IRC (Sailing)

IRC is a system of handicapping sailboats and yachts for the purpose of racing. It is managed by the Royal Ocean Racing Club in the United Kingdom through their dedicated Rating Office [ [http://rorcrating.com/default.html RORC Rating Office ] ] .

Technically, IRC does not officially stand for anything. Originally, “IR” was an abbreviation for International Rule. However, since the Rule at that stage was not recognized under International Rule (sailing), that name was not permitted. So RORC simply decided to keep the initials as the name, and even after IRC received International Rule recognition, the name remained simply IRC.

An IRC yearbook is made available at the beginning of January each year to holders of certificates from the previous year together with a rating revalidation form. Apart from the IRC rule, the yearbook provides help to owners applying for their certificates by way of diagrams and definitions, race management recommendations, useful names and addresses, articles from invited authors and much other relevant information.

IRC can apply a rating to any mono-hull yacht. It considers such features as asymmetric spinnakers, carbon masts, canting keels, and water ballast, all of which have been permitted for several years. Furthermore, the rule is reviewed annually in light of new developments and past results. On this front, RORC seeks and actively welcome input and comment from the users.

IRC permits and encourages owner declared measurement data: self measurements. These will be maintained for the future, although some clubs and areas have always insisted that locally they should measure boats.

There are endorsed IRC ratings which require any sailing club, working under the auspices of the RORC, be satisfied as to the correctness of the rated data, generally by measurement by appointed measurers. Race Committees may require endorsed certificates for some events. Also, an IRC measurement manual is available on request to assist with local measurement if required.

Boat classes/models for which IRC Standards have been set in terms of LOA, overhangs, empty weight, beam and draft measurements only. Upon applying for base ratings (non-endorsed), one may elect to have standard overhang dimensions and a class weight used towards their IRC Ratings. Racers then need to submit rig, sail, ... to complete the application process. These standard overhang and displacement values reference the lightest boat in class.

IRC Rule and the information contained here is published with permission from the RORC Rating Office & Seahorse Rating Ltd. For additional information please visit http://www.rorcrating.com/ircright.htm.

IRC came, in the early 2000s, to largely overtake the earlier IMS handicapping system. However, as of 2008 there is some movement globally for a new improved version of IMS, known as the ORC rule, to return to favour with racing clubs.

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