Hudson River Yacht Racing Association

PHRF Automation

The Hudson River Yacht Racing Association (HRYRA) is comprised of six clubs on the Hudson River north of New York City. HRYRA administers more than one hundred PHRF Certificates every year with one handicapper. Prior to 2011 the process was completely paper-based and manual. Payment was via check and certificate applications and valid certificates were sent via snail mail. 

HRYRA did not have an existing rating database so the first step in the process was the creation of a repository to store member, boat measurements and rating data. Second was to establish a workflow to track applications, payments and valid certificates. At the initial launch of the site, all members were required to register and enter their boat measurement data. Payments were still handled offline, but the status of each certificate was tracked on the website.

Given that 80% or more of the certificates processed on an annual basis are renewals with no changes to measurement or rating data, a one-click renewal process was developed. When the member certifies that no changes had been made the certificate is copied with no data entry or handicapper review required. For boats with changes, the member was able to create a new certificate from the old one and edit changes before submitting for rating.

Subsequently HRYRA had added PayPal as a method of payment for certificates.

Since the launch of the site HRYRA has issued more than 630 PHRF Certificates.

HRYRA member clubs use Sailwave for regatta and seasonal scoring. As a benefit to the clubs a valid rating feed was developed that is easily imported into Sailwave. This saves the regatta organizers from having to request copies of the certificates or having to manually validate each entry via the website.

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