National Twelve Handicaps

The National 12 is a restricted development class that has been continually in development since its inception in 1936. With over 3500 boats having been built in that time to hundreds of different designs, and changes to the rules, it is recognised both at class and club level that Twelves perform to different levels. With this in mind the National Twelve Owners' Association recommends the following handicaps be considered for adoption for club handicap racing and races for vintage boats.

Whilst some clubs might be reluctant to deviate from the published RYA recommended PN numbers, the RYA do encourage clubs to develop their own list of PN number in order to use the scheme to its full potential to meet the objective of fair sailing between different classes of boat. ( see RYA document 'Portsmouth Yardstick - Number Adjustment & Club list' )

Older National 12’s provide a very affordable way into sailing for new sailors and with the ever increasing cost of new boat ownership, clubs need to consider what they can do to get sailors on the start line in the fairest and most inclusive manner. In order to encourage the National Twelves racing at your club we have published below a table of suggested PN's which takes into account the age, construction and design of the boats over the years.  These are a starting point and you may want to modify these to suit your local conditions.

*Dinghies within this age range with a foiling rudder should be allotted the current RYA PN