Invasion complete

IRC fully gets the thumbs up in the US

The New York Yacht Club (NYYC) and the Storm Trysail Club (STC) jointly announced today that they will be racing under IRC beginning in 2005. The handicap rule will be used at the NYYC’s Rolex Transatlantic Challenge starting on 21 May 2005 and the NYYC’s 151st Annual Regatta on 10-12 June 2005.

Meanwhile STC will offer IRC classes in the Lauderdale-Key West Race in January, the Pineapple Cup (Florida to Jamaica) in February and will use it at Block Island Race Week 19-25 June. The commitment to IRC is from 2005 to 2007, or for a minimum of three years.

Presently there are about 6,000 yachts rated and racing under IRC in Europe, as well as in more than 30 other countries, including Australia, South Africa and Hong Kong. Most recently IRC was used for the first time in the US at the St. Francis Yacht Club’s Big Boat Series in San Francisco. It will also be used in the next Sydney-Hobart Race in December in Australia.

Reasons for the change include:
- A desire to improve and reinvigorate handicap racing in our local (NYYC, STC and U.S.) fleets
- to encourage increased U.S. participation in international regattas and international participation in U.S. regattas;
- IRC’s popularity worldwide;
- It produces a single-number rating;
- Fairly rates a wide variety of types;

• - Vast database of hundreds of popular designs. This helps to keep measurement costs down.
  
  George R. Hinman Jr., vice-commodore of the NYYC gave his views: “This will foster international competition under IRC, a rule that’s accepted worldwide. Things have been a struggle of late; handicap racing hasn’t grown. IRC is a good mid-level rule that is vibrant and active. Now, we’ll be on the same page as the rest of the world.”
  
  Dick Neville, Commodore of STC, "With nearly 6,000 certificates issued to boats in 31 countries, IRC is the handicap rating rule for today and in the future for the majority of the world's big boat sailing regattas."
  
  IRC will also be used in this country in 2005 at the Annapolis Yacht Club’s Annapolis-Newport Race, said Commodore Mark A. Myers; the Stamford Yacht Club will use IRC for the NORT and the Vineyard Race, according to Commodore James F. Love Jr.; St. Francis Yacht Club will use it for major handicap events including the Big Boat Series again next year, according to Commodore Terry G. Klaus, and it will be offered by Premiere Racing at Key West Race Week and Miami Race Week, says Peter S. Craig. Also, Larchmont Yacht Club will offer IRC classes in the Edlu Distance Race and Larchmont Race Week, said Commodore Peter E. Kelly.
  
  The USIRC Management Committee will be formed. On it will be members of yacht clubs that elect to utilize the IRC rule in America and major-event organisers. It will establish a Technical Committee and Promotional Committee. USIRC will be affiliated with US Sailing, the sport’s national authority, that will process the certificates. The executive director of USIRC is Barry Carroll.