Please select your home edition
Edition
Zhik 2024 December

IRC rating responds to sailors with rule and formulation changes for 2023

by RORC Rating Office 23 Nov 2022 22:51 PST
IRC rating responds to sailors with rule and formulation changes for 2023 © Paul Wyeth

Following the international IRC annual Congress meeting in October, the 2023 IRC rule text is now published on the IRC website and includes changes that reflect IRC's desire to listen to what sailors want, simplify rules where possible and respond to changing trends not only in technical development but also racing practices.

The IRC Technical Committee and IRC Congress have shown their commitment to reducing costs for sailors and recognising the varied range of course types in which IRC boats race by introducing a secondary certificate. Any owner will now be able to apply for a second valid certificate for their boat, previously an option only available to those swapping between fully crewed or short-handed racing (rule 8.2.1). The secondary certificate incorporates the former short-handed certificate and allows more configuration changes, with potential applications being inshore/offshore; shorthanded/crewed; racing/cruising sails; or even a specific configuration for a single event.

In the interest of simplification and consistency, the wording relating to adjustment of rigging while racing (rule 21.1.6) now refers to 'aft rigging' instead of 'running backstays, checkstays or adjustable backstay', with no change to rating effects; and stored power now refers to 'aft rigging only' rather than 'backstay only' (rule 15.2).

The responsibility of rating rules to support sustainable practices and maximise the competitive lifespan of boats at the same time as encouraging initiatives and technical development is always on the IRC agenda. The 2023 formulation changes include an extension of age allowance beyond 20 years, giving a small amount of additional credit to those boats built before the turn of the millennium.

There will also be a review of the rating of IRC Flying Headsails to increase their attraction as a rating option, while not moving them into the realms of being seen as a requirement to be competitive. Alongside this, with a year's notice, the number of headsails carried aboard will be rated from 2024; more details of this will be published during 2023.

The IRC Technical Committee are keen to increase transparency relating to rated inputs, and with this in mind the new IRC certificate will include a second page showing a basic drawing including the rated data, rig details and appendages to help owners and competitors to easily see the rated configuration of the boat.

The 2023 IRC rule applies from 1st January 2023, except in countries with June-May validity where the rule will apply from 1st June 2023.

2023 IRC Rule text and more information about rule changes: ircrating.org/irc-rule.

Full IRC Congress 2022 Minutes and other associated documents: ircrating.org/about/irc-congress.

Related Articles

Two Weeks until the Royal Escape 2025
Sussex Yacht Club makes a final call for entries Sussex Yacht Club makes a final call for entries to the 2025 Royal Escape Race, from the Brighton coast to Fécamp, France on Friday 23rd May 2025. Race start time 08:00 BST. Posted today at 6:43 am
Stop Guessing, Start Winning
The Ultimate Cheat Sheet for Fast Rig Settings You know the boats that kept finishing ahead of you last season? They're not faster. They're just better at repeating what works. Posted on 8 May
Ramsgate Week 2025 fast approaching
Everyone is looking forward to July and the Summer Ramsgate Week 2025 is fast approaching and, after a recent taste of the hot weather, everyone is looking forward to July and the Summer. Posted on 8 May
Tshcüss 2 eyes Transatlantic Race line honors
The competitors will cover a distance of approximately 3,000 miles Many people find comfort in the familiar. Not Christian Zugel, who spent his youth in landlocked southern Germany, but discovered, late in life, a passion for blue-water ocean racing. Posted on 8 May
Medway YC Cruiser Spring Series race 3
Strong wind and a beat all the way to Essex Race 3 of the Medway YC Cruiser Class Spring Series saw 11 yachts come to the start at the yacht club start line. For the first time the fleet was divided into two classes. The wind was showing 15-20kts but in the start area it was a lot lighter. Posted on 7 May
RCIYC Nick Cousins Memorial Spring Regatta Preview
Scheduled to run from Friday to Sunday 16th to 18th May in Jersey Entries are open for the fourth edition of the Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club's Nick Cousins Memorial Spring Regatta, scheduled to run from Friday to Sunday 16th to 18th May. Posted on 7 May
One month to go until Round the Island Race
Over 600 boats have already signed up for this year's event One of sailing's most iconic races is just a month away, and there's still time to be part of it. Over 600 boats have already signed up for this year's Round the Island Race, which takes place on Saturday 7th June. Posted on 7 May
Tomes Cup 2025 at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club
Sixty-seven boats enjoyed fair wind in Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour The finale of the Top Dog Trophy Series 2024-2025 took place in Hong Kong on Saturday 3 May, completing the series of four pursuit races to determine the top-performing boat for the season. Posted on 6 May
Cervantes Trophy Race
Drift to Drag Race The RORC Cervantes Trophy Race delivered a dramatic shift in conditions that tested skill and strategy from the very start, followed by raw pace for a spectacular finish. Posted on 5 May
IMA challenges resume with Sandberg PalmaVela
The event has traditionally started the Mediterranean maxi yacht racing season There was huge anticipation from within the maxi community with Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones' new Verdier 100 Magic Carpet E making her debut at Sandberg PalmaVela that concluded yesterday. Posted on 5 May
Doyle_SailWorld_728X90px_GP BOTTOMAllen Dynamic 40 FooterMySail 2025