Rating Change for Removal of Furniture

We have been receiving an increasing number of enquiries about the effect on IRC rating if items of fitted interior are removed, in particular from production boats, ie. tables, doors, floorboards etc. The removal of such items is discouraged, as it is not within the spirit of the IRC rule.

IRC RULE 27 STATES:

27.1 The rated parameters assume that the boat is fitted out at least to the production specification and/or to the condition when last measured/inspected. If another rating certificate is being used as the basis for data then any changes since the issue of that certificate shall be notified to the rating authority.

27.2 Stripped out interiors, light and hi-tech structures, removal of furniture or other fitted equipment, etc. may lead to the application of higher than standard hull factor to compensate for potential increase in performance. Such features shall be declared to the rating authority.

PRODUCTION BOATS:

The removal of fitted standard items SHALL BE DECLARED and, in addition to any decrease in weight, may incur an increase to Hull Factor as follows:

– table + 0.1

– any other items + 0.1 each

eg. a production boat from which the table, floorboards and 2 doors were removed could have the hull factor increased by 0.1 (table) + 0.1 (floorboards) + 0.1 (door 1) + 0.1 (door 2) = total HF increase 0.4.

NON-PRODUCTION BOATS (one-off’s etc.)

The same may apply as for Production boats if changes are made to the accommodation and/or interior since the last application or information supplied for rating.

Full details of the items removed and their respective weights shall be advised to the rating office.

Fair Play

 

The Rating Office often gets questions about rule compliance, or hears rumours that boats are (generally inadvertently) infringing IRC rules.

Here we try to clarify some of the more common issues:

1. Furling Headsails (Rule 21.8)

First to note is that if the rated LP measurement is less than 1.3 x J the sail is not eligible for furling headsail allowance and the boat will be rated for multiple headsails.

Your certificate will say clearly what you are allowed to use: Multiple headsails permitted; Multiple headsails permitted (Furler LP<1.3*J); Single furling headsail only; or Single furling headsail plus OSR H/W jib*.

If it says multiple headsails are permitted, you may carry and use any number of headsails within the rated LLMAX and HSA.

If it says Single furling headsail or Single furling headsail plus H/W jib:

• A complete headsail furling system must be fitted, on which the sail must be set.
• You can carry but not use additional sails.
• A #3 headsail is NOT a heavy weather jib (it will normally be too big).
• A storm jib as defined by IRC may be used by all boats at any time.
•  If you are competing in a series you must use the same headsail for all races in the series.
• You cannot use an alternative furling headsail less than 95% of the rated HSA (rule 21.8.1(c))

 *Offshore Special Regulations Heavy Weather Jib

2. Changes to Boats (Rule 8.8)

 Physical changes which might affect the performance of the boat shall be declared. If you are not sure whether you need to declare a change please ask your IRC Rule Authority, and we recommend you apply for a trial certificate to see the rating effect before making substantial changes.

New sails that will be the largest used when racing must be declared even if they are designed to be the same size as the last valid IRC certificate. If your certificate is Endorsed then those new sails must be officially measured.

If the certificate says the Boat Weight includes cushions and batteries then they must be carried, in their normal positions, unless the Notice of Race permits removal of the bunk cushions (Rule 22.1.2).

3. Short-handed certificates (Rule 8.2.1)

If you regularly race in short-handed classes or races in a different configuration from when fully crewed you can hold an additional, short-handed certificate for those races. Crew number itself makes NO difference to the rating, it will only differ from your ‘primary’ rating if you sail with, for instance, smaller sails.

Rule 8.2.1 explains the limitations of use and the data that may be changed. If you hold a short- handed certificate you cannot then opt to use your primary certificate in a short-handed class or race.

4. Non-Spinnaker TCC (Rule 8.6)

Certificates include a non-spinnaker rating for all boats rated with a spinnaker. This is only valid for races for which the Notice of Race includes a specific non spinnaker (white sails) class. What you can NOT do is call the race committee 10 minutes before the start of a windy race asking to use the non spinnaker TCC!

5. Crew Number and Crew Classification (Rule 22.4)

Unless a Notice of Race states differently, a default crew weight limitation of IRC crew number x 85kg applies. A Race Committee may also impose crew classification restrictions. For these issues therefore, refer to the Notice of Race. Note: IRC Crew Number is not variable by a boat and has no effect on TCC.

6. Sail Inventory (Rule 21.1.5)

Paragraph (d) of this Rule covers racing in a regatta: the sails you carry for the first race are those you must carry for the whole regatta. No leaving heavy sails ashore on light days, swapping spinnakers or changing to an offshore mainsail.

The exception is in the case of significant damage. There is no requirement to seek approval for a change of inventory after damage unless stated in a Notice of Race, but it is recommended that you do so.

There is a rating allowance for carrying fewer than 3 spinnakers, but only if it is included on your certificate.

7. Accuracy of Rated Data (Rule 9)

Rule 9, Rating Review, does not apply to equipment inspection (ie check measurement) at an event, and the figures given in 9.8 are not general accuracy tolerances.

8. Change of Ownership (Rule 8.8)

If you buy a boat with a current IRC certificate it is automatically invalidated and you must apply for re- registration. Please double check that the certificate data is correct. For instance, it is not unknown for internal ballast to ‘disappear’! Or the previous owner opted for a different sail configuration.

9. Mast and Boom measurement bands (Definitions)

If there are no measurement bands on the mast and boom, P is measured to the bearing surface of the halyard shackle and E to the aft end of the boom so that will not help your rating! Hoist the mainsail fully, pull the clew out as far as it will go, and using paint or permanent marker (NOT tape!) mark the bands at these maximum points on the mast and boom. The mainsail must not be set beyond those bands. Note that P and E are measured on the rig, NOT the sail, so we cannot use the luff and foot measurements from your mainsail.

10. Code Zero sailsThere is no definition of a ‘code zero’ sail. For IRC a sail set forward of the mast rates either as a spinnaker or a headsail, depending on whether the SHW is at least 75% of SF (when measured as a spinnaker).

Since IRC only requires declaration of the largest spinnaker for the rating, care must be taken to ensure that ALL spinnakers carried comply with the spinnaker definition. Any ‘code zero’ that does not meet the spinnaker definition must be measured and declared as a headsail. Check with your Rule Authority if you have any concerns about compliance.

11. Notice of Race

Read the Notice of Race for an event carefully, not doing so can cause stress and extra cost! Look out for Rating Deadlines and Endorsement requirements.

Check for any deadline for rating changes, and comply with it. The Rating Authority may refuse to amend a certificate if it suspects the boat is taking advantage of a particular weather forecast. At busy periods ratings can take up to a week to issue even with the Expedited fee.

The Notice of Race will say if an Endorsed IRC Certificate is required. Missing or ignoring this can result in a last minute panic to get the boat weighed or measured! Check the NOR straight away, and if you need to get an Endorsed certificate contact your IRC Rule Authority as soon as possible.

What is headsail LLmax?

We sometimes encounter some confusion about what LLmax is, and when it needs to be declared. One of the common misconceptions is that LLmax is the length of the longest possible headsail luff that would fit on the forestay; this is NOT the case!

IRC defines LLmax as “The longest luff length of any headsail on board and which may be used while racing”.

Much of the time, LLmax will be the same as LL, which is defined as “The luff length of the largest area headsail on board and which may be used while racing”.

However, LLmax may be longer if you have, for instance, a No.3 headsail with a longer luff than your No.1 genoa. When declaring sail data, it is important that we know whether LLmax=LL, or whether it is different, so that the certificate reflects your sail wardrobe correctly.

This rough sketch shows what we mean (nb. Sails drawn so as to separate the two luffs, for clarity) 

YOUR NEW IRC RATING: IMPORTANT!!!:

Your rating may go UP, DOWN, or stay the SAME from year to year, depending on how it is affected by program changes.  It will not automatically go down each year due to age allowance, although this is an integral part of the TCC calculation. Please remember that IRC is a live rule. By this we mean that the maths behind the calculation of TCC is continually adjusted on an annual basis to reflect changes in design, sailing practice, etc.  The changes affect generic types and characteristics, not individual boats or designs. 2009 IRC RULE CHANGES are minimal and outlined in the IRC Yearbook and on the this website.

COMMON CONFUSIONS

The Rating Office regularly receives questions concerning compliance with IRC Rules. We also often hear anecdotally that boats are (generally inadvertently) infringing IRC rules. Commonly recurring issues are looked at below.

1.            Furling Headsails - Dos and Don'ts

Probably the most commonly 'misunderstood' IRC rule is Rule 26.8, Furling Headsails. Based on your application for rating, the Rating Office will determine your eligibility. It is then your responsibility to comply while racing.  If you have applied for the rating credit but your certificate shows 'Multiple headsails permitted', the most likely reason is that rated LP is less than the qualifying limit of 130% of J.

On your boat's certificate, you will find one of the following:

Multiple headsails permitted means:           

You are not receiving the furling headsail rating credit and may carry and use any number of headsails.

Or Multiple headsails permitted (Furler LP<1.3*J) means:

You applied for the furling headsail credit but are not eligible because your rated Headsail LP is less than 1.3*J. You may therefore use any number of sails.

Or Single furling headsail only means:

You are receiving the furling headsail rating credit and may use only one headsail during a race. No other headsail may be used. 

Or Single furling headsail plus H/W jib means:

You are receiving the furling headsail rating credit at the reduced rate and may use only one headsail or a heavy weather jib during a race. No other headsail may be used.

For boats receiving the rating credit, other points to note are:

Your boat must be fitted with a complete headsail furling system.

There is no restriction on carrying additional headsails on board, just in not using them.

A #3 headsail is NOT a 'heavy weather jib'.

A heavy weather jib is defined as a headsail of area not greater than 13.5% height of the foretriangle* squared and without reef points. 'Height of the foretriangle' is the vertical height from the sheerline abreast the mast to the forestay attachment point on the mast.

A boat rated for a single furling headsail but no heavy weather jib may nevertheless carry a heavy weather jib aboard without infringing IRC Rules. If however she uses it while racing, she infringes IRC Rules and must retire.

A storm jib (See IRC Definitions) may be used by all boats at any time.

If you are competing in a series of races, you must use the same headsail for all races in the series.

 2.            Changes to Boats

IRC Rule 8.6 notes that physical changes which might affect the performance of the boat automatically invalidate the rating certificate. Apart from obvious changes to rated data, sail dimensions, keels, rudders, etc., this also includes removal of furniture or any other fixed item aboard the boat when she was weighed, measured, or on which the rating has been based. Additionally, Rules 22.1 and 22.2 specifically address fitout noting that Hull Factor may be affected by any changes. So, removal of for instance the saloon table, floorboards, locker doors, watermakers, galley units, or any other fixed item is not permitted without first reporting the change to the Rating Office and requesting an amended certificate.

In a similar vein, each boat’s IRC rating certificate notes whether the empty weight includes bunk cushions and batteries. If these are noted as included, then they must be carried. ‘Loose’ items (bunk cushions, bunk boards, etc) aboard the boat when she was measured must be carried in their normal positions when racing.

3.            One Valid Certificate Only

Rule 8.2 now says: A boat shall not hold more than one valid IRC rating certificate at any time except as permitted by Rule 8.2.1. Rule 8.2.1 than describes a short handed IRC certificate. It is thus possible to hold more than one certificate at a time BUT the second one may only be used for short handed (ie maximum of 2 crew) races. It is still NOT permitted to hold a number of certificates and to pick the best one for the conditions of a particular race.

4.            Non-Spinnaker TCC

Certificates include a second, non spinnaker TCC for all boats normally rated to use a spinnaker. This second TCC is only valid for races for which the Notice of Race includes a non spinnaker class. What is definitely NOT permitted is calling up the race committee 10 minutes before the start of a windy race asking them to use the non spinnaker TCC!

5.            Crew Number And Crew Classification

Except for the special case of boats holding either short handed or ‘one design’ certificates (which must comply with their class rules in respect of crew), unless a notice of race specifically includes crew number limitations or requires boats to hold an endorsed certificate, there are no crew number or weight limitations when racing under IRC. Similarly, there are no restrictions on crew classification, again unless invoked by notice of race.  For these issues therefore, boats need to refer to notices of race for compliance issues.

IRC Crew Number is not variable by a boat and has no effect on TCC.

6.            Sail Inventory

Rule 21.1.5 summaries the limitations on sails that may be carried. A particular point, often ‘misunderstood’ is the restriction in paragraph (d) of this Rule on changing sails during a regatta run on consecutive days. Paraphrasing this, the meaning is that the sail inventory that you carry for the first race is then the inventory for the whole regatta. So, no leaving the heavy sails ashore on light days and vice versa, swapping spinnakers for different weather or course conditions, changing to an ‘offshore’ mainsail, etc.

The only exception to this is significant damage. While there is no formal requirement to seek approval for a change of inventory after damage, a prudent skipper might wish to advise the race committee to avoid potential future problems.

7.            Accuracy of Rated Data

Rule 19, Rating Review, defines the limits of accuracy for the various rated data parameters. In the case of protest, these limits then define the validity or otherwise of the certificate. These limits are NOT tolerances to be used when rating a boat. They are solely for the purposes stated in the Rules: rating reviews and protests. Boats must not therefore be measured and then the tolerances deducted from each measurement. That could lead to the withdrawal of a boat’s certificate under Rule 8.7 and possible further action under the RRS.

8.            Change of Ownership

On change of ownership of a boat with a current IRC certificate, it is prudent to check that the certificated data is correct. For instance, it is not unknown for internal ballast to ‘disappear’! Similarly, while the boat may come with a full inventory of overlapping headsails, the boat may not be rated for the largest of these. Or it may be rated for a single furling headsail. Check!