21 April 2025, PHRF-NB Meeting Minutes

Posted on July 1, 2025 - Meeting Minutes

PHRF-NB
Minutes
April 2025

Date:          Monday, April 21, 2025
Time:         1830
Location:   Zoom

  1. Call to Order:
  2. Roll Call: Don Kern, Commodore; Will Museler, Rating Chairman; Roy Guay, Treasurer; Bob Horton, Secretary; Board Members: EC Helme, Todd Johnston, Ken Madeiro, Vin McAteer, Moose McClintock, Mark Nannini, PHRF-NB Administrator, Kathy Rotsky
  3. Approval Meeting Minutes: The members present approved the minutes of the March 31, 2025 meeting as presented.
  4.  Appeal:
    1. 2025 Certificate 18598, Beneteau Oceanis 30.1 SD, Willow, Jamie Verdi, owner. Owner feels that the base rating of 183 for his boat is faster than its true potential. Mr. Verdi spoke to the preparation of his boat and the fleet that he races in at the Wickford YC. He consistently places 3rd in a 3 boat fleet, the other 2 boats are J22s which rate186. Mr. Verdi has owned and raced J22s for 10 years with the same crew before purchasing this boat. He stated that this is a cruising boat that he strips down to race. The boat does not have a folding prop and has twin rudders placed well aft. Various members of the committee asked questions for which Mr. Veridi answered clearly regarding his boats potential. Mr. Verdi left the meeting and the members discussed his appeal and noted the type of boats that are in his fleet. Will Museler indicated that he would speak with an experience sailor who is member of the crew on Willow to get his thoughts on the boats potential and report back to the committee with a suggested adjustment to the base rating.
  5. Ratings Review:
    1. 2025 Certificate Analysis: Hope, Alerion Express 38 YWL The owners were invited to attend the meeting to discuss the performance of the boat and to satisfy concerns that the members had regarding the accuracy of the existing base rating in comparison to the performance of the boat in the Bristol YC Wednesday night series Chris Bjerregard and Joe Whalen owners detailed their preparation of the boat and the strengths and weaknesses of Hope in various conditions and their experience with various boats that they have owned in the past. They also questioned why their rating was called into question while 3 members of the Bristol YC sit on the committee. It was explained that at the end of the season various boats are identified for review. At the end of the 2024 season 42 boats were identified and selected for review, Hope being one of them. Mr Bjerregard asked to see the data that was being used to review Hope”s rating and Will Museler indicated that he would provide that to him. After hear from the owners who were excused from the meeting the members present had a long and thorough discussion regarding the boat and the owners skills and their preparation along with the adjustment that was being considered. Will Museler stated that he would fine tune the data and send it out to the owners
  1. Base Ratings Review (Continued):
    1. 2025 Certificate 18652, Watch Hill 15, Nibbet. Owner l would like review because he earlier mis-represented displacement. Members present reviewed the document sent by the owner and agreed that the current base rating of 240 was based on the manufacturers weight and no adjustment was necessary.
  1. New Base Ratings Needed:
    1. 2025 Certificate 18605, Hanse 360, Fidelia, Barbara Vietor owner. Members present agreed that this is a brand new model and additional information is need to come up with a base rating.
    2. 2025 Certificate 18629, Jeanneau Sun Odyssey DS, Freedom, Donald Pickering owner.
    3. 2025 Certificate 18692, Gem, Claire, Mark Makuch owner. Need clarification as to what model this boat is.
    4. 2025 Certificate 18720, Dehler 42c, Clean Slate, Joseph Murray owner. This boat is believed to be comparable to American Girl, another Dehler. The members present agreed to a base of 51 with appropriate standard adjustments.
  1. Old Business:
    1. Status of updates to web page: Adding to NBYA question:: ”to promote racing on Narragansett Bay”. Roy Guay reported that this is completed.
  2. New Business:
    1. Proposed Rule Update for 2026:

 

6.3. Spinnakers
c.    General
i.    Boats using both symmetric and asymmetric spinnakers from a standard spinnaker pole shall indicate this on their application. Spinnaker staysails shall be allowed when using a boats spinnaker rating.
ii.   Ratings for boats using both symmetrical and asymmetric spinnakers will be adjusted for the largest sail area found in Table C: Symmetrical Spinnaker and Table D: Asymmetrical Spinnaker.  Asymmetric Spinnaker Conversion credit will not be applied.
iii.    All sails classified as spinnakers shall be passed forward of the headstay during tacking and gybing maneuvers. A Code 0 is a spinnaker.

The members present agreed to these updates to be presented at the 2026 annual meeting.

 

    1. Next Meeting: May 5th – Zoom

 

  1. Adjournment: 8:28pm