IRC certificates show positive start for 2018
by RORC Rating Office 6 Feb 2018 05:00 PST
Maverick on her way to victory in IRC 1, Rolex Middle Sea Race 2017 © Kurt Arrigo / Rolex
The Spinlock International Rating Certificate (IRC) has made a flying start to 2018 with increased numbers of rating applications in the first month of the year and nearly 1000 certificates issued in January.
This is very positive for IRC as certificates are not automatically renewed. Owners must apply for a new certificate through their local IRC Rule Authority and advise any changes to the boat's configuration before the certificate is issued by the RORC Rating Office or UNCL Centre de Calcul, joint owners and administrators of IRC.
Changes to the IRC rating calculations are implemented every January to cater for technical innovations in yacht design, a practice implemented by the IRC Technical Committee to foster close racing and protect the main fleet while remaining progressive. Over the last 12 months the Technical Committee has been studying the effects of foils and how they are rated.
Boats such as Infiniti 46 Maverick using the Dynamic Stability System will see a change in her rating from which she will benefit for the upcoming RORC Caribbean 600. Other developments for Spinlock IRC 2018 include changes to the calculations affecting: the rating of spinnaker area, sports boats, and boats that set headsails from bowsprits and do not carry spinnakers. The 'dayboat' classification has also been removed from the Rule, leaving assessment of boats' Offshore Special Regulations compliance to event organisers.
For more details on the changes to IRC for 2018, visit here.
2018 Software Changes