IRC Yearbook 2010

IRC YEARBOOK 2010
GLOBAL SNAPSHOT
IRC news from around the world
IRELAND Ed Alcock, ISA Racing Manager
Dorleta Rodriguez, ISA Racing Administrator
I
reland is now in its fourth century of rating systems are administered by the ISA, championship, Ireland hosts a major IRC
organised sailing – what is now the Royal who issue over 1,200 certiﬁ cates annually. regatta, alternatively ACC Bank Cork Week
Cork Yacht Club began in 1720. Since then The funds raised are ploughed back into at Royal Cork Yacht Club and the Volvo Dun
one could say things have grown somewhat cruiser/racing through ICRA. Laoghaire Regatta in Dublin Bay, organised
and now Ireland has the highest ratio of IRC Currently there are over 440 IRC boats by the combined National, Royal St George,
boats per head of population. racing in Ireland and 80 per cent of these Royal Irish and Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht
This success has been the result of two hold an Endorsed certiﬁ cate. This high level Clubs. Both regattas are strongly supported
factors: the close co-operation between the of Endorsement keeps a corps of IRC by visiting boats, mainly from Britain, France
Irish Sailing Association (ISA) and the Irish measurers busy throughout the year. and the US. The efﬁ cient organisations,
Cruiser Racing Association (ICRA), the The use of IRC is evenly spread and the friendly locals and interesting sailing grounds
owners’ club, and the operation of two rating annual ICRA national championships attract make these regattas very attractive.
systems, IRC and ECHO, the ISA personal more than 100 boats in the bigger sailing The biggest growth area for IRC boats in
handicap system. centres on the east and south coasts. On the the past three years has been in non-
Dual handicaps allow for measurement lesser-populated western seaboard the West spinnaker racing, locally called White Sails.
and performance-based results and have Ireland Offshore Racing Association (WIORA) These ﬂ eets now represent close to 20 per
proven popular with sailors. More than 70 championship can exceed 50, with boats cent of the boats at open regattas.
per cent of owners opted for both systems in travelling up to 300 miles to compete. For many this is a way to keep racing
2009 and dual scoring is the norm. Both Each year, along with the ICRA when the crew cannot be found or, as one
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IRC2010 Snapshot.indd 16 27/11/09 09:57:54
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