Rules get-together

Storm Trisail Club hold handicap rules seminar, a positive future for IRC in the States

Representatives of One Design classes, PHRF, IMS, Americap, Box Rules, ORCA, Caribbean Sailing Association (CSA) Rule and the International Rule Club (IRC) joined with members of US Sailing and area yacht clubs last week to discuss the status of existing handicap racing rules and the future of these rules as related to big boat racing in North America.

The all-day Handicap Racing Seminar sponsored by the Storm Trysail Club was held at the Larchmont Yacht Club, Wednesday, July 21.

"IRC, with nearly 6,000 certificates issued to boats in 31 Countries, seems to be the handicap rating rule for the future of the majority of the world's big boat sailing regattas," said Storm Trysail Club Commodore Dick Neville, summing up the day's deliberations.

Neville welcomed attendees to the seminar before STC Vice Commodore Rich du Moulin worked through a matrix of all the existing rules, outlining the following features for each rule or handicap system: Goal, Theory, Process, Cost, Demographics, Strengths, Weaknesses and Current Events.

"This was a very enlightening summary and STC will be publishing this matrix report," Neville said.

Jim Teeters and John Winder presented an explanation of ORCA's goals, while Mike Urwin, Technical Director of the RORC Rating Office and Peter Wykeham-Martin, General manage of the RORC, made a detailed presentation of IRC and fielded questions from a very interested audience.

After some healthy discussions over lunch, a Panel group of Mike Urwin, Jeffrey Chen (Chief Measurer for the CSA Rule), Dan Nowlan (Offshore Director at US Sailing), Olin Stephens, Bill Tripp (yacht designers) and Bob Monro (PHRF of LIS) was moderated by STC Past Commodore Charles "Butch" Ulmer.

"After much debate, the consensus of attendees seemed to indicate that PHRF is a very good system for entry level racing and top level racing is accommodated by box rules for the moment," Neville said.

"There is a great need for a simple and efficient "mid-level" rule to accommodate the majority of handicap racing sailors," Neville said. "The two rules that seem to work best are Americap and IRC.

"As a growing international rule with seven years of success and a positive, easy-to-follow marketing package, IRC seems favored to fill this role of a mid-level rule. We're looking forward to a healthy dialog as sailors come to grips with this issue."

News and information about the Storm Trysail Club is atwww.stormtrysail.org