rating rule

rating rule, in yacht racing, rule used to classify sailing yachts of different designs to enable them to compete on relatively equal terms. The competition may be either among yachts in a particular rating class or on a handicap basis, with the highest-rated boat giving up time allowances to all lower-rated craft in a contest. Such rules are based on measurement formulas that take into account a yacht’s length, beam, displacement, sail area, and other...