PHRF - Narragansett Bay

COLGATE 26 CLASS ASSOCIATION
 

Organize Your Own Fleet
Join an Existing Fleet
Have a Blast Racing Round-the-Buoys
Learn About Ratings

You will have the time of your life racing round-the-buoys with good friends in your boat, or joining someone who already owns a Colgate 26.  This section gives you plenty of information about the Colgate 26 Class Association – its by-laws, constitution
 
There are many owners who are just enjoying their boats for day sailing and not racing at all; but a lot more are racing as a class, or in fleets with PHRF ratings and doing very well.
 
If you don’t see your area, send us some information about where you sail following the format used  below. 

Note: You don’t have to have an official fleet number - Contact Us

 
Buy a new Colgate 26 now and spend time with family and friends enjoying the great outdoors under sail. There’s just no better way to reduce your carbon footprint these days!

CURRENT PHRF RATINGS

INFORMATION ON HOW TO COMPLY FOR A PHRF RATING

Ted Squire –who lived in Marblehead, MA when he owned C26 Alannah, compiled the following resource in response to a query from another owner. The following section (except for notes in bold italics) was written by Ted Squire.

In most areas Cat 4 is spelled out by the General Sailing Instructions. Some casual PHRF SIs might not require Cat 4. But in New England Cat 4 is most common even for causal weeknight races.

If this is your first boat of this size, I strongly suggest purchasing Colgate's safety package as a great starting point. You might be able to beat the price by a tiny bit but I, for example, didn't try. Besides there are other pesky issues: Like the Colgate package includes an anchor that perfectly fits the locker and it complies with the anchor listed in the Class Rules. So their package is easy, safe and less work.

I was the first C-26 racing in our area. We raced the boat very hard from the very first day. I had incredibly good crew and we won some races. Thus there was pressure against the boat in every area. Meaning folks questioned if we were carrying any safety gear at all and whether our handicap was fair and reasonable.

Since I carry a full compliment of day sailing gear, including cabin cushions I decided to get a copy of the full OCR Category 4 safety regulations. That's the requirement for day racing in PHRF unless your local Sailing Instructions specifically say otherwise.

You can find them at: www.orc.org from the home page click on Special Regulations and then "Extract for Category 4 Monohulls" That makes it reasonable to read just what applies to you.

Sections 1 thru 3.12

I corresponded with Jim Taylor and his opinion was that his design complies. You might wish to add a latch pin to hold the hatch boards in place. I have a small hole and a light cord. 

Section 3.14

The dip in the bow pulpit should have a lifeline across it but the New England measurer suggested he did not think it was necessary for three reasons: The dip was not very deep or wide. That's the way the boat came. That rule was written for a different bow pulpit design. Another measurer could force you to add a little lifeline, but I doubt it. I chose not to add a safety wire to my bow pulpit. A second concern about lifelines is something across the stern of the boat. My local measurer brought this to my attention and I was not about to tell him I think our stern is safe as Colgate built it.

The Marblehead boats now have a wire lifeline from the aft end of the cockpit railings that goes around the backstay. We used different methods of attachment to the cockpit railings. I am cheap so I seized d-rings to the railings and tie the wire with a legal "taut lanyard of synthetic rope". Others bought 2 clamps and mounted them to the rail. Most of us seized d-rings to the backstays. I think all of us remove this wire for daysailing. It makes it easier to install and use the outboard motor, particularly for us singlehanders.

Section 3.14.6 Lifeline materials

item a) says that “Lifelines installed from 1/99 shall be uncoated and used without close-fitting sleeving.”  All C26's now have uncoated 3/16" lifeline to comply with this regulation.

Section 3.18 Head

We carry the standard Porti-Potti

Section 3.23 Bilge pumps and buckets

Find yourself two 2.4 gal buckets and attach a lanyard to each. I found that the cheap 10 quart white buckets from Boat US filled the bill. With one inside the other I also had a great storage spot for all of the other loose safety gear. When I place a 5 lb fire extinguisher in each of the drink holders on the starboard bunk, everything stays nicely and neatly in place.

Section 4.03 Soft Wooden Plugs

Not required unless you have the sink and electronics thru-hulls. I carry just one. It will be given to the next SOB who asks if I carry them!

4.05 Fire Extinguishers

Use two small 5 pounder's to comply. That means you don't need the 10 pounder in the Colgate safety package.

4.06 Anchors

Colgate has us covered

4.08 First aid manual and kit

Steve Colgate wins again

4.09 Foghorn

Ditto

4.10 Radar Reflector

I had one from another boat. It fits perfectly between the cooler and the v-berth. The lowest priced Davis reflector is a great bargain and it always gets good reviews for size and strength of reflection.

4.11 Navigation Equipment

I have a huge collection from other boats and doing deliveries. If you have nothing: ChartKit, light list, large local chart, simple plotting tool kit from West Marine. Note: You must have the light list for your area. But it is only revised every 4-6 years.

4.12 Stowage Chart

This is a layout of your boats equipment stowage and only requires mention of the major items of safety equipment. I labeled my bucket!

4.13 Echo sounder or lead line

My lead line lives in the bucket. It's amazing how many one-design racers carry some type of sounding thingee.

4.16 Tools

Tools and spare parts, including effective means to quickly disconnect or sever the standing rigging from the hull shall be provided. If you've had someone clip your backstay just before a start, then you've had a mast in your lap. You also know this isn't a silly rule. Good cutters are very useful. Pack them in a zip lock with some oil and they last a lifetime.

4.17 Yacht's name

On misc "buoyant equipment:" My wife does great looking printing and has a waterproof permanent marker.

4.22 Life Buoys

The new LifeSling works great for us. With the scoop stern you don't need fancy lifting gear and anyone is strong enough to get a heavy person back aboard.

4.24 Pyrotechnic signals

After much research I purchased all Solas Flares. Steve Colgate kindly checked with US SAILING about a phantom regulation that says we are not required to have Solas flares. Such a US SAILING regulation turned out to be a myth. Solas Flares are not what's required by the USCG and they cost more. White US CG flares meet the Solas specification. Red USCG flares do not. Be careful when purchasing or you will spend more than you must. Note: SOLAS flares are legal for a longer period so they are not that much more expensive in the long run. But they are MUCH better performing flares (see www.westmarine.com).

4.24 Heaving line

Try West Marine for their nifty little throwable bag you can hang on the cockpit railing.

4.26 Storm & heavy weather sails

There is an old work-around to this. Have your sailmaker put tiny rings in your jib's luff tape at 3 foot intervals. Then cover both sides of the rings with insignia cloth. That stops any chafe of the rings on the headstay. The rings are to be used to lace this heavy weather jib to the headstay, thus eliminating reliance on just the luff groove for safety.

5.01 Lifejackets

Like many boats today I require my crew to bring their own Cat 4 compliant lifejacket. And we wear them from mooring to mooring. The regs require whistle, reflective material, owner’s name. It's my opinion that no reasonable seaman will skimp in this area. Try www.westmarine.com for pricing on these items. But the total isn't a big deal compared to total cost of boat, racing sails, etc. I'd guess I spent more this year on drinks and food for my crew.

I hope this helps you. I'll be happy to answer other questions you may have. If you join us in owning a Colgate you won't be disappointed. This weekend I sailed a Sonar. It's a nice boat, but the Colgate is heads and shoulders better. It's even better at things like sailing up and stopping at your mooring or sculling over to the boat hoist.

866-842-4355 Toll free U.S./Canada • 239-454-1700 International