A more traditional date, a timely prize, and switch to PHRF handicap are new features of this year’s Puerto Rico International Regatta.
“We’ve moved back to our customary mid-March date with this year’s regatta set for March 11 to 13,” says regatta organizer and Club Nautico de Puerto Rico (CNPR) commodore, Kike Gonzalez. The event is sailed out of Puerto del Rey Marina in Fajardo, which offers docking discounts for competitors and mother ships.
Also new, Gonzalez says, “A Breitling Mariner M-1 Watch will be awarded to the first place finisher in each class and a perpetual Breitling Cup will be awarded to the overall Racing winner.”
Classes include racing, one-design J/24, racer-cruiser, Jib & Main and beach cats.
In addition, at the club’s annual meeting in January, the membership voted to join forces with the Yacht Clubs of South East Florida to establish a unified rating system for the region and adopt a PHRF (Performance Handicap Rating Factor) handicap.
While acknowledging the hard work in development of the CSA (Caribbean Sailing Association) handicap, Carlos Camacho, CNPR’s vice commodore says the change is all about racing, not ratings per se.
“All the handicapping systems, if managed right, are very close in ratings for the majority of the vessels. We have gone through the exercise of computing the results of several events with different handicapping systems and the results, with just few exceptions, are the same or very close. So why go through the troubles and costs of measuring?”
Gonzalez adds: “Getting a PHRF rating to compete in our event is very easy and simple. Get an Application Form from US PHRF of S.E. Florida, Inc. logging on to www.phrfsef.com or to our Club’s site www.clubnauticopr.com. Just make sure you do it with enough time before the event, because it takes at least 5 working days to process.”
For more information: Tel. (787) 306-5003;
SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES
Thursday, March 10th
1600 – 1800 Late Registration – Skipper Registry
1600 – 1800 Participants Check-In
1800 – 2000 Welcome Cocktail Party – Open Cash Bar
1900 Skipper Meeting
Friday 11th – Sunday 13th March
0700 – 0800 Complimentary Continental Breakfast for participants
0950 Start of Races
1600 – 1700 End of the Day Beach Happy Hour
1800 Party, with awards ceremony on Sunday