IRC Proposes to Rate Headsail Count from 2024

28th September 2023

Afloat.ie Team

The Howth Grand Soleil 44 Samatom setting a flying jib and headsail in the coastal class of Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta 2023. IRC rule makers say carrying multiple headsails can give distinct advantages with flexibility in sail wardrobe for varying conditions and the ability to increase headsail area by multiple headsails set flying, particularly in a reaching configuration. In recognition of these advantages, from 2024, the number of headsails carried aboard will be counted and rated, subject to IRC Congress approval Credit: Afloat

A major rule change for 2024 seeks to ensure fair competition among IRC-rated boats with varying sail configurations and address sustainability issues and costs to owners.

The IRC international rating system issues certificates for a huge variety of boat designs, from grand prix racers to cruising boats, and its development always looks at how the rating calculation across this diverse fleet might be improved.

At the annual International IRC Congress at the end of 2022, the IRC Technical Committee proposed rating the number of headsails from 2024; this was agreed in principle and during 2023, the Technical Committee has been working on the details and implementation of a new rule.

"IRC does not currently rate the number of headsails carried on board"

IRC does not currently rate the number of headsails carried on board, but considers the largest headsail area and longest headsail luff length. However, carrying multiple headsails can give distinct advantages with flexibility in sail wardrobe for varying conditions and the ability to increase headsail area by multiple headsails set flying, particularly in a reaching configuration. In recognition of these advantages, from 2024, the number of headsails carried aboard will be counted and rated, subject to IRC Congress approval.

In recognition of safety requirements, Offshore Special Regulation-compliant heavy weather jibs and storm jibs will not be included in the rated headsail count. Owners may still apply for an additional allowance for using a single furling headsail, and this rule will be simplified.

The IRC Technical Committee has now published the proposed rule changes for 2024 and Notice 2023-01, which gives more information and includes an indication of the rating effects for various numbers of headsails on various sizes and types of yachts.

The proposed change is downloadable below as a PDF.

Another IRC change for most boat owners for 2024 is all endorsed cert boats must have a measurement sticker on each sail, so owners may have to get sails measured during the winter to comply.

More here

Downloads

IRC-Notice-2023-01-Number-of-Headsails-rating-effects-Sept-2023.pdf (170 Downloads)

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THE RORC:

Established in 1925, The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) became famous for the biennial Fastnet Race and the international team event, the Admiral's Cup. It organises an annual series of domestic offshore races from its base in Cowes as well as inshore regattas including the RORC Easter Challenge and the IRC European Championship (includes the Commodores' Cup) in the Solent
The RORC works with other yacht clubs to promote their offshore races and provides marketing and organisational support. The RORC Caribbean 600, based in Antigua and the first offshore race in the Caribbean, has been an instant success. The 10th edition took place in February 2018. The RORC extended its organisational expertise by creating the RORC Transatlantic Race from Lanzarote to Grenada, the first of which was in November 2014
The club is based in St James' Place, London, but after a merger with The Royal Corinthian Yacht Club in Cowes now boasts a superb clubhouse facility at the entrance to Cowes Harbour and a membership of over 4,000

At A Glance – RORC

RORC Race Enquiries:

Royal Ocean Racing Club T: +44 (0) 1983 295144 E: [email protected] W: http://www.rorc.org/

Royal Ocean Racing Club:

20 St James's Place, London SW1A 1NN, Tel: 020 7493 2248 E: [email protected]

2026 RORC Key dates

Key RORC 2026 dates extracted from the programme:

January–February 2026
• 11 January – RORC Transatlantic Race (Lanzarote to Antigua)
• February (dates vary) – Nelson’s Cup, Antigua
• 23 February – RORC Caribbean 600

May 2026
• 2 May – Cervantes Trophy Race (Cowes to Le Havre)
• 15 May – North Sea Race
• 22–25 May – IRC European Championships, International Poole Regatta
• 23 May – Myth of Malham Race
• 30 May – De Guingand Bowl Race

June 2026
• 12 June – Morgan Cup (Cowes to Dartmouth)
• 20 June – Round Ireland Race (Wicklow)

July 2026
• 3 July – Cowes–Dinard–Saint Malo Race
• 25 July – Channel Race

August 2026
• 8 August – Baltic Sea Race (Helsinki)
• 9 August – Round Britain and Ireland Race (Cowes)
• 26–29 August – IRC National Championship (Dartmouth)

September 2026
• 4 September – Cherbourg Race

October 2026
• 17 October – Rolex Middle Sea Race (counts towards 2027 championship)