The High Performance Rule

Framförallt i USA så har det jobbats ett tag på en ny boxregel, HPR – The High Performance Rule, som skall låta ägare med riktigt sportiga båtar segla mot varandra. Lite på samma sätt som TP52 (eller IRC52 som det väl numera är). Typiska båtar är McConaghy 38, Farr 400, Ker 40, Soto 40, Carkeek 40, Summit 45 och en handfull andra.

Jag hade börjat skriva på en analys, men nu lanserade man sin officiella web så var och en kan bilda sig en uppfattning.

Som jag ser det så kan man ha två olika perspektiv.

Tekniskt kan man säkert få till en boxregel som funkar bra. Det är en samling duktiga designers och seglare som styr, så förutsättningarna finns. Frågan är hur snabbt designers listar ut hur den optimala båten ser ut. Man avser ju att låsa regeln under en period, så det hinner komma ett antal nya fräcka 40-fotare designade utefter regeln. Och hur kul är det då med en 2 år gammal Carkeek 40? Vi har sett det hända i Class 40, GP42, TP52 och i de flesta andra boxregler.

Sedan är det marknaden. Hur stort är utrymmet mellan de riktigt ambitiösa som kör Melges 24/Melges 32/Soto 40/TP52 och de som gillar stora fält och kör sina båtar i IRC/ORCi/SRS/DH/PHRF.

Oavsett skall det bli spännande att följa utvecklingen och de sweeta designer som skall köra under regeln.

• HPR is a performance oriented, type forming, continuum box rule which allows limited trading between the factors.
• HPR is international, permitting boats from many countries to race in high level events.
• HPR is a fixed and published formula rule – Designers can directly calculate unlimited HPR rating trials.
• HPR will yield a rating in linear meters which can be converted to Time-on-Time (TOT) handicaps.
• HPR utilizes elements and concepts from several fixed formula rules.
• HPR will modernize with the times and the newest HRP boats will not be slower than other common sense offshore mono-hulls that could be designed in the absence of a rating rule.

Goals:

• To get more people sailing, more owners building new yachts, and more existing yachts racing.
• To create more excitement in the sport of sailboat racing.
• To create a rule of sufficient quality that the owners elevate it to high performance status for use worldwide.
• To encourage racing in good fast yachts that are fun to sail, safe, and competitive for many years, including new builds and existing yachts.
• To be as inclusive as possible of the existing fleet and yet encourage new builds.
• To create a forum where teams can compete at sailing as well as design and optimization. This requires a published and objective rule.
• To be fully compliant with the UMF (Universal Measurement Form).

US Sailing, RORC, and ORC are jointly developing a “Universal Measurement Form” (UMF) which includes all measurements required by IRC, ORR, ORC and PHRF. Other rules are encouraged to participate.

The intent of this UMF is that once measured, a boat’s rating can be calculated under any participating rule. RORC and US Sailing envision that eventually all new boats will come with the completed UMF on a Flash Drive.

While some have hoped for “One World, One Rule” the UMF is vastly more practical and will permit each rule to better to serve its installed base. HPR’s philosophy is “The Right Rule for the Right Job.”

HPR is very supportive of the UMF effort. It will be a participant and will only use measurements that appear on the UMF.

The mission of the High Performance Rule (HPR) is to:

1. encourage the development of fast, seaworthy offshore racing yachts with fixed ballast and non-powered winches that utilize the latest in design and build technologies and that are fun and exciting to sail;
2. help develop the ocean racing yacht typeform of both production and one off planing boats for the present and future;
3. be as inclusive as possible of the existing racing fleet and yet encourage new builds;
4. encourage faster yachts rather than lower ratings;
5. equalize the performance of HPR yachts from 26 to 72 feet LOA;
6. be accessible and transparent to its users worldwide, with limited changes from year to year;
7. make the measurement and definition of HPR yachts compatible with existing international paradigms wherever possible; and
8. enhance and support participation in sailing by sailors, owners, organizers, national and international sailing organizations, sponsors and media.