WARM WATERHOT RACING o


Top: bow overhang measurement for the current IRC fleet for the length range 5-15m highlighting a selection of French designs. Above: upwind sail area/displacement ratio for the same size range with some of the best French designs similarly highlighted. Left: the Joubert-designed Archambault A35 was one of the first examples of the ‘French’ approach to IRC, with a slightly thicker slab keel replacing the previous bulb keels for big gains in drag. Stability is unmeasured in IRC and narrow-hull-plus-big-bulb had been a reliable formula for success on windward-leeward courses though less so offshore, but the new philosophy soon established itself as a better all-round option – and more fun to sail on longer courses. Having been eclipsed by newer designs from Jeanneau, JPK and J/boats the A35 popped back up last month with a tidy overall win for Arcus (seen here) at this year’s UK IRC Nationals


In 2019 there were growing concerns regarding the use of water ballast in single and double-handed sailing with the option to have an additional IRC shorthanded certificate in a different configuration. With the growth of shorthanded sailing, the idea of adding low- volume water ballast (equivalent to three or four crew members) was developing in the minds of designers and sailors. Water-ballast boats do not represent a large number in the worldwide IRC fleet but we wish to ensure this development is rated appropriately. The IRC technical committee therefore updated the variable (eg water) ballast formulation for 2020 to prepare for a shift in approach. In conclusion these French-designed boats do not flag up any extremes or specifics from a general analysis of design data. There is something that works very well for these boats but we maintain it is a sum of all the parts (perhaps that in itself requires more inves- tigation?) Many of the boats are notionally cruising boats but built to a higher specification and this may be one of the determining factors in their performance, but not a significant advantage compared to crewing skill and training.


So let us talk about the consistent factor in this analysis: sailors from France. As mentioned before, they have grown up sailing in this environment with training grounds such as the Figaro circuit and so on. Their results are regularly good in shorthanded events and this is not down to luck. It will be interesting to see how the new offshore double-handed format in the 2024 Olympic regatta will develop the sailors outside France; hopefully we will not have to wait long to find out, with many national authorities already using the offshore circuit as training and selection for their teams... Jason Smithwick, RORC rating manager


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MARCH 29 - APRIL 4, 2021 bvis.org


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