Meeting to promote better IRC Racing in the Solent

by PR on 13 Feb 2008 The Solent Cruising and Racing Association(SCRA) is proposing the formation of a Solent Area IRC Owners Association, to promote and improve IRC racing in the Solent Area.

An open meeting of IRC owners is being held at Hamble River Sailing Club at 16:00 on Saturday 15 March 2008, the afternoon before the start of the Spring Series, at which the proposal will be put forward.

This follows up on an open meeting held at the Royal Southern Yacht Club last spring, whose conclusion can be summed up by the question “are you fed up with racing in fleets of five?” At present, there are so many IRC events on offer in the area that racing is fragmented into small fleets, often providing less than satisfactory competition. With hundreds of IRC boats in the area, surely we can do better.

SCRA believes that the quality of racing can be improved by better attendance at fewer events. Effective one-design classes have a beneficial effect on events run for them. They focus their members’ attention on particular events; and have a dialogue with race organisers to co-ordinate the calendar of events and the sort of racing that is wanted. A local IRC Association could do the same.

Each group of boats could have its calendar of recommended or chosen events, but the separate groups could be in different places at the same time. The Owner’s Association might agree a list of “supported” or recommended events. SCRA could give those added prominence in the calendar

For the idea to take off, it needs a select bunch of enthusiastic sailors with the energy to take it forward, who will take up the reins as a working group or committee. Representation across the rating groups would be good.

The Solent Area IRC Owners’ Association would come under the umbrella of the GBR IRC Owners’ Association and some of its committee members would probably sit on the GBR committee. Draft terms of reference are being prepared so as to be consistent with the GBR and International IRC Association rules.

So SCRA invites all Solent Area IRC owners to the meeting on 15 March at 16:00 at Hamble River Sailing Club. If you think better IRC racing in the Solent is possible - do be there.