| USA. Northeastern Clubs launch initiative for IRC/PHRF split |
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| Friday, 03 November 2006 | |
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Barby MacGowan: With IRC racing having rapidly evolved into a premier offering at regattas across the U.S., three northeastern clubs --New York Yacht Club, Storm Trysail Club (STC) and Stamford Yacht Club--have taken the lead in announcing the application of a fixed IRC/PHRF split at their 2007 events. Effectively, all PHRF yachts faster than PHRF 90 will sail in IRC class only. Yachts rating 90 or slower will have a choice of PHRF or IRC and can participate in dual scoring for both classes when a regatta accommodates such scoring. "The initiative of coordinating IRC/PHRF class structures builds on our collective experience with these rating rules in 2005 and 2006," said STC Commodore Rich du Moulin, adding that other regatta organizers--in particular American, Larchmont, Manhasset Bay, Indian Harbor, and Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Clubs--also have committed to the plan. "Although it is still a work in progress, we believe it will enhance participation and the quality of handicap racing in our region, improving the classes and populating divisions with more boats with closer ratings." Du Moulin used an example that sometimes in the past, a small number of fast PHRF boats would assemble in an under-populated class or get pushed into a slower PHRF class where they dominated. According to du Moulin, as racing philosophy goes, PHRF provides user-friendly local racing, while IRC provides an internationally popular system for national and international competition. Over 7,000 IRC certificates have been distributed worldwide, and there are over 50 IRC boats under construction for racing in the northeast. "Fast seaworthy IRC designs have added to the excitement and vitality of our racing," said du Moulin, "and the continued competitiveness of well-sailed older boats preserves the base of the fleet." The STC experimented successfully with the fixed IRC/PHRF split in 2005 at its biennial Block Island (R.I.) Race Week presented by Rolex. The 2007 event, scheduled for June 17-22 and doubling as the Rolex U.S. IRC Nationals, again will utilize the split as will the STC's Block Island Race (May 25); New York Yacht Club 153rd Annual Regatta presented by Rolex (Newport R.I., June 8-10), American Yacht Club Spring Series (April 28-29 and May 5-6) and Fall Series (Sept. 22-23 and 29-30); Manhasset Bay Fall Series (N.Y., Oct. 20-21 and 27-28); Edlu Race (May 12); Larchmont Race Week (July 14-15 and 21-22); YRA of Long Island Sound Championship Regatta; Stamford Yacht Club Vineyard Race (Aug. 31); and STC IRC East Coast Championship (Annapolis, Md., Nov. 2-4). |
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| Last Updated ( Friday, 03 November 2006 ) |
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