JAMES TOMLINSON


IRC


Admiral’s Cup


Botín Partners has been involved in IRC racing designs for two decades, since its launch (formerly as CHS) by the RORC rating office in 2003. Back then we were seeing the end of the IMS Rule on the Mediterranean circuits, with its tortuous low-stability designs, and we welcomed the idea of designing racing yachts for a relatively simple rule promoting fast and fun features. Specifically in the design of the hull shape, the IRC Rule only rates length, maximum beam, overhangs and displace- ment. Which meant complete freedom to design the most efficient shape within those very broad parameters. Every rating rule is typeforming to some extent, and IRC promoted


a trend of relatively wide beam at deck level as the crew weight is unrated. The IRC Rule has also always been relatively kind when rating light boats with tall rigs and deep draft, and very quickly the TP52s and Maxi72s became the boats to beat at grand prix level. At the same time any progressive changes to the IRC formulation


have generally been made in gradual steps, allowing modifications to existing racing boats to happen over a period of two or three seasons, promoting rule stability and certainty for owners, designers and crews. Of course 2025 will be a very exciting year for IRC racing as the


Admiral’s Cup is back. The return of this legendary trophy quickly attracted many international teams to compete in the Solent starting


on 17 July and comprising a mix of windward/leeward and round- 36 SEAHORSE


the-cans racing on the inshore days, an offshore sprint race and with the Fastnet Race as the main offshore event. Each team can enter two boats split in brackets of LH and TCC, basically competing in two classes of 36-44ft and 45-56ft in length. The Admiral’s Cup revival meant a very busy 2024-25 winter for


our design team, as we had to optimise several of our existing racing boats for a specific mix of Solent and offshore conditions… and design at least one completely new one. As of this writing we have 10 high-profile teams competing in the event:


Class 1 Zen 52ft (CYCA – Australia) Black Pearl 56ft (NYYC – USA) Caro 52ft (RNZYS – NZ) Beau Geste 52ft (RHKYC – Hong Kong) Imagine 52ft (RVG – Germany) Jolt 3 52ft (YCM – Monaco) Django WR51 (YCCS – Italy)


Class 2 Beau Ideal 41ft (RHKYC – Hong Kong) Callisto 42ft (RNZYS – NZ) Django 39ft Botín-optimised JPK 1180 (YCCS – Italy)


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