US SAILING

IRC Rating Rule

IRC Introduction:

Overview

Application Process

Trial and Amendment Requests (see form)

US SAILING contacts

 

 

NEW 2009 US IRC National Championships to be at the St. Francis Yacht Club Rolex Big Boat Series in San  Francisco.  For more information click here

 

NEW - US SAILING to Discount US-IRC Certificates After September 30th

US SAILING has once again taken an initiative to get more yachts sailing in IRC events this fall, offering a special discount on IRC certificate costs. In co-operation with US-IRC, US SAILING has agreed that all new certificates or re-validations issued after September 30, 2008 will be priced at 50% off the regular price. Discounted certificates will be issued after September 30th. They will be valid for all IRC events from October 1 through December 31, 2008.

More information on discount

NEW ISAF Sailor Classification

Some events, like the Newport to Bermuda race limit the number of professionals per boat in the Corinthian and Cruising divisions (see their NOR sections 3.2.5. and 3.2.6). The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) is the authority for determination of that status. For information on how to be classified, go to the ISAF home page www.sailing.org and click on the button marked ?Sailors? along the top edge. This will take you to the two-step registration process. Step 1 is to register as an ISAF sailor and step 2 is to complete and submit the classification form. There is no charge for this.

IRC NOTICE 2008-01  Click Here

IRC NOTICE 2008-02  Click Here

HULL FACTOR - A long awaited explanation from IRC rule technical committee gurus Jean Sans and Mike Urwin    Click Here

New Rule Prescription for 2008

In accordance with IRC Rule 26.6.2.2 US SAILING issues the following prescription.

 US SAILING prescribes that a boat racing under IRC in races under its jurisdiction requiring compliance with ISAF Special Regulations Category 2 or above may carry one more spinnaker than shown on her current IRC certificate of area not greater than rated SPA without an increase in rating. This prescription shall be referenced in a Notice of Race.

NOTE that carrying the additional spinnaker is NOT valid for other races. At this time (30 January 2008) only the 2008 San Diego Yacht Club Puerto Vallarta Race, Balboa Yacht Club Cabo race and the 2008 Newport to Bermuda race qualify for the prescription.

 

 Dan Nowlan

Offshore Director

 

 

Minutes of the IRC meeting from the US SAILING AGM 26 October 2007 

CLICK HERE

 

RULE CHANGES FOR 2008   CLICK HERE  

 

FULL TEXT OF 2008 IRC RULE  CLICK HERE    

 We are pleased to announce that for the first time, the 2008 IRC Yearbook is now available for viewing or download from the RORC website www.rorcrating.com.    Please follow the link from their homepage for further details and to download.

 Of course we realise that the ?hard copy? of the book is a popular aspect of IRC, and be assured there are NO plans to discontinue the production of this in the future: the on-line version is complimentary not an alternative.  However we hope that having it available on-line as well will prove useful to owners and the trade alike.

 NOTE EXPEDITED PROCESSING FEE !

Applications (New application, revalidation, amendment, trial, re-registration) requiring guaranteed 5 working day turnaround may incur an Expedited Processing Fee (EPF). Application of this fee is at the discretion of the Rating Office and owners will be advised in advance of the charge being levied.

RULE CHANGES FOR 2007    Click here

FULL TEXT OF 2007 IRC RULE    Click Here

 

IRC Notice 2007 01 Deals with definition and reporting of spinnakers with battens     Click Here

 

Battened Spinnakers (sometimes termed Spinoas) rating under review.  Click here for text of announcement.

 

OVERVIEW

US SAILING, the local IRC Rule Authority, working in relation to the RORC, www.rorcrating.com, is offering IRC Ratings.  The following information offers an introduction to the rule and should help answer many of your questions.  

 

ANNUAL PUBLICATION - To keep you informed
The IRC yearbook is made available at the beginning of January each year to holders of certificates from the previous year together with a rating revalidation form. Apart from the IRC rule, the yearbook provides help to owners applying for their certificates by way of diagrams and definitions, race management recommendations, useful names and addresses, articles from invited authors and much other relevant information. 

 

ALL MONO-HULL YACHTS CATERED TO
IRC is capable of applying a rating to any mono-hull yacht. In doing so, it respects such features as asymmetric spinnakers, carbon masts, canting keels, and water ballast; all of which have been permitted for several years. Furthermore, the rule is reviewed annually in light of new developments and past results. On this front, RORC seeks and actively welcome input and comment from the users.

The Basics- IRC permits and encourages owner declared measurement data- self measurements. These will be maintained into the future, although some clubs and areas have always insisted that locally they should measure boats.

Thus, there are " ENDORSED" IRC ratings. These require that US SAILING, working under the auspices of the RORC, should be satisfied as to the correctness of the rated data, generally by measurement by an appointed measurers. Race Committees may require endorsed certificates for some events. Also, an IRC measurement manual is available on request to assist with local measurement if required.

The rating one receives is a time-on-time number, with the higher number being the fastest.  For example: 1.850 is faster than 1.650.  Corrected time = Elapsed time X Rating.  See 'Ratings Explained' on side bar. 

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APPLICATION PROCESS

 

Here is a guide to the application process for those new to IRC.    Click Here


1. Save and/or download the application (click here) to your computer before using the MS Excel form.

 

  • Shorthanded Certificate - New in 2007, a Shorthanded Certificate for those racers who want to have a second certificate that changes the configuration to one more appropriate for short handed crew.  Note that if the only change you want is to reduce crew number, that alone has no impact on TCC - see IRC Rule 27.4.4   Apply here.

 

  • Sail Measurement Form  (combination IRC / ORR)  Click here 

  • Note to Sailmakers regarding ORR and IRC Sail Measurement Form:

    US Sailing ORR & IRC Sail Measurement Form 03 Sep 2008.xls

    You can input measurements in feet or meters; be sure to select button the appropriate button at the top so the conversion column is correct. The conversion column is for US Sailing's use in the event feet are used for ORR measurements.

    Include all the boat, loft, and measurer data at top and bottom.   The spreadsheet can emailed or printed and faxed.

     Emailed files will accepted only if emailed directly to US Sailing by a sailmaker since the signature will not be included on the file.    

    If faxed, the form must be signed by the sailmaker.

    Also, if emailed, please be sure to put both the boat name and sail number in the email subject line.

     

 

 

Endorsed certificate request:

If seeking an 'Endorsed' certificate, please indicate your request on the application and/or include the following Endorsement Request Form.  (Any recorded Endorsed measurements on the application shall be clearly identified as such from your local measurer.)  Note, additional fees apply.

 

2. Complete application, consulting an IRC measurer and/or sail makers as necessary.

-Measurement Diagrams and the IRC rule are available here as further reference.

-Various sources of data including a boat's IMS Certificate, brochures, PHRF, designers/builders, etc., may be helpful in providing data one needs when applying.

 

Application data are asked to be in the metric measurement system, meters and kilograms. Here are the appropriate conversion factors if needed:

  • Multiply feet by 0.3048 to obtain meters

  • Multiply pounds by o.4536 to obtain kilograms

3. Submit the application only after it has been fully completed via email as an attachment.  

Submission of partially completed applications are discouraged and cause possible delays.  Please consult an IRC Measurer for any assistance.

 

We shall like to request ALL applications be emailed as an attachment to: IRC@ussailing.org  

 

The Offshore Office will then confirm receipt as timely as possible.

4. Upon receipt of fully completed application, IRC certificates are expected to be returned within 3 to 5 weeks, depending on the time of year. Certificates are valid from 1st January to 31st December in the USA.  Thank you.

 

 

STANDARD CLASS LIST:

Boat classes/models for which IRC Standards have been set in terms of LOA, overhangs, empty weight, beam and draft* measurements only.   (*version/draft to be declared if there are different ones)

 

Upon applying for base ratings (non-endorsed), one may elect to have standard Overhang Dimensions & a class weight used towards their IRC Ratings.  Racers shall then need to submit rig, sail, etc., to complete the application process.  These standard overhang and displacement values reference the lightest boat in class.  Please state your interests in using these data if desired when applying?

 

RORC Standard Class Listing (Excel File, 35KB)

 

 

REVALIDATION FORM FOR 2008:      Click here to renew your certificate for 2008

 

 

TRIAL and AMENDMENT REQUESTS:

Please use the following form should you like to request a Trial Rating and/or an Amended Certificate.  Owners must be holding a valid certificate for the current year.

    

     Download form for an amendment click here

    

     Download form for a trial click here.   Trials can only be done for the 2008 rule.

 

 

 

FEE STRUCTURE FOR 2008:

 

This fee table is for quick reference.  Please click here for a more detailed fee breakdown with additional  notes.

 

 Cert. Type:

Fees per boat:

New Ratings

$5.77/ft *LOA

Amended Certs

$2.21/ft *LOA 

Revalidation

$5.00/ft *LOA 

Endorsement Fee

$50.00

Trial Certificates

$2.55/ft *LOA each

Re-reg./Transf. of Owner

$2.72/ft *LOA 

New Shorthanded  Certificate

Must have standard certificate

$2.88/ft * LOA

Fax Service 

(other than orig. copy):

$10 each

Cert Copy of other boats (see policy):

$20 ea. (applies to 1st 10) 

 

 

 

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PERFORMANCE PACKAGE- Receive up to date POLAR DIAGRAMS & Target boat speeds (VMGs).  (For list of available classes, click here.)

 

 

 

Please direct any additional questions you might have to Offshore@ussailing.org.  On staff to answer technical & administrative questions are (if calling, offices hours are between 8:30 am and 5:00 pm East Coast time).   Thank you.  

 

Dan Nowlan

401-683-0800 ext 664

Nathan Titcomb

401-683-0800 ext 628
Donna Leary 401-683-0800 ext 661
Offshore Office 401-683-0800

    

 

The United States-IRC Foundation, Inc. works to support and develop use of the IRC rule in co-operation with US SAILING.  For information about major regattas and owner representation go to   www.us-irc.org

 

IRC Rule and the information contained here is published with permission from the RORC Rating Office & Seahorse Rating Ltd.  For additional information please contact US SAILING or visit www.rorcrating.com.  Thank you for your interest.

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