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�De-Mystifying Ratings: an Historical Overview�

A DRYA Presentation - Part 1 15 February, 2012 David M. Coleman

Overview

•  Pre- “America’s Cup” and Subsequent AC Rating Decisions.

•  Development of the “Seawanhaka Rule.” •  Development of the �Universal Rule.� •  Development of the “International Rule.” •  Moving Forward.

“The Holy Grail of any yacht rating system is the fair and equitable leveling of the playing field for

often-disparate vessels.”

�Ratings�

•  Holy Grail Yacht Racing = �Rating�

•  One Design (FS, Solings, NY 32’s, etc.)

•  Development Designs (�Universal Rule,’ �International Rule,’ etc.)

•  Handicap Rules (PHRF, IRC, etc.)

Hull Speed

Visualize a displacement boat, anchored with water flowing past it - waves will form along its waterline. Increase the speed of the water until there is only a 'trough' between bow and stern wave, the boat will have reached its maximum 'hull' speed. If the water speed is increased beyond this point, the anchor has to drag/break, or the boat's foredeck would be pulled out. This wave system is a trap, which no boat hull in a 'displacement mode' can escape.

Displacement Speed = (LWL)1/2 x 1.4 (1.1->1.45 range)

General Concepts Long vessels are faster than shorter ones. Increasing the separation between the bow and stern wave reduces wave-making resistance more than any other design factor. We grapple with methods of rating speed of sailing vessels and handicapping them fairly. Prime Factors = Length, Sail Area & Displacement.

America’s Cup

The “One Hundred Guinea Cup” was originally awarded in 1851 by the Royal Yacht Squadron for a race around the Isle of Wight, which was won by the schooner America. The trophy was renamed the America's Cup after the boat and was donated to the New York Yacht Club (NYYC) under the terms of the Deed of Gift, which made the cup available for perpetual international competition.

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America’s Cup

America crossed the Atlantic on her own bottom and challenged all English yachts to a match race. LAVROCK taunted her to an informal race, which she handily won. Accordingly, no yacht was willing to race her.

America’s Cup

•  In 1851 a radical looking schooner ghosted out of the afternoon mist and swiftly sailed past the Royal Yacht stationed in the Solent, between the Isle of Wight and the south coast of England.

•  As the schooner, named America, passed the Royal Yacht in first position, and saluted by dipping its ensign three times, Queen Victoria asked one of her attendants to tell her who was in second place. ”Your Majesty, there is no second,” came the reply. That phrase, just four words, is still the best description of the America’s Cup, and how it represents the singular pursuit of excellence.

• 

America’s Cup

•  Com. Stevens (1st NYYC) formed a syndicate to build America to be the fasted in the world. In sea trials she was only even with his Maria. Price reduced $30K -> $20K.

•  The Times of London press chided the Brits for lack of courage in sailing against America.

•  It was a LeMan’s start and America got caught on her anchor.

•  There were NO ratings rules of any sort. Just a designated course around the Isle of Wight.

•  Some have calculated that with a ‘modern’ ratings system applied America would not have won.

“The Rest of the Story:”

Seawanhaka Rule The Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club is one of the oldest yacht clubs in the Western Hemisphere located in Oyster Bay, New York, with access to Long Island Sound.

Seawanhala Rule In 1887, the NYYC adopted the Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club's rating rule. Ultimately Bristol, RI naval architect Nathanael Herreshoff found loopholes that he would use to make dramatic improvements in yacht design and to shape the America's Cup's largest and most extreme contenders. Both Herreshoff and Watson proceeded to merge Yankee sloop design and British cutter design to make very deep S-shape fin-keeled hulls. Using steel, tobin bronze, aluminum, and even nickel for novel construction, they significantly lengthened bow and stern overhangs, further extending the sailing waterline as their boats heeled over, thus increasing their speed.

The �Universal Rule� •  Herreshoff Era 1890 –

1920

•  1893 (Vigilant) -> 1920 (Resolute) every America�s Cup Defender Designed & Built by Capt. Nat.

•  Developed �Universal Rule�

Capt. Nathanial Herreshoff 1848 -1938 (The Wizard of Bristol)

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The �Universal Rule�

€

M = 0.18 LWL • SAD3

"

# $

%

& ' • PROP( )

LWL

SA2

Stylized

SA1

Freeboard

Draft

LOA

Where: LWL = Waterline Length SA = Sail Area

D = Displacement PROP = Propeller Correction

Universal Rule

John Alden Q-Boat �Tartar�

John Alden R-Boat

39�

50�

135�

Olin Stephens/Starling Burgess J-Boat �Ranger� America’s Cup ‘Early Ratings’

Challenge Time Allowance Basis

First: Aug. 1870 RTYC (America + Magic + 13) vs. Cambria

Waterline area (based on waterline & beam).

Second: Oct. 1871 RHYC (Livonia vs. Columbia & Sapho)

Displacement Rule (34 – 45 seconds/ton weight of boat)

Third: Aug. 1876 RCYC (Madeliene vs. Countess of Dufferin)

Cubic Contents Rule (hull’s volume below lowest point of the deck at the side).

Fourth: Nov. 1881 BQYC (Atlanta vs. Mischief)

Cubic Contents Rule (hull’s volume below lowest point of the deck at the side).

America’s Cup ‘Early Ratings’ Challenge Time Allowance Basis

Fifth: Sept. 1885 RYCS (Puritan + Genesta)

Length & Sail Area

Sixth: Sept. 1886 RNYC (Mayflower vs. Galatea)

Length & Sail Area

Seventh: Sept. 1887 RCYC (Volunteer vs. Thistle)

Length & Sail Area [Deed of gift changed to limit between 65’ and 90’ LWL]

Eighth: Oct. 1893 BQYC (Vigilant vs. Valkyrie II)

Length & Sail Area .

America’s Cup ‘Early Ratings’ Challenge Time Allowance Basis

Ninth: Sept. 1895 RYS (Defender+ Valkyrie III)

Length & Sail Area [Serious charges of ballast manipulation by challenger. Not proved.]

Tenth: Oct 1899. 1899 RUYC (Columbia vs. Shamrock)

Length & Sail Area

Eleventh: Sept. 1901 RUYC (Columbia vs. Shamrock II)

Length & Sail Area [43 seconds to Columbia.]

Twelfth: Aug. 1903 RUYC (Reliance vs. Shamrock III)

Length & Sail Area [1min 53 sec to Shamrock III] Reliance was deemed unseaworthy/ crew of 64. Move to the Universal Rule.] .

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America’s Cup ‘Early Ratings’ Challenge Time Allowance Basis

Thirteenth: July. 1920 RUYC (Resolute vs. Shanrock IV)

Universal Rule + Scantlings Specifications

Era of the J-Class Yachts Begins 1930 - 1937

Universal Rule

.

Reliance

Reliance •  144’ LOA •  90’ LWL •  16,000 square foot sail area •  200 foot mast •  63 Crew •  Reliance was built for one purpose, to

successfully defend the America's Cup. Her design philosophy was summed up byCornelius Vanderbilt in 1907 when he said "Call the boat a freak, anything you like, but we cannot handicap ourselves, even if our boat is only fit for the junk heap the day after the race."

Universal Rule

From the New

York Times, Sept

7, 1906

Return to Univeral Rule and Q-Boats •  Q-boats used to help develop America�s Cup

concepts (the J�s).

•  All the famous designers (Alden, Herreshoff [Nat. and L. Francis], Paine, etc.)

•  For the ‘rich’ and the ‘near-rich.’

•  Dominated Marblehead and then Chicago Mac for 25 years.

•  ca. 52 built, 10 extant, 5 – 6 sailing

1929

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Siren & Meridian

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�HOPE� •  Built 1929 •  Q3 •  LOA = 50�0� •  LWL = 31�4� •  Beam = 8�6� •  Designer: John Alden •  Winner of 2 Chicago-Macs

(1936 & 1938) •  Winner of 3 Queens Cups •  Built Hodgdon Bros., E.

Boothbay, Maine.

Care and Feeding

Hope DRYA Rating 2006 DRYA Provisional JAM Ratings

Sail Number Boat Name Boat Type 2005 Provisional JAM Rating

Comments/Club

15495 Banshee Ranger 30 180 DYC 15996 Dynomite Ranger 30 180 DYC 25553 Hybernia Beneteau 311 162 DYC 35094 Speak Easy Hunter 34 156 DYC 909 Turandot Cheoy Lee Robb 35 237 DYC 22762 Go Fast J-30 156 DYC 747 Celebration Catalina 36 TM 174 DYC 505 Kaizen Ericson 35-2 174 DYC 555 Escapade Hunter 33 189 DYC 15126 KoKopeli C&C 29 Mk II 174 DYC 2235 Artful Dodger J-24 183 GPSC or GPC No Number Cupcake Com-Pac 27 243 DYC 25060 Peace and Joy Tartan 28 198 DYC 25508 Severn Way C&C 121 69 DYC 356 Rambunctious Ericson 27 255 DYC 1726 Sea Shell Catalina 27 210 DYC 923 MEII C&C 24 234 GPSC 339 Helm’s Haven Too Starratt 45 168 DYC 4251 Oh-Tracy Catalina 30TM 180 EBC 25372 Encore! Beneteau First 45 FS 66 EBC 38 Mystere Cape Cod 30 231 DYC Q3 Hope Q Boat 135 DYC 25417 Valkyrie Hunter 33.5 159 GPSC 404 Shake Down S2 7.9 IB STD 174 CSYC 521 None Siren 17 393 CSYC 15509 Skirl Chance 30-30 171 DYC 332 Slainte Catalina 34 159 DYC 5236 Scrimshaw C&C 35-1 138 GPSC 42129 Aisling C&C 35 Mk III 126 GPSC 25523 Rapture Bavaria 38 120 GPSC 25707 Tresor Yachting France 42 153 DYC/GPSC 33623 Spectre Frers 36 102 GPSC 745 C.F. Pickle Pearson Ensign 258 GPSC

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Universal Rule – Bernida – R Boat

George Lawley & Son boatyard in 1921

International Rule: 12 Meter Class

The 12 Meter Class is a rating class for racing boats designed to theInternational rule. It enables fair competition between boats that rate in the class whilst retaining the freedom to experiment with the details of their designs. The first 12 Metres were built in 1907. The 12 Metre Class was used in the Olympic Games of 1908, 1912 and 1920 but only few boats participated. The 12 Meter class boats are probably best known for their use from 1958 to 1987 in the America's Cup.

International Rule

International Rule (Chain Girth) International Rule

Associated with the formula is an extremely comprehensive set of rules. The rules can be classified into two main areas. Rules concerning safety and rules to ensure competitive racing. For example the maximum total area of all cockpits is specified to minimize the chance of a boat being swamped in rougher seas. Structural requirements are specified to ensure that strength is not sacrificed by the need to get weight low down in the keel. Materials are specified plus numerous other details concerning all aspects of the boat. The intention is to challenge designers but ensure competitive racing.

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12 Meter 12 Meter

Ema Signe,Swedish 1912, Olympics

Freedom, 1980, last Sparkman and Stevens, America’s Cup

“The Holy Grail of any yacht rating system is the fair and equitable leveling of the playing field for

often-disparate vessels.”

Now I will turn this Presentation over to DRYA Chief Handicapper

David Spiers.

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