Interested in Catboats or the Performance Handicap Rating Fleet?
About Catboats & Keelboats:
Catboats and keelboats comprise our PHRF fleet, which stands for
Performance Handicap Rating Fleet. PHRF provides a handicap for sailboats
of different designs to race together objectively, determining the winners.
A catboat is a sailboat with a single hull and three spars. The mast is placed
close to the bow, while the other two spars are booms. One boom holds the
sail's foot, and the other, known as the gaff, holds the sail's head. The
catboats have a large barn door rudder and a heavy swing centerboard or
keel. Although catboats were initially designed and mainly built in New
England, they are an ideal sailboat for the Lowcountry area due to their
shallow draft. A single person can easily sail them until the wind picks up.
Keelboats typically have a fixed keel, two or three sails (main and jib), and
sometimes a spinnaker.
We begin all races at the Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club (BYSC). However,
since catboats and keelboats have a wide variance in design, we score them
separately. Our Spring and Fall Series occurs on weekends and usually lasts
for nine weeks.
Throughout the series, we have four regattas:
1. The Jean Ribaut Cup Event is an incredibly exciting sailing event on the
Port Royal Sound in Beaufort, and it features some of the most thrilling
catboat races of the season. Although the event is just one day, it is still a
must-experience for any sailing enthusiast.
2. The Catboat Rally is a three-day sailing adventure on the
Intracoastal Waterway in Low Country, SC. Sailors from across the country
will embark on a 28-mile journey from Beaufort to Hilton Head, then back
north up to Coosaw River.
3. Beaufort Water Festival & Spring Invitational Regatta:
Experience the thrill of racing on the Beaufort River, from downtown to
Sands Point Beach, as part of the Beaufort Water Festival Regatta. Join
the Dinghy and PHRF fleets, one-design boats, and compete in the sixth
stop of the Carolinas' 2024 VX One Southeast Championship Series.
4. The Dataw Cup Regatta is hosted by The Dataw Island Yacht Club
in October. Participants from BYSC and DIYC race for the trophy on a 20-
mile course covering Coosaw River, Saint Helena Sound, and Morgan
River. A celebration is held on Dataw Island after the race.
We look forward to seeing you on the water!