allowed to enter. However, it is our policy to encourage participation so if a boat does not have the MDR Cruising Ratings required by the Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions then it is our official (and recommended) policy that such boats be scored with an arbitrary rating that would put them in last place (recommended to use -99 or some multiple thereof). It is not acceptable for the race organizer to assign its own ratings to be used – if you want to do that then don't refer to "MDR Cruising Ratings" in the Notice of Race or Sailing Instructions and instead please write your own language indicating how you will assign your own ratings (which might be based on the listed MDR cruising adjustments but won't be official "MDR Cruising Ratings"). Also, please don't refer to "Cruising" or "Cruising class" as that causes confusion to competitors, who may may mistakenly think you are running a "Cruising class" race.