Keelboat racing is usually conducted and major trophies decided under IRC and those results rely on, to a degree how racing is run, not just the crew and boat.

Race committees and officials are reminded of the guidance to race organisers for racing under IRC Rules. The guidance includes issues a race committee should consider and gives suitable wording that might be used. In many places, the detail will need tailoring to suit the specific circumstances and Race Committees are of course free to do this.

How race committees split fleets into divisions is important. Apart from the obvious splits by TCC, boats may also be split into divisions by type. IRC rates a wide variety of boats ranging from classics through to high tech racers. Each of these has its own performance profile resulting in race results becoming increasingly dependent on conditions and course type. Separating ‘sportsboats’ from ‘cruisers’, can be to the benefit of all and is highly recommended.

All sailors know that courses and conditions will affect race results. Race Committees can minimise these effects by carefully considering the types of courses set. A balance of course types is a fundamental part of fair yacht racing, it is strongly recommended that race committees should set a variety of courses. A danger race committee inadvertently contribute to when only running windward leeward courses is type-forming the winning yachts.

Other ideas to provide the variety needed are down wind starts where the slower boats have the breeze advantage, or sailing triangle courses, and having central start/finish positions to minimise the first leg benefit.

IRC’s guidance for race committees can be found at https://ircrating.org/irc-racing/race-management/
Information on IRC can be found at https://www.sailingresources.org.au/ratingshome_2021_22/
Australian Sailing’s Prescriptions for IRC are at https://www.sailingresources.org.au/ratingshome_2020/irc-prescriptions_2020/

By Glen Stanaway https://www.sailing.org.au/about/ourstaff/