Please select your home edition
Edition
Lloyd Stevenson - Catalyst Yacht Tender 1456x180px TOP

40 years of IRC Rating - Made by sailors for sailors

by IRC Rating Office 20 Mar 2024 05:39 PDT
Nielsen 59 Hound and Lombard 46 Pata Negra © Tim Wright / Photoaction.com

In 2024 the International Rating Certificate (IRC) celebrates 40 years of yacht rating around the world.

Back in the early 1980s, most boats were racing under the International Offshore Rule (IOR), but it was starting to be more concentrated on racing boats and leading to extreme type-forming and pinched sterns, causing "too much rock and roll" in the words of the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) Commodore at the time, the late Robin Aisher.

In 1983 he and the Commodore of l'Union National de la Course au Large (UNCL) Jean Louis Fabry, whilst enjoying an evening out in Paris, decided that a rule was needed that would rate any size and shape of boat. Follow-up conversations, usually held at the end of a RORC cross Channel race and including RORC Racing Manager Alan Green, clinched the deal. A brief summary of the idea was jotted down on the back of an envelope, and the RORC-UNCL joint venture: Channel Handicap System (CHS) was born to allow cruiser/racers to compete with a simple but mathematical rating rule while IOR continued to cater for the top end racing boats.

The first CHS certificates were issued in 1984 and the system evolved into IRC in 1999. It became a World Sailing (ISAF) international recognised rating system in 2003. Over the last 40 years IRC has continued to rate a huge variety of monohulls including IOR, production cruiser/racers, superyachts, sportboats, classics and cutting edge race boats, always with the fundamental policy of protecting the existing fleet. It has been at the forefront of permissive development taking an early stance on rating features such as retractable bowsprits, asymmetric spinnakers, canting keels and water ballast. For decades IRC has been used for the major trophies in world-renowned inshore and offshore events and continues to provide a simple, inexpensive foundation for competitive sailing around the world.

In the early days CHS certificate processing was a laborious process, unlike the user-friendly systems in place today. Two decades of development later it became possible to import application data into the database and certificates were available as PDFs. The current application system was developed by the current Director of Rating, Dr Jason Smithwick, and has allowed improvements such as the certificate boat data page including an image of the boat, and IRC data published online.

The stability and endurance of the IRC rating system and its development owe much to the unparalleled continuity within its team, both past and present. The RORC Rating Office in the UK prides itself on longevity of service and depth of experience, boasting a combined 70 years of service amongst its current four-person technical team, and similar long-term experience is seen across the Channel in France at the Yacht Club de France Centre de Calcul IRC, and on the IRC Technical Committee. The unwavering dedication and collective experience of this international team underscore the resilience and longevity of the IRC rating system, ensuring its continued fairness, relevance and effectiveness in the world of competitive sailing.

For more information visit ircrating.org

Related Articles

Bulwarks and Bulldust – Show 1 Season 3
Shane Guanaria from Doyle Sails and Zen Racing talks Admiral's Cup, Hobart, Hammo and a heap more... Episode One - Straight from the Admiral's Cup and Hamilton Island Race Week, Shane Guanaria from Doyle Sails and Zen Racing talks about those events, the impending 80th Hobart, and pathways into sailing. Lots to learn, so strap in for a terrific time. Posted on 27 Sep
Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez starts tomorrow
245 competitors vying for 19 trophies Saturday 27 September heralds the start of the 27th edition of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez. A great many of the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez's 245 guests have already made the famous port in France's Var department. Posted on 26 Sep
Grand Prix Sailing Regatta returns to Gold Coast
Sail Paradise returns next weekend Southport Yacht Club's flagship regatta Sail Paradise returns next weekend, Friday 3rd to Monday 6th, over the Queensland King's Birthday Long Weekend in October! Posted on 26 Sep
September Regatta 2025 at Royal Southern YC
Including the inaugural UK National Championships for the new Performance 30 class Last weekend, 19-21 September, the Royal Southern Yacht Club hosted the culminating event in our flagship Summer Series - the September Regatta. Posted on 24 Sep
Middle Sea Race set to attract exceptional fleet
Royal Malta YC has 118 entries already At midnight on Friday, 19 September the 46th Rolex Middle Sea Race had amassed a fleet of 118 yachts. The entrants represent 30 countries and territories: from Australia and New Zealand to Finland and Norway, and from the United States to Romania. Posted on 23 Sep
RORC Transatlantic Race 2026 preview
3000 miles, one epic challenge The RORC Transatlantic Race in association with the International Maxi Association and Yacht Club de France will start from Marina Lanzarote on 11th January 2026. Posted on 22 Sep
2025 Bosphorus Race concludes
Istanbul, and its famous waterway, is an amazing sailing stadium Following two days of intense competition on the Sea of Marmara, the 24th Bosphorus Cup concluded today with the race on the Bosphorus Strait. Posted on 21 Sep
Salcombe Gin Centenary Race - A fitting finale
RORC Cowes clubhouse was buzzing The Salcombe Gin Centenary Race brought the curtain down on the RORC's Centenary season — for everyone except the sailors still to compete in next week's Offshore Double Handed World Championships. Posted on 21 Sep
Enter now for Cannes to Malta Offshore Race
An ideal feeder event ahead of the Rolex Middle Sea Race As you make your way down to Malta for the Rolex Middle Sea Race, the inaugural Cannes-Malta Race offers a great opportunity to get some valuable race practice along the way. Posted on 21 Sep
All set for the 24th Bosphorus Race
The inshore and coastal racing is completed With the two days of inshore and coastal racing at the 24th edition of Bosphorus Cup completed, all eyes now turn to the Bosphorus Race which takes place tomorrow, Saturday 20 September. Posted on 20 Sep
Lloyd Stevenson - AC INEOS 1456x180px BOTTOMMaritimo M50Zhik 2024 December