PHRF ratings
Chip: PHRF ratings are handicap ratings assigned by your local racing organiztion on a basis somewhat like a golf handicap, except its for the boat rather than the skipper (in most places). When there are lots of your boat model in the area the handicap tends to be a better average, because it is hard to handicap a single boat: the owner's ability will unduly affect the rating. On Lake Erie the 23wk rates 237 which is fairly slow, e.g. a Melges 24 rates 78. These are seconds per mile, so in the example the Melges should sail about 159 sec. faster each mile if the skippers are of equal abilty (and the equipment is equal, e.g. new sails, clean bottom, etc.)
