IRC 2020 Revalidation

We start processing 2020 certificates from 18th May.

2020 forms are published in the downloads section.

In preparation for your revalidations, below is a brief summary of changes to the 2020 rating calculations.

Answers to common questions are also included in the "Info for 2020 Applications" section.

This is not an exhaustive list of every development in the new software, but covers the main changes and has been produced to help owners understand changes to IRC ratings.  

All these are applied automatically in the software, which is applied across the whole IRC fleet.

WHISKER POLES

The use of poles set to leeward to act as struts for the sheeting of headsails is becoming more common, both with boats rated for headsail only and boats rated with spinnakers, who can use a whisker pole provided a spinnaker is not set. Due to current lack of clarity provided by the current Racing Rules & ERS the IRC Rules and definitions to clarify that the current configurations are permitted with an impact to TCC.

IRC Rules now read:

21.3.5 Boats will be rated according to whether they use a spinnaker pole, whisker pole and/or a bowsprit according to the following configurations:

• (a) No spinnaker pole (spinnaker tacked on deck) or a centre line bowsprit only.
• (b) An articulating bowsprit only.
• (c) Spinnaker pole(s) and/or whisker pole(s) either with or without a bowsprit.

Whisker Pole - A spar attached to the mast spar to set a headsail. ERS F.1.4(d)(ii) does not apply.

Those boats previously rated with a spinnaker and either ‘no spinnaker pole or bowsprit’ or ‘bowsprit only’ who have declared that they use a whisker pole will see an increase in their TCC for 2020.  The rating effect will depend on the specific configuration of the boat.

VARIABLE BALLAST

IRC has recognised single- and double-handed sailing for many years with the option to have an additional, short-handed certificate in a different configuration. With the increased growth of short-handed sailing in recent years, the idea of adding low-volume water ballast (equivalent to 3 or 4 crew members) is developing in the minds of designers and sailors.

Water ballast boats do not represent a large number in the overall worldwide IRC fleet but we wish to ensure that this development is rated appropriately.The IRC technical committee have therefore updated the variable (eg. water) ballast formulation and also the rules around variable and moveable ballast configurations. Variable ballast volume must be declared and, if available, the maximum list angle.  See IRC 2020 Rule 22.3.

The rating effect will depend on the specific configuration of the boat.

IRC KEEL TYPES

The IRC technical committee have identified an improvement to help transition the rating between different keel types, and the rating formula for certain keel types has been updated and now uses a keel aspect ratio. This update may not increase the rating for your boat but will help to separate between keel types in the IRC rating framework.The rating effect will depend on the specific configuration of the boat.

SAIL AREA

The rating of mainsail area has been reviewed; boats with small mainsail widths relative to E may see an increase in rating.

Published by the IRC Rating Authority

BULB WEIGHT Changes for 2020

BULB WEIGHT

There are various rule changes for 2020 and these include the bulb weight definition.

Bulb Weight – the weight of the Bulb and any part of the Keel below the upper surface of thebulb (including connection plates, under-fin spacers and infills).

Please note that we have not asked every boat to check and confirm their bulb weight at revalidation as for most boats the bulb weight increase from a standard fin attachment plate is insignificant in rating terms.

IRC’s primary focus is on the boats with overly large connections such as the Maxi 72s, TP52s, etc.and the need to deter exploitation of the IRC bulb weight definition.

The number of boats for which this definition change is significant is a very small percentage of the IRC fleet, and for this reason we did not overtly request bulb weight from every boat at revalidation; however the bulb weight definition change for 2020 has been widely publicised.

It is the owner's responsibility to ensure that any change to the rated bulb weight to comply with the 2020 definition is declared at revalidation.

2019 IRC Year Book

There is no printed IRC 2019 Yearbook – please see www.rorcrating.com for more information.

However, there will be special IRC owners editions of Seahorse Magazine (see below). 

The second exclusive IRC edition of Seahorse is now available (July 2019). 

These exclusive editions, available online only for current IRC Members, replace the printed IRC Yearbook for 2019 and include specific IRC content similar to that previously included in the Yearbook . We hope you find them interesting and useful.

Click the cover photo to access this and other issues with your IRC certificate number and Seahorse passcode, as shown below and at the bottom of your certificate. 

IRC Certificate number: Cert no not applicable

Seahorse passcode: Seahorse code not applicable

IRC 2019 Online revalidation and forms now available for download.

Online revalidation is now available here. 2019 On-Line Revalidation 

All IRC 2019 Forms are now available for download in the  IRC Application Forms & Downloads section.

A full list of rule changes is also available on the site, just check the left hand menu.

Please note that this years re-validation will ask you for details on the number of spinnakers carried while racing.

NUMBER OF SPINNAKERS

Historically in IRC the default number of spinnakers has been set at 3 with an option to declare additional spinnakers. While this has been generally considered to be a minimum number for boats competitively racing, it does not take into account that many club level boats only use 1 or 2 spinnakers and have felt disadvantaged. To encourage boats with a smaller spinnaker inventory the IRC Rule has changed to allow boats to declare that they will carry fewer than 3 spinnakers and will see a rating benefit on that basis.  If a boat was previously rated with 3 spinnakers and makes no declaration of carrying fewer, the rating will continue to be based on a default of 3.

The rating effect for an average boat is approximately (allowing for decimal rounding) 

Reduction from 3 to 2 spinnakers:  -0.001

Reduction from 2 to 1 spinnaker: -0.002 

2019 Changes in Brief

NUMBER OF SPINNAKERS

Historically in IRC the default number of spinnakers has been set at 3 with an option to declare additional spinnakers. While this has been generally considered to be a minimum number for boats competitively racing, it does not take into account that many club level boats only use 1 or 2 spinnakers and have felt disadvantaged. To encourage boats with a smaller spinnaker inventory the IRC Rule has changed to allow boats to declare that they will carry fewer than 3 spinnakers and will see a rating benefit on that basis.  If a boat was previously rated with 3 spinnakers and makes no declaration of carrying fewer, the rating will continue to be based on a default of 3.

The rating effect for an average boat is approximately (allowing for decimal rounding) 

Reduction from 3 to 2 spinnakers:  -0.001

Reduction from 2 to 1 spinnaker: -0.002

 ADJUSTABLE FORESTAYS

At the IRC Congress 2018 meeting there was a request to remove the declaration of a forestay “adjustable but never adjusted while racing”, an option which until now had no impact on TCC. The request was due to an understanding and perception that owners were using adjusting forestay length while racing despite the declaration.   A rule change for 2019 removes this declaration option, and any boat that has declared an adjustable forestay as never adjusted while racing will see a small rating increase.   This does not apply to boats with the ability to move the mast foot while racing, which can still be declared as not adjusted while racing.

 DRAFT

The treatment of draft has been researched and reviewed by the IRC Technical Committee following an understanding  that deep draft boats have been favoured (or at least not discouraged) under IRC.  The review has resulted in a lower rating   for relative shallow draft and higher rating for relative deep draft.

CRUISING AND CLASSIC BOATS

The rating of heavy cruisers and classic boats, with relatively low sail area and heavy boat weight, has been reviewed and some of these boats will now see more of a rating benefit.