Performance tool Sailrater launched by US sailing
by Penny Piva Rego on 30 Apr 2002
What happens to my boat speed if I go from sailing upwind to reaching? How much faster will my boat go with a longer spinnaker pole or a larger main? Will my new keel make my boat faster or slower and by how much?
US SAILING’s launch of SailRater, www.SailRater.com
, an online sailboat performance analysis tool will help answer these-and many other-questions for the boat owner, without having to take the boat on the race course, make a sail purchase, or build a
new rig.
WHAT IS SAILRATER?
SailRater calculates changes in predicted speed due to course changes, wind changes, or alterations to a boat’s configuration. SailRater also has an application to race handicapping and can help racers make boat configuration decisions.
With a comprehensive Help section and tutorial, as well as step-by-step instructions, using SailRater is a breeze. After entering the boat’s PHRF certificate information and starting reference conditions, users tell SailRater the changes they’d like to make-for example, what difference would that larger main make?
SailRater makes VPP (Velocity Prediction Program) technology available to all monohull racers. The SailRater VPP is based on cutting edge data and
uses the latest results from on-going research in sailboat aerodynamics and hydrodynamics. The VPP uses this combination to find the boat speed at any wind speed and any heading relative to the wind direction. Hydrodynamics are derived from a large database of towing tank test analysis, aerodynamics from a database of wind tunnel tests, and from practical experience.
The SailRater technology has been compared to VPP results using fully measured boats and performed comparably. PHRF associations have used the
same technology to generate new ratings for races with different wind and course content.
To get started with SailRater, users must register at the secure location, accessible through www.SailRater.com
. Registered
users can either proceed directly to the SailRater entry form or try several free example submissions for practice and to see how the system works. All data is stored on the SailRater secure server in the registered user’s
private library, available for each visit to SailRater.
The cost is $15 per submission for using SailRater's calculator to compute an answer to your question. Practicing is free. To register and get started on SailRater, visit .
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