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.