RSYS has a growing fleet of IRC racers and offers competitive, level rating racing under the IRC measurement system. The Squadron runs a point score for boats with a current IRC certificate in conjunction with the Division One Short Inshore Series (SIS).
IRC and PHS boats race together and can choose to be in both pointscores.
Casual entries are welcome.
The squadron plans to run IRC pointscores in other mixed Divisions should that Division attract five or more entries with current certificates.
The measurement process is relatively easy and group boat weighing days are usually arranged in co-operation with CYCA sailing office. IRC measurers are contactable through Yachting NSW
What is IRC?
“IRC handicapping produces a single-number rating that doesn't try to be perfect—it tries to be useable."
In an article in “Sailing World”, John Burnham writes:
The IRC (International Rating Club) rating rule for racer/cruisers is co-produced in Britain and France and has been adopted all over the world–nearly 6,000 certificates in 31 countries.
IRC is a simple, secret, formula-based rule with subjective factors that rule administrators can modify to rein in boats that appear to be beating the rule. IRC produces a single-number rating for all wind strengths and courses, and doesn't try to be perfect; it tries to be useable. Sailors can easily figure out how they're doing in a race, and race committees can't make a mistake by using the wrong rating or other factor. IRC gives credit for some low-tech configurations, such as aluminum, double-spreader rigs, which helps production boats somewhat, but importantly, it doesn't measure stability, nor does it give credit for slow design features, so designers are encouraged to produce fast, stiff boats rather than slow ones the rule thinks are even slower.
In Australia, for IRC racing, unless your boat is a tightly controlled one-design, it'll need to be weighed and measured by an accredited YA measurer (more info at http://www.rorcrating.com and at http://www.yachting.org.au/?13091m )
Why is IRC Popular?
Some reasons are suggested for IRC popularity:
- It’s current. Things - that have, it must be added, been around for a while - like canting keels, asymmetric spinnakers and some boats being racing cruisers (instead of strictly racers) are acknowledged, allowable and taken into account when establishing a boat's handicap.
- It’s fair. All of a boat's factors for an IRC are processed through a ratings software program, the algorithms of which are secret, at the RORC in England.
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