IRC YEARBOOK 2009
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leaving crew ashore on light weather days. 5 IRC/Classic IRC Age (Series) Date of 1970 or earlier.
6 IRC/DAYBOATS IRC DAYBOAT.
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2.4.2 Crew Classification 7 SBR/Sports Boats All sportsboats.
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IRC Rule 27.5 notes that IRC contains no restrictions on Crew Classification, x.1 A boat which meets all the requirements for class 0 shall race in class 0.
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in other words professionals and amateurs. The Rule continues to state x.2 A boat which meets the requirements for both classes 4 and 5 shall

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that a Notice of Race may impose restrictions. If an Organising Authority race in class 5.
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wishes to impose any restrictions, it is strongly recommended that the ISAF x.3 An IRC DAYBOAT shall race in class 6.
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Sailor Classification Code is used. In International events invoking Crew x.4 A boat which meets all the requirements for class 7 shall race in class 7.

Classification, the use of this particular Code will be almost a prerequisite. x.5 Classes may be altered, amalgamated or divided at the discretion of
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Noting the variety of restrictions that might be included it is not possible to the race committee. Specifically, all boats of a particular design shall
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frame a specific clause for a Notice of Race. The Rating Office are happy to race in the same class at the direction of the Race Committee.
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give detail advice if requested.
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2.6 Endorsed Certificates

2.5 IRC Classes Race Committees should consider carefully before requiring all entrants
O Apart from the obvious splits by TCC, Race Committees might consider to hold Endorsed certificates. Many less serious competitors will simply
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splitting boats into classes by type. One of the problems IRC suffers from find this a disincentive to participation at all, while the more serious are in
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is its acceptance of such a wide variety of boats ranging from elderly heavy all likelihood already measured. In these circumstances, option 2 may be
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cruisers through ex-IOR types to the modern ‘racers’ and ‘sports boats’. more appropriate.
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Each of these has its own performance profile resulting in race results Notice of race:
becoming increasingly dependent on conditions and course type. As a x.0 Boats in classes 0, 1, and 2 (3, 4, 5 etc) shall hold IRC
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general principle, when fleets are large enough, splitting boats into classes ENDORSED certificates.
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defined by boat type and/or size or speed can be to the benefit of all and is OR: x.0 To obtain class and/or overall points and/or club championship
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highly recommended. Splitting the ‘sportsboats’ from the ‘cruisers’ is to the points, a competing boat shall (at the time of the race for which
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benefit of all. points are being awarded) hold an IRC ENDORSED certificate.
Alternatively, as has successfully been used at various regattas, the Boats not holding ENDORSED certificates shall not be included
physical parameters of boats can be used to define particular boats for the in any points calculations.
creation of a ‘racing’ class. The following outlines some of the options:
Displacement Length Ratio (DLR) Within the IRC fleet as a whole, The second option allows an ‘unendorsed’ boat to compete in an individual
average DLR is around 200. Typical modern cruisers are generally in the race, but bars her from gathering points for an overall trophy.
range 200 to 300 with anything over this being regarded as ‘heavy’. Modern IRC endorsement guidelines offer various options to Rule Authorities
cruiser/racers fall largely between 150 and 200, with boats below 150 being for sources of data for endorsed certificates including the option of the use
modern racers, racer/cruisers and sports boats. A simple split by DLR alone ORCi DSPM for the derivation of empty weight. If a country has elected not
may however be unsatisfactory. A second, and possibly third, criterion may to adopt this option, an organizing authority for a race including boats from
better define a class. A sports boat class might for instance be: “Boats with overseas might then also include a requirement that all boats shall have
DLR less than 150, LOA less than 10m, and TCC more than 0.950.”. In the been weighed to establish empty weight for their endorsed certificates.
specific case of sports boats however, a better alternative might well be the
RYA/RORC Sportsboat Rule (SBR). Organising Authorities considering 2.7 Non-Spinnaker Ratings
the use of DLR limits for classes should note that while DLR is a non IRC certificates for all boats also show a non spinnaker TCC. Race
dimensional parameter, it nevertheless tends to reduce with increasing Committees attention is drawn to rule 9.4.2 which restricts the use of this
size of boats. Care should therefore be exercised in selecting the limiting TCC to races specifically defined as non spinnaker. This restriction is
value for a class of wide variation in size with ideally, limits being specific to deliberate and is to prevent abuse of the non spinnaker TCC. Note however
classes rather than a fleet as a whole. Please contact the Rating Office for that IRC Rule 11.1 permits Sailing Instructions to modify this class rule.
further detail.
Hull Factor Probably the best use of hull factor is in separating the 2.8 Short-Handed Races
cruisers from the racers. Genuine cruisers have lower hull factors than New for 2007, IRC Rule 9.2 now permits a boat to hold a second,
racers. Typically, boats with hull factors of 7.5 and below will be cruisers. concurrently valid, IRC certificate for use by a boat in short-handed
Again a secondary factor may be needed to remove anomalies. In this (ie maximum 2 crew) races. This permits an owner to configure his boat
context, an associated minimum DLR can work to define a cruising class. differently for short-handed racing without the need to continually amend
Age Probably the best use of age is in identifying ‘classic’ boats. and re-amend his certificate. The short-handed certificate is ONLY valid
Qualifying dates are of course totally at the discretion of race committees. for short-handed racing and may NOT be used as an alternative certificate
DAYBOATS Ideally, DAYBOATS should not race with cruiser/racers. for normal racing. There is no reason however why a boat should not enter
Their performance characteristics are often so different as to make good a short-handed race using her normal certificate. Race organizers should
racing difficult. In practice, except in areas with large fleets, it is inevitable note that any boat holding a short-handed certificate will appear twice in IRC
that DAYBOATS will race with cruiser/racers. In these latter circumstances, it rating lists, with the short-handed TCC clearly identified.
would be unfortunate to exclude DAYBOATS from racing; permitting them to
race with cruiser/racers then becomes the best available option. DAYBOATS 2.9 Protest limits
are identifiable by the ‘D’ printed on their certificates adjacent to TCC. IRC Rules 19 and 20 address rating reviews and protests. Linked to these,
A clause to encompass some of the above might read: Rule 11.1 permits a Race Committee to amend Rules 19.6, 19.7 and 19.8.
Notice of race: It is not recommended that major changes should be made without first
x.0 Boats shall race in the following classes: consulting the Rating Office. However, for higher level events it may be
Class Rule/Type Parameters appropriate to reduce the 0.005 limit for certificate invalidity defined in Rules
0 Racing LOA:Greater than 9.0m and less than 16.5m. 19.6 and 19.7. If this is done, it is recommended that it should be included
IRC Series Date: 1995 and later. in the Notice of Race as well as the Sailing Instructions. It is recommended
IRC Hull Factor: 10.4 and higher. that this limit should never be increased.
IRC DLR: 145 and lower. Notice of race and Sailing Instructions:
IRC TCC: Greater than 1.000 and less than 1.350. x.0 IRC Rules 19.6 [and/or 19.7] are amended to the extent that 0.005 is
1 IRC TCC 1.100 to 1.199. reduced to 0.00x.
2 IRC TCC 1.000 to 1.099.
3 IRC TCC 0.999 and below. 2.10 Sail Limitations
4 IRC/Cruisers IRC Hull Factor 7.5 or less. The limitations on sails carried are defined by IRC Rule 26.1.5. While
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IRC 09 Org Notes P59-61_bs.indd 60 3/12/08 11:27:06
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