IRC Regional Championships to be held at all points of GBR compass

by Peta Stuart-Hunt on 12 Mar 2013 The GBR IRC Regional Championships will consist of five regional events. The first event kicks off in May with the IRC Eastern Champioship. Clubs and sailing event organisers all over Great Britain are gearing up for another busy IRC racing season, and none more so than those hosting one of the GBR IRC Regional Championships this year.

Each Autumn sailing clubs vie to have their event sanctioned by the GBR IRC Owners' Committee as an official IRC Regional Championship the following year, and competition can be fierce. In 2013 there will be five Regional Championships run under the Spinlock IRC rating rule, in addition to the annual IRC National Championship and Small Boat Championship.

The following events offer British sailors fantastic inter-club and open competition, as well as a shot at the title of 'Class Regional Champion' as a bonus.

Kicking things off are West Mersea YC and Dabchicks SC who will be hosting the IRC Eastern Championship with the Sail East Regatta on 25-26 May. Racing will take place in the wildlife haven of the Blackwater Estuary and entrants can expect good, competitive sailing.

Sailors heading to the Solent can compete for the title of 'IRC Solent Champion' in seven one-day events to be held between May and September, and also fit in the Royal Ocean Racing Club's prestigious IRC National Championship in Cowes in July. Additionally, if you have a boat under 35' and a rating under 0.960, don't forget the second edition of the SailSpy IRC Small Boat Championship, organised in 2013 by the Solent IRC Owners' Association and the Island SC.
At the top end of the UK, Mudhook YC will once again be organising the Scottish IRC Championship 8-9 June. This year it will be held as part of the Old Pulteney Kip Regatta and the weekend's racing will offer a variety of courses to test the skills of helms and crews. With a single malt scotch whisky as the main sponsor you can also count on a great social scene ashore!

Those who frequent the Irish Sea for racing should head to Abersoch Keelboat Week, North Wales, 19-23 August, for the IRC North Western Championship. The organisers, South Caernarvonshire YC, boast that competitors can enjoy stunning views of Snowdonia whilst racing in the pristine waters of Cardigan Bay; good race courses and good humour!

If you're in the South West, why not head to the 'English Riviera' from 23-28 August for Torbay Week, incorporating the IRC South Western Championship. This year marks the 200th year of regatta sailing in Torbay and the 150th Anniversary of the Royal Torbay YC, so this promises to be a hard-fought but celebratory sailing and social event.

GBR IRC Championships are open to all, and with such a wide variety of locations and events, there really is an event to suit everyone, wherever you are based. Many of these events will also be accepting Spinlock IRC Limited Validity TCCs (LV TCCs) in 2013, for owners who are just doing one or two IRC events this year.

Details and links to the National, Regional and Small Boat Championships can be found on the RORC Rating Office website.

More details about the LV TCCs are here.