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IRC Rating boat weighing session at Premier Marina (Swanwick)
Saturday 11th February 2012 - From 0900

All owners wishing to take part should contact the organising owner Peter Dessent at p.dessent@gmail.com and inform the RORC rating office by contacting Caroline Aubrey-Fletcher at caroline@rorcrating.com

Benefits:
Cost of the lift is reduced
Travel time of the measurer is shared
Cost of the RORC loadcell is shared
An accurate weight and measurements for your IRC rating are available for certification before the main events of the 2012 season get going.

Offshore Special Regulations
Changes for 2012

ISAF has announced changes to the OSR with effect from 1st January 2012.

The following is a brief summary of the significant changes:

1.02 - Responsibility of Person in Charge
A clear requirement for the person in charge to nominate a person to take over their responsibilities in the event that they become incapacitated.

3.03 - Hull Construction Standards
The wording has been updated following feedback after the introduction of plan review criteria.

3.06 - Exits - Monohulls
Has been updated for any monohull launched after January 2014, however it is advised builders and designers ensure compliance for any new builds.

3.28.4 - Battery Systems
New rechargeable batteries installed shall be of the sealed type from which liquid electrolyte cannot escape.

4.05.3 - Fireblankets
A requirement for a fireblanket to be installed next to any cooking facility.

4.20.5 - ISO Liferaft Servicing
A definitive requirement for a minimum of a biennial service has been introduced alongside any manufacturer requirements.

4.26 Storm and Heavy Weather Sails
A substantial rewrite of this section has happened to clarify measurement method and construction for new sails. However of significance to everyone is to remove any requirement for storm trysails in Category 4 and to allow reefs in heavy weather jibs.

5.01 - Lifejackets
All new lifejackets purchased must conform to ISO12403-3 (level 150) with the features and accessories described within the Offshore Special Regulations.

6.05 - Medical Training
The training requirements have been clarified and a defined step increase in requirements for Category 2, 1 and 0 has been established.

The complete Offshore Special Regulations can be downloaded here.

Note
Some events (including RORC races) use amended OSR, so check with the organisers to ensure you comply.

New for 2012 - IRC Solent Small Boat Championship
July 14 / 15th 2012

SIRCOA is pleased to announce an exciting new regatta for 2012.

The event is designed specifically for boats with an IRC rating below 0.960 and less than 35 feet in overall length complying with ISAF Offshore Special Regulations Category 4. Dayboats not complying with ISAF Offshore Special Regulations Category 4 will race in a separate class.

For more details see the Small Boat Championship page.

Full details and Notice of Race to follow soon, but book these dates in your diary today.

IRC Solent Series Championship
Provisional dates for 2012

Seven days of close racing with seven top Solent clubs in the 2012 Solent Series.

Spanning the full length of the Solent from the Nab Tower race in the East to the Royal Solent Regatta off Yarmouth, this series aims to encourage larger fleets of IRC-rated yachts in a wide range of competitive racing.

Post-race hospitality at each host club provides the opportunity to experience the unique atmosphere of each, as well as socialising with your fellow competitors.

Provisional Dates for 2012:
May 12th - Royal Southampton YC - Clarkson Cup
June 9th - Royal Southern YC - June Regatta
July 28th - Royal Solent YC - Tattinger Regatta
August 4th - Royal Yacht Squadron - Pre-Cowes event
Sep 1st - Portsmouth Sailing Club
Sep 22nd - Island SC - Nab Tower race
Sep 23rd - Royal Corinthian YC - Tiny Mitchell Regatta

For more details see the Solent Series Championship page.

Notice of Race to follow soon, but book these dates in your diary today.

Why not join the SCRA

Have you thought about becoming a member of the ‘Solent Cruising and Racing Association?’ The SCRA co-ordinates sailing events between the many Solent Clubs and produces a detailed fixtures poster every year which the Club receives.. Their website is an essential source of events and useful links and is regularly updated. The SCRA also produces The Solent Book, which is a unique and invaluable source of information to everyone interested in the Solent. The association is an integral part of the support group which runs the weather station on the Bramble post and helps pay for this very useful facility. They are also responsible for the majority of the racing marks within the Solent, obtaining sponsorship as well as laying marks to facilitate all race events.

The membership is £19.50 per year and a free copy of the Solent Year Book arrives in the post in April – a book which includes tide tables for the next two years, contact details for all clubs, classes, harbour masters and ferry information – a must-have for every boat owner. Why not visit the website and join today: click www.scra.org.uk and use menus About the SCRA and then Membership.

IRC Solent Series Championship 2011 - Prize Giving
Saturday 29th October - Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, Cowes

2011 Overall Champion
High Tension - Andrew Given

The Solent Series Championship prize giving was held at the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club, Cowes on 29th October at 4pm.

2011 trophy winners:

Overall Series and Championship Results.

Changes to the Shingles Bank?

A quotation below from a local navigator regarding a recent trip past the Shingles, food for thought!

"On the way out at Hurst, I thought that it must be a really clear day because we could clearly see the cliffs out at Anvil Point/Swanage. But as we came closer it was clear that this was not the case as it was a massive bank. The Shingles. We went and had a look later. I’ve never seen the Shingles so exposed. It was a good 2 – 2.5m high. Checking the tides for the time (1.9m and charts show 1.9m) the bank should have been just awash. It looks like this winter the storms have raised the bank by about 2.5m. So, lesson this year is not to take a cut at any time across the bank. Currently, it’s exposed at all states of the tide. The photo shows a HW mark and my reckoning is that it’s about 1.5 m at high tide!"

IRC Crew/Weight restrictions for 2011

Effective from January 2011, the IRC rules have included crew number/weight restrictions as follows:

22.4 Crew Number/Weight
22.4.1 Boats rated as one-designs, as noted on the boat’s certificate, shall conform with their one-design class rules in respect of crew number/weight limitations unless freed from this requirement by notice of race. See also Rule 13.7
22.4.2 The Crew Number printed on each boat’s certificate shall not be exceeded or the crew weight shall not exceed 85kg multiplied by the Crew Number printed on the certificate.
22.4.3 Rule 22.4 may be amended by Notice of Race.

A number of owners have contacted us querying the meaning of 22.4.2. To obtain clarification we contacted the Rating Office, who have confirmed the following:

"Provided the Notice of race does not change this rule (as permitted by 22.4.3); Rule 22.4.2 contains two conditions, only one of which need be satisfied for a boat to comply with the rule. A boat complies with the rule provided that
1) The total number of crew does not exceed the crew number printed on the certificate, in which case the total weight of the crew is not relevant;
OR
2 The total crew weight does not exceed the crew number on the certificate multiplied by 85Kg, in which case the total number of crew is not relevant.
Note that it is possible, but not necessary, to comply simultaneously with both conditions.
Unless explicitly stated otherwise in the Notice of Race or Class Rules, there is no stipulation regarding the clothing to be worn when crew are weighed; i.e. the weight of clothing can be excluded from the weight of the crew."

Editors Note: this could be interesting if crew weights are checked in public! It might be sensible for event organisers intending to weigh crew to specify a minimum clothing requirement in their Notice of Race; for example by inserting a clause such as “IRC Rule 22.4.2 is amended to the extent that crew shall be weighed wearing shorts and shirt”.

Solent mark changes for 2011

There are a number of name changes for 2011 and one slight position change as follows:

In recent years, SCRA and Cowes Week have published a list of 90 of the main racing marks in the Solent area using 2-digit identifiers. For 2011, the 2-digit list is replaced with a new Solent Mark Designations list with over 150 marks,so including far more of those that are commonly used.

Each mark is described by just two characters - either two digits or one digit and one letter. The list is recommended for use by all clubs and race organisers where courses are given on the radio, and may be used for course boards if desired.

The whole area has been divided into 8 zones, numbered 1 to 6 from west to east, plus Zone 7 for Southampton Water and Zone 8 for “specials.” The zones are:-
Zone 1 - Western Approaches t o the Solent
Zone 2 - West Solent
Zone 3 - Mid-Solent (Western part) Zone 7 Southampton Water
Zone 4 - Mid-Solent (Eastern part) Zone 8 Laid Marks and Local Marks
Zone 5 - East Solent
Zone 6 - Eastern Approaches to the Solent
Zone 7 - Southampton Water
Zone 8 - Laid Marks and Local Marks

Each buoy within a Zone has a letter or number to identify it. The unique designation for each mark is made up of the Zone number plus the buoy letter or number.

Mark list by Zone

Mark list Alphabetic

Full notes