The predominant scoring system that is used in most small clubs in PHRF. The selling point is that it’s inexpensive and somewhat easy to use. It does not, however, yield accurate results. In fact depending on the conditions and the factors used, the results can be very inaccurate. Another glaring inconsistency is that boats rated under PHRF, that have had ratings that haven’t changed in years, are most likely to have the wrong handicaps in relationship to each other. Some handicaps may be correct, but others may be off by several seconds per unit of measure.

One of the fallacies of PHRF scoring is the notion that a fair course consists of a triangular course with at least one windward/leeward leg. This myth has been propagated over the years and had been proven to be incorrect. ORC scoring allows for independent scoring of each leg of any given course. By evaluating each leg of a course independently of each other it is possible to arrive at a more accurate and fair result.

If you are a competitor and have invested in your sailboat racing program, the least you should expect is a fair result. Not only a fair result, but a clear and uncontestable time differential between competitors. ORC scoring eliminates the nagging question of fairness of a particular boats rating and puts these fairness issues to rest once and for all.