IRC YEARBOOK 2009
OCEAN SAFETY IRC 2009
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NOTES FOR RACE ORGANISERS
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1. Preamble Sailing Instructions:
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At the simplest level, all a Race Committee need say in its sailing instructions x.0 ‘Except as a result of a rating protest, or to correct a rating office error,
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is: “The IRC Rules, Parts 1, 2, and 3 (or 4) shall apply”. At the end of the no changes to a boat’s TCC will be permitted after ........ .’

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race they then calculate each boat’s corrected time (CT) to the nearest
second by multiplying her elapsed time (ET) by her TCC (CT=ET*TCC) 2.3 RRS 52 Manual Power
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and publish a set of results with the lowest corrected time winning. In many IRC Rule 14.1 deletes entirely RRS 52, Manual Power. All boats are thus
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circumstances, this will suffice. There are however other related issues permitted to use stored power for the adjustment and operation of sails and E
which a race organiser might wish to consider and include as appropriate. movable appendages. The logic behind deleting RRS 52 is to recognise the

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The following lists some of these and gives suitable wording that might increasing number of boats throughout the size range fitted with powered
be used. In many places, the detail will need tailoring to suit the specific sail handling and other equipment. Additionally, deletion of RRS 52 permits
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circumstances. Race Committees are of course free to do this. The Rating boats to use autopilots, recognising the steadily increasing trend towards
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Office is happy to provide advice and detail if required. The Rating Office short handed racing. A
is also able to provide copy certificates and regularly updated computer This IRC Rule may however be modified by a Notice of Race. Organising
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listings of all boats’ certificate details. Authorities are thus permitted to re-impose RRS 52, either in its entirety or
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Further relevant information can also be found on our website at www. in a limited manner to suit the particular circumstances of their race. Noting
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rorcrating.com. Additionally, an IRC Race Management booklet is the variety of restrictions that might be included it is not possible to frame E
available from the Rating Office. a specific clause for a Notice of Race. The Rating Office are happy to give R
detail advice if requested.
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2. Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions
Before getting to the race course, various issues within IRC Rules need 2.4 Crew Limits
consideration and possible incorporation within the Notice of Race and/or 2.4.1 Crew Number/Weight
Sailing Instructions for an event. IRC Rule 11, Changes to Class Rules, draws As prescribed by Rule 27.4.1, except for boats rated with short handed
attention to many these. Others however are outside IRC Rules directly. certificates, as strict One-Designs or in races requiring Endorsed
certificates, IRC imposes no crew number or weight limitations. Race
2.1 Advertising Committees may of course remove even these restrictions. A suitable
Since 2001, IRC has included two separate but very nearly identical clause would be:
sections. Part 3 is IRC with advertising permitted. Part 4 is IRC with Notice Of Race and Sailing Instructions:
advertising not permitted. It is up to Organising Authorities to specify in x.0 IRC Rule[s] 27.4.2 [and/or 27.4.3] shall not apply.
their Notices of Race which shall apply. As a change for 2009 if neither is
explicitly specified, then the preamble to IRC notes that Part 3 shall apply. ie, Alternatively, Race Committees may wish to apply additional limitations.
the default is now that advertising is permitted. Parts 1 and 2, the common It is recommended that when any crew number or weight limitations are
Parts of the IRC Rule, will always apply. Thus for example, for IRC racing in force, race management authorities should publish a list of crew limits.
with advertising: There are many options, a few of which follow:
The IRC Rules Parts 1, 2, and 3 shall apply. Option 1 Notice Of Race:
and without advertising: x.0 IRC Rule 27.4.1 is modified by the addition of the following:
The IRC Rules Parts 1, 2, and 4 shall apply. EITHER: x.1 Maximum Crew Number.
The maximum number of crew that may sail aboard a
Organising Authorities are advised to consider carefully before invoking Part boat shall be the Crew Number [plus/minus x] printed on
4, IRC without advertising. It is recommended that racing under IRC Part 4 is her certificate.
generally restricted to locally based racing at which competitors are largely OR: x.1 Maximum Crew Weight
all members of the same club or affiliation of clubs. If visiting competitors from The maximum total weight of crew in kilograms that may
further afield than the immediate locality are expected, it is recommended sail aboard a boat shall not exceed the product of the Crew
that racing should be held under Part 3, IRC with advertising permitted. Number printed on her certificate multiplied by 80 (or other
Additionally, if it is likely that any “Class” boats will be competing, note suitable value).
should be taken of the advertising status of those Classes in deciding the AND: x.2 In the case of a One-Design rated boat , and when her IRC
appropriate IRC Rules. If for instance one or more Classes have decided crew limitation exceeds her One-Design Class crew limitation
to permit advertising, then to run racing under IRC Part 4 might debar those a boat shall comply with her One-Design Class rules.
boats from competing. [x.3] [There shall be no restriction on crew changes.] [The
The Rating Office are happy on request to advise Organising Authorities following crew change restrictions shall apply:]
in more detail. Option 2 Notice Of Race:
x.0 IRC Rule 27.4.1 is modified by the addition of the following:
2.2 Rating Changes x.1 Each boat shall declare her ‘Initial Crew Number’ prior
It is generally undesirable to allow boats to change rating shortly before or to the first race in which she competes.
during a regatta or short series of races. Allowing this to happen offers a x.2 Variation in a boat’s crew number shall be limited according
competitor the opportunity to refine his rating by for instance the inclusion/ to the following table, based upon her Initial Crew Number:
omission of sails depending on anticipated weather conditions. Additionally, Initial Crew Number Limit of Variation
and from a logistical and administrative point of view, it is desirable for Up to 4 -1 +2
ratings to have been submitted prior to the start of the event. Suitable 5 -12 -2 +2
wording might be: 13 - 20 -3 +2
Notice of Race: 21 or more -4 +3
x.0 ‘Boats shall submit a copy of their IRC certificate not later than There are of course many other options a race committee might choose.
........ . No alteration in a boat’s TCC will be permitted after this date, Generally, except for safety reasons crew number minima are not
except as a result of a rating protest, or to correct rating office errors.’ recommended. However, race committees may wish to consider whether
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a maximum variation in crew number should be imposed to prevent boats
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IRC 09 Org Notes P59-61_bs.indd 59 1/12/08 09:33:42
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