The Kamasutra lists 9 different categories of union between man and woman. In offshore racing there are at least as many handicap systems: PHRF, IMS, AMERICAP, Ratings Plus, ORC Club, Portsmouth Yardstick, IRM, IRC, and countless one design classes. They all have their adherents who are only too happy to praise the virtues of their chosen rule and disparage the others. And, just like in the Kamasutra, the whole thing can be quite confusing.

Boats of the same class (ie. Dabchick, Optimist, J22, L26) are able to directly race against each other such that the first boat across the finish line is the winner of the race. However, when boats of differing classes (which sail at different speeds) sail against each other, the first boat across the finish line cannot be fairly regarded as the winner of the race. Clearly some adjustment to the finishing positions (or more correctly, the finishing times) of each type of boat is required in order that the results of the race reflect the skill of each sailor, rather than the speed of each boat.