Please select your home edition
Edition
Selden 2020 - LEADERBOARD

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

Register now for Ullman Sails Long Beach Race Week
LBRW is open to multiple classes and in 2025 the event is proud to host the Catalina 37 Nationals Exciting racecourses with flat water offerings inside of the Long Beach breakwater, and big waves and big breeze on the outside are just a few of the factors that make the Long Beach Race Week regatta one of the most enjoyable on the west coast. Posted on 14 May
Exposure Marine Fastnet Race Kit Video Review
A set of 3 torches specifically designed for offshore racing crews It's a huge year for offshore sailing, and arguably the biggest event of the summer is the Rolex Fastnet Race. Within an hour of entries opening the Royal Ocean Racing Club had received a record 435 yacht registrations. Posted on 14 May
More join the Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta
18 entries representing Queensland, Northern Territory, South Australia, NSW and Victoria so far Eighteen entries representing Queensland, Northern Territory, South Australia, NSW and Victoria have so far been received for the 2025 Australian Women's Keelboat Regatta (AWKR). Posted on 14 May
RORC De Guingand Bowl Race Preview
Over 75 boats are expected to be racing as the IRC Two-Handed Nationals begin The RORC De Guingand Bowl Race marks the fifth race in the 2025 RORC Season's Points Championship—the world's largest offshore racing series. Posted on 13 May
BMW Spring Regatta 2025 at RHKYC
Attracting 88 boats - a lucky number in Chinese culture The BMW Spring Regatta attracted 88 boats - a lucky number in Chinese culture - across four Big Boat divisions & eight one-design classes including Dragons, Etchells, Flying Fifteens, Impalas, J/80s, Pandoras, Ruffians, and Sportsboats. Posted on 13 May
Race hard, sail fast, experience the unforgettable
The countdown is on to the 2026 RORC Caribbean 600 Organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club in association with the Antigua Yacht Club, the 17th edition of the RORC Caribbean 600 will start in Antigua on Monday 23rd February 2026. Posted on 12 May
Race Yachts latest premium offerings
When only the best will do... Race Yachts are thrilled to present our latest premium offerings in high-performance race yachts, available now through Race Yachts Brokerage. Our collection features some of the most exciting vessels on the market. Posted on 12 May
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 on 9 May
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
Mackay Boats 728x90 BOTTOMPredictWind - Wave Routing 728x90 BOTTOMHyde Sails 2024 - One Design