Handicap and Distance Racing 69 



boats, the CCA. rule starts with the accepted theory that the potential 

 speed of a boat varies approximately in proportion to the square root of 

 the waterline length = \/LWL. The time-allowance tables contained 

 herein are based on this fact. These tables, long ago standardized and 

 used by the N.A.Y.R.U., New York Yacht Club and other organizations, 

 give the number of seconds it will take theoretically for a boat of given 

 waterline length to go one nautical mile under average racing conditions. 



To use these time-allowance tables in comparing the performance of 

 boats of varying design and size required the development of a formula 

 or rating rule which would provide corrections to the waterline length 

 for size and design factors which vary from a standard. Such a formula 

 would then correct the waterline length to a rated length (R) which 

 could be used in the time-allowance tables to determine the relative 

 average racing-condition time per mile for varying types of boats. These 

 times could then be used for determining a fair-time handicap for all 

 boats in a race— using the time for the highest rated boat as the scratch 

 or base time from which differences in time could be calculated for the 

 length of course— and thereby establish handicaps for all boats which 

 would be relative to the scratch boat and all others. 



The measurement rule of the CCA. is a formula for correcting the 

 waterline length of a boat to obtain a rated length. It takes into consid- 

 eration the principal factors which affect the potential speed of a boat. 

 It endeavors to correct for differences in design which tend to increase 

 or decrease the speed of a boat in relation to a standard, so that in apply- 

 ing these corrections, all boats in a race will be on an equitable basis as 

 far as these factors are concerned. 



For instance, the power to drive a boat through the water is obtained 

 from the sails, and therefore more sail area, or a more efficient sail plan, 

 will increase speed, while the reverse is true with less sail area or a less 

 efficient sail plan. The formula endeavors to correct for variations in sails 

 and to convert variations from a standard, or base, into a change in water- 

 line length. 



However, displacement, or the weight of a boat, offers resistance to hull 

 movement through the water, and therefore the rule endeavors to allow 

 for variations from a standard or base displacement by giving a credit 

 or reduction in waterline length when displacement is greater than a 



