[C320-list] Allowable Whisker Pole Length where you race

[Larry Frank]

Up early this morning researching rules that may limit the maximum whisker pole length under PHRF rules.  Of course since every area has their own rules, there may not be a single answer to this question.  So for those of you that race and have looked into this issue, what does your local PHRF rules allow?

 

I will add a little background for further comments.

 

I have a 155% genoa for WindSwept ( 110 and 135 too) which is the max allowed under South Texas PHRF Rules.  This is a quite common maximum size.  I also have a line control adjustable whisker pole.  In our PHRF handbook the word whisker does not even appear.  When I ask what is the maximum length I can extend the pole, I am given the answer for a spinnaker pole which is the “j” dimension.  But this is not a spinnaker pole and attaches to the clew and not the tack.  I think this is just either the lazy answer given to me by other members who race all sails and are not knowledgeable.   Sometimes spinnaker poles are used as Whisker poles because that is what is onboard.  To me this doesn’t mean that the maximum spinnaker pole length should dictate maximum length of a whisker pole.

 

I did some Internet searching on what other PHRF fleets say about maximum whisker pole lengths.  I found quite a few that state in their rules that there is no limit or penalty for whisker pole length, or that a whisker pole may be of any length.  I found others that specified the maximum pole length that varied with headsail size.  This length was based on sail LP.   In this case poles longer than “j” are allowed.

 

I tried to look up whether the 320 Association has any rules on Whisker Pole length on our website, but could not find whether we have class rules there.   Even if there is some limit, I am not sure this would necessarily carry over to local fleet PHRF handicaps, since C320’s are not a one design fleet.  It might only apply to our association races.

 

So I am currently thinking that in future races I will use the pole extended to the optimum length considering which genoa I am flying and the conditions.  Based on my research I do not believe I would be breaking any rules, and if so have a good case for pushing our local PHRF Handicap committee for a rule change. Of course someone would have to file a protest for this to become an issue and I believe I would win the protest because the protesting person or authority would not be able to find a rule that had been broken.

 

This is all made slightly more complicated because I am on the local PHRF Handicap committee.

 

Thank you in  advance for sharing your experiences and wisdom!

 

Larry Frank

WindSwept 

1995 C320 #246