Portsmouth Yardstick

The Portsmouth Yardstick is a method used to fairly compare different types of sailing boats’ performances. It assigns each boat a number (a handicap) based on past racing data—smaller numbers mean faster boats. During a race, a boat's elapsed time is multiplied by its handicap to determine its corrected time, allowing boats of various designs to compete fairly. This system helps ensure that the outcome reflects sailing skill and tactics rather than just boat speed differences. It’s widely used in club and competitive sailing to level the playing field across diverse boat types.