“I think the commonest mistake
you hear is, ‘we’ll drop the
GETTING AN EDGE
overlapping headsail and go
straight for the jib because that will
get the rating down’. But while it
may get the rating down, it will
also reduce performance. Instead,
rating to performance ratio is what
it is all about. Look at other boats
in your area’s certifi cates before
you make a jump, and build up
your data. Because IRC is a
‘secret’ rule and a one-number rule
– you have to gather data from
outside of the rule in order to build
a clear performance picture.”
Christian Stimson of Stimson Yacht Design
IRC makes no
allowances for dirty
bottoms, keep it clean
most of the moisture out of the boat. That is more than carried out pre-event can offer a rating change for the
half the gains.” better. In particular, always measure sails before a big
event and make sure your hull weight and overhangs
A weighty matter are up to date.”
Designer Christian Stimson says that: “Weight is the
most infl uential factor on your rating certifi cate so make Get analytical
sure your boat’s weight is accurate. Designer Jason Ker recommends boat analysis. “There
“The rule gives you no benefi t for a dirty bottom or an are general sailing characteristics to consider such
unfaired keel, or loads of unecessary kit on board, so moding boats more specifi cally for certain conditions.
clean up the appendages and rig and leave the clutter Some boats could benefi t from extra competitiveness in
behind. IRC is a one-number system so if you are certain conditions. We can advise on that. To do this we
racing in predominantly one set of conditions, you take photos, assess certifi cates and data, create a
should get a designer to look at what you can do to virtual model to fi nd out where performance is weak,
make the best of your handicap fi gure. Simple tweaks where it is strong and how to improve it.”
8
25
IRC 09 Getting an Edge_bs 25 1/12/08 09:06:38
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68