IMS discussion

US owners invited to a discussion in Newport in March

IMS owners are invited to attend an IMS workshop to discuss issues pertinent to the Newport Bermuda Race and the Onion Patch Series and to discuss other important issues concerning the rule.

On 5 March at 1400, the Bermuda Race Organising Committee (BROC) will host an IMS Owners Committee (IMSOC) workshop at the Newport Hyatt Regency. The workshop kicks off the Cruising Club of America’s Safety at Sea Weekend.

The Newport Bermuda Race and the Onion Patch Series are America’s premier IMS events. Of the several hundred sailors attending the weekend seminar, many are IMS boat owners and crew meeting the Newport Bermuda Race Safety at Sea seminar requirements. It’s a perfect opportunity for these owners to discuss the IMS rule and its future.

Discussion will include:

Newport Bermuda Race Issues
1. Crew limitations - and the expectations of the BROC for verification regarding ISAF Sailors ISAF Classification System for C/R division;
2. Strict adherence to the driver rule in C/R and Americap;
3. Sail limitations with specific reference to the options of how to rate the boats regarding A-sails - i.e. the advantages/disadvantages to including one or both of the spinnaker types;
4. Safety issues for Cat 1 - tethers (new version) , need to have them on at night/rough weather, etc, personal EPIRBs, etc;
5. ISAF Regs and the Special US Regs re liferafts for Cat 1;
6. Onion Patch - who can be a team? - combination of racers/cruisers, etc – and the need to have one certificate for the regatta;

IMS US Sailing Issues
1. What can US Sailing do to promote IMS and IMS Racing in the USA?;
2. What do representatives from different IMS groups and Race Organisers want from IMS (50's, 40's, Long Island Sound, Chesapeake, Great Lakes, KWRW, SORC, etc)?;
3. How do we repackage IMS and market it better?;
4. Do we want to preserve and improve IMS?;

ORC and IMS world issues
1.What can the ORC offer the US IMS fleet?;