Please refer to the new site section "News" for
latest information and development of SCHRS here ...

The ISAF Small Catamaran Handicap Rating System, SCHRS, has evolved over a number of years, initially from a basic rating system used in the USA from the 1960's, which the French Federation de Voile modified to become what was known in Europe as the French Catamaran Rating System in the eighties. The French have always been one of driving forces in Racing Catamarans, and they included a method of rating foils in their system.

Around 1990 the then IYRU decided that as the World Authority, they should have their own system for Rating Small Catamarans. A Working Party was formed, and they examined various options. The main contenders at the time were the FFV System the Dutch Texel Rating System, which was another measurement based system, and which evolved in the early eighties as a result of a need to deal with the escalating number of entrants in the annual Round Texel Race.

Both systems produce rating numbers which are remarkably close in many cases, but at the time it was thought that the ability to rate foils was important and the system chosen for what is now the ISAF SCHRS evolved from the French Rating System.

Whilst it is accepted that the ideal Rating system is one which uses historical results, a Portsmouth Yardstick type system, it has proved difficult to obtain sufficient data to validate such a system around the World. The SCHRS enables new designs to be rated quickly, and allows International regattas to take place with a common handicapping system for many types of Catamaran.

The purpose of these regulations are to enable trampoline multihulls of various types to race together on a comparative basis, and to protect the interests of the owners in keeping development under control without hindering further research.

It is recognized that one-design and level rating are generally a more realistic test of sailing skill. For events organised under these regulations, organizing authorities may consider separate arrangements for one-design or level rating classes present in sufficient numbers.