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2011 IRC Yearbook now available online.

The IRC Year runs from 1st June - 31st May in Thailand. We will be issuing the 2011 yearbook with your renewals in April.

However, for those of you who want to take a look at what's now for 2011, the 2011 IRC Yearbook is now available online.

Just click on the image to view.

Changes to IRC Rules 2010 and 2011

Rule Changes

Following consultation and agreement with the IRC Policy Steering Group, the IRC Technical Committee has decided that the following changes to IRC Rules for 2010 and 2011 will take effect from 00:01 on Monday 20th December 2010.

The substantive effect of the changes below is that FL and J are always measured to the permanent forestay. In addition, it is clarified that a headsail may be hoisted and tacked from outside the foretriangle.

Insert:

The ERS definition of Forestay shall not apply.Forestay is defined as:

Forestay: Permanently attached rigging providing forward support for a mast spar. References throughout IRC Rules and Definitions to forestay are replaced by forestay.

Delete:

FL The forestay length measured from the forward end of J to the higher of either:

(a) the forestay rigging point, or:

(b) if a headsail may be set forward of the forestay, the intersection of the spar

and the lower edge of the halyard used to hoist the headsail, when at 900 to the spar, extended as necessary.

Replace:  FL

The forestay length measured from the forward end of J to the forestay rigging point.

Delete:  J

The longitudinal distance between the intersection of the fore side of the mast spar, extended as necessary, and the deck including any superstructure; and the most forward point on the deck, or a centreline bowsprit spar, to which a headsail may be tacked, projected if necessary.

Replace: J

The longitudinal distance between the intersection of the fore side of the mast spar, extended as necessary, and the deck including any superstructure; and the intersection of the centreline of the forestay, extended as necessary, and the deck, or bowsprit spar.

Delete 21.3.3

RRS 50.3(a) is amended to the extent that a spinnaker may be tacked to a bowsprit. A headsail may only be tacked to a bowsprit if J and FL are measured to the headsail tack attachment point on the bowsprit. See the definitions of J and FL.

Replace: 21.3.3

RRS 50.3(a) is amended to the extent that a spinnaker or a headsail may be tacked to a bowsprit.

Delete: Headsail

RRS 50.4 shall not apply. Any sail tacked down forward of the foremost mast which does not meet the definition of a spinnaker.

Replace: Headsail

RRS 50.4 shall not apply. Any sail tacked down forward of the foremost mast which does not meet the definition of a spinnaker. A headsail may be hoisted from above the forestay rigging point.

Delete: LP

The luff perpendicular of the largest area headsail on board and which may be used while racing. For a cutter rig, LP is measured as the shortest distance from the aftmost clew point of any headsail when set on the centre line of the boat, to the foremost forestay.

Replace: LP

The luff perpendicular of the largest area headsail on board and which may be used while racing. For a cutter rig, LP is measured as the shortest distance from the aftmost clew point of any headsail when set on the centre line of the boat, to the foremost headsail luff which may be set while racing.

Note:

Boats which may set more than one headsail simultaneously shall measure LP in accordance with the cutter rig LP definition.

IRC Crew Limits 2011

IRC Crew Limits 2011

Historically, IRC Rules did not automatically invoke crew limitations.

As a change for 2011, this position is reversed. IRC Rule 22.4.2 now says:

22.4.2 The Crew Number printed on each boat’s certificate shall not be exceeded or the crew weight shall not exceed 85kg multiplied by the Crew Number printed on the certificate.

Unless therefore, as permitted by Rule 22.4.3, a Notice of Race says something different, then crew limitations will be in force.

For events wishing to write this out, ie to have no general crew limitations, a suitable clause would be:

Notice of Race IRC Rule 22.4.2 shall not apply. There will be no limitations on crew number or weight except as required for boats rated as one designs which shall comply with IRC Rule 22.4.1.

If an Organising Authority wished to remove all crew limitations, including for one designs, then a suitable clause would be:

Notice Of Race: IRC Rule 22.4 shall not apply. There will be no limitations on crew number or weight.

Alternatively, Race Committees may wish to apply additional limitations. It is recommended that when any crew number or weight limitations are in force, race management authorities should publish a list of crew limits. There are many options which might be stated in a Notice of Race, a few of which follow:

EITHER x.1

OR x.1

AND x.2 [x.3]

Maximum Crew Number. IRC Rule 22.4.2 is deleted and replaced by “The maximum number of crew that may sail aboard a boat shall be the Crew Number printed on her certificate plus/minus x. There is no weight limit.” Maximum Crew Weight. IRC Rule 22.4.2 is deleted and replaced by: “The maximum total weight of crew in kilograms that may sail aboard a boat shall not exceed the product of the Crew Number printed on her certificate multiplied by 80 (or other suitable value). There is no maximum number of crew.” In the case of a boat rated as a One-Design, and when her IRC crew limitation exceeds her One-design Class crew limitation, a boat shall comply with her One - Design Class rules. [There shall be no restriction on crew changes.] [The following crew change restrictions shall apply:]

There are of course many other options an Organising Authority might choose.

Generally, except for safety reasons crew number minima are not recommended. However, race committees may wish to consider whether a maximum variation in crew number should be imposed to prevent boats leaving crew ashore on light weather days.

IRC/ORC Merger Comments....

The press release announcing the possible merger of the RORC/UNCL and ORC has also produced speculation about IRC that we seek to address with the question and answers shown below.

Click to read more ...