IMS 40 footers and IRC 50 footers for revamped Irish Admirals Cup

by David Branigan (Irish Times) on 15 Jan 2002 A radical revision of what was once regarded as the unofficial championship
of offshore racing will also produce a number of incentives to rebuild
interest in the 45-year-old event, which was cancelled last year due to a
lack of interest. The Irish Government has also signaled its intention to
support the move.

The regatta will be hosted by the Royal St George Yacht Club from Saturday,
July 12th to Saturday, July 26th, 2003. A combination of inshore courses,
yet to be announced, will lead into a full circumnavigation of Ireland,
which will follow the existing 705-mile course. At present, there are no
plans to extend the number of entries into the current race, which will
take place again this June. Increased interest in the new course from
international sailors is likely to benefit next year's event.

In another revision of the traditional event, the single, three-boat team
entered by a national authority has given way to two boats per club and a
maximum of two teams per country. The event will be mainly for
professionals, continuing the existing trend which emerged following the
heyday of the championship in the late 1980s.

The two boats will be handicapped under two popular international systems.
The bigger size will cater for IRC (Endorsed) handicap aimed at boats of 50
feet and over. This class will be professionally crewed. The smaller boats
will cater for the IMS system but, in a fresh development, these boats will
be grouped under a single body, to be known as the IMS 600 Class.

The latter system has been dominated by American and Mediterranean yachts
and a raging transatlantic debate might have precluded this system in
favour of the RORC promoted IRC/ IRM systems. However, the IMS 600 Class is
aimed at the 40-foot range of boats and includes IMX40s, Beneteau
40.7-footers, Tripp 40s and other popular production yachts which are
easily modified to optimum racing condition. Currently, more than 270 boats
worldwide are eligible for this class. Such boats are popular in Ireland,
raising the prospect of national qualifying events. Full-time sailors can
comprise 50 per cent of a crew for this class, and many Irish professionals
working overseas would be needed for a national effort.

Full story: http://www.ireland.com/sports/other/2002/0110/other3.htm