Wind from all directions
is the key! The PHRF is whatever the club running the race or regatta says it is. Different club PHRF committees can assign different numbers based on their take on how the 27 should do locally compared to other boats. Example: I sail in a river system. At my club, the usual race is pretty much direct upwind/downwind, no reaches, and comparatively light winds (10-12 knots). The 27 will perform differently relative to other local boats in a race here than it will on a typical triangle course on, say SF Bay (70 miles away), where 20-25 knots is the norm. Our club uses the base rate for SF Bay of 198 for a standard rig, outboard powered, full race boat, but then modifies it for local conditions. Last time I raced, I was assigned 201.PHRF means "PERFORMANCE Handicap Racing Fleet". If you have one type of boat that wins all the time, the PERFORMANCE relative to other boats is such that that boat stands a chance of having his handicap number adjusted by the PHRF committee so that other boats have a fighting chance.