The Distance Handicap (or more correctly, the random course handicap) is recommended to be used for:

1.       Closed course races where less than 40% of the race is a true tacking to weather beat and/or 40% is not a true run. 

2.       Random course races with fixed mark placement. Example: Sunday afternoon series 10-mile triangle course using fixed marks.

3.       Distance or point to point races regardless of length.

Note:  Use of the DHCP for any given race is at the discretion of the organizing authority for the race. The DHCP rating should be used for any races meeting the criteria listed.

Rationale
In a typical course race it is assumed that more than 40% of the race will be spent sailing to windward and 40% sailing to leeward, and that a number of turning manoeuvres will be included as part of the course. In distance races, where DHCP values are intended to be used, it is assumed that a smaller portion of the race will be a beat to windward and that there are fewer, if any, mark roundings.

For most boats, the DCHP will be equal to the HCP.  But this is not always the case.  Some boats, because of their design, are at a disadvantage during course races.  This is factored into the boat’s base handicap (BHCP).  The DHCP offset adjusts the boat’s handicap for races meeting the criteria listed above.  Several factors are analysed when DHCP values are calculated.

Keel Type
A boat with a shallow draft keel will not point to windward as well as a deep-draft design.  Also, a boat with a full keel will not turn as quickly as a boat with a fin keel.  As a result, the BHCP and HCP values for these boats will have been increased slightly.  When a model of boat is produced with both a shoal draft and deep draft keel there may be a difference in the keel’s, and hence the boat’s displacement.  This is also taken into consideration.  The shallow draft differential in the BHCP is removed in these cases and the DHCP will be slightly lower than the HCP.  This adjustment can be -3, -6, or -9 sec/nm.

Rig Type
Just as a boat with a full-length keel is not as manoeuvrable as one with a fin keel, it is assumed that a boat with more than one mast will not be able to be turned as quickly as a boat with a single mast.  This is factored into the BHCP and HCP values, and is removed for distance races.  This adjustment is typically -3 sec/nm.

Use of sprits or prods on centreline
When a boat’s handicap reflects the use of sprits or prods on centerline, a -3 sec/nm adjustment is applied to the handicap when the DHCP is determined. An adjustment to the distance handicap is not made for boats with articulating prods or sprits since this is accounted for in with a -3 sec/nm penalty to the base handicap.

Boats with long waterlines and large handicaps
Boats that meet these criteria are typically slow to accelerate.  This is reflected in their BHCP and HCP values for course races.  Since distance races involve fewer manoeuvres, this adjustment is removed from the distance handicap.  This adjustment is either 3 or six seconds, based upon the following calculation:
            LOA&BCHP Factor = ((sqrt(LOA)*2)*(BCHP+500))/100
                        result > 60                     -6 sec/nm adjustment
                        result > 56 and < 60       -3 sec/nm adjustment
                        result < 56                    no adjustment

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