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Portishead Yacht and Sailing Club

2026 Class Racing. Which Class can you sail in?

For Class Racing competitors are divided into 3 classes. The divisions between these classes overlap, which means that some competitors (& dinghies) can choose which class to sail in. It’s up to individual competitors which class they sail in.

  • Competitors sailing a boat with a Portsmouth Yardstick Number (PY) below 1000 must sail in Class 1.
  • Competitors sailing a boat with a PY between 1000 and 1050 may choose to sail in Class 1 or 2.
  • Competitors sailing a boat with a PY between 1051 and 1074 must sail in Class 2.
  • Competitors sailing a boat with a PY between 1075 and 1200 may choose to sail in Class 2 or 3.
  • Competitors sailing a boat with a PY greater than 1200 must sail in Class 3

If a race series has only two fleets, such as the Denny Series or the Gadd Series:

  • Competitors sailing a boat with a PY below 1074 must sail in the fast handicap fleet.
  • Competitors sailing a boat with a PY between 1075 and 1200 may choose to sail in either fleet.
  • Competitors sailing a boat with a PY greater than 1200 must sail in the slow handicap fleet.

The course for the fast handicap fleet is more likely to include the Newcome Channel Mark, whilst the slow handicap fleet will usually sail inside Sugarloaf Bay.

 For some of the dinghies sailed at PYSC, here is a list of their PY number and the class or classes that they can be sailed in:

 Boat

Yardstick

Class or Classes

Fast/Slow Handicap

2000 (Laser 2000)

1122

2 or 3

fast  or slow

1103

1103

2 or 3

fast or slow

29er

900

1

fast

29erXX

850

1

fast

420

1110

2 or 3

fast of slow

505

892

1

fast

Alto

910

1

fast

Buzz

1009

1 or 2

fast 

Comet Trio (Mk I)

1082

2 or 3

fast or slow

Contender

973

1

fast

Enterprise

1137

2 or 3

fast or slow

Europe

1140

2 or 3

fast or slow

International 14

758

1

fast

Fireball

960

1

fast

Kestrel

1042

1 or 2

fast

Lark

1060

2

fast

Laser – ILCA 7

1103

2 or 3

fast or slow

Laser Radial – ILCA 6

1156

2 or 3

fast or slow

Laser 4.7 – ILCA 4

1218

3

slow

Laser Pico

1330

3

slow

Lightning 368

1171

2 or 3

fast or slow

Marauder

1042

1 or 2

fast

Merlin Rocket (Classic)

1000

1 or 2

fast

Mirror (2 people)

1364

3

slow

Mirror (1 person)

1376

3

slow

Osprey

932

1

fast

Phantom

998

1

fast

RS200

1053

2

fast

RS300

965

1

fast

RS500

963

1

fast

RS800

797

1

fast

RS Aero 5

1141

2 or 3

fast or slow

RS Aero 6

1098

2 or 3

fast or slow

RS Aero 7

1062

2

fast

RS Feva XL

1248

3

slow

RS Neo

1180

2 or 3

fast or slow

RS Vision

1150

2 or 3

fast

Solo

1139

2 or 3

fast or slow

Supernova

1075

2 or 3

fast or slow

Topper

1369

3

slow

Topper 4.2

1450

3

slow

Wanderer

1201

3

slow

Wayfarer

1107

2 or 3

fast or slow