IRC Nationals – Change to Format

Yachting New Zealand has decided to change the format of the IRC Nationals being held at next week’s Bay of Islands Sailing Week regatta.

The IRC Nationals will now have two classes and, consequently, there will be two IRC National Champions.

In reaching this decision Yachting New Zealand considered concerns raised with Bay of Islands Sailing Week in the last week by some of the competitors in the A Division over the appropriateness of planing boats like TP52s competing directly in the IRC Nationals with displacement boats. The comment was made that this was not in accord with current best practice in regattas overseas, and it was suggested that the combined A and B Division format of the IRC Nationals would mean longer delays between races for A Division boats than was desirable. A further concern expressed over the format was that it would prevent the setting of a longer beat in the windward-leewards for A Division.

As stated above, there will now be two separate classes in the IRC Nationals.

Based on regatta entries to date, IRC Class 1 will comprise Fox, Georgia, Kia Kaha, Mayhem, Team Beau Geste, Temptation and Viento. IRC Class 1 boats will race as part of A Division.

IRC Class 2 will comprise Carrera, Crusader35, Georgia One, Ice Breaker and Lawless. IRC Class 2 boats will race as part of B Division.

The Notice of Race has being amended and an amendment to the Sailing Instructions will be available at registration.

And a reminder that registration is between 1600 and 1800 hrs on Tuesday 26 January, and that there is no race briefing.

Andrew Riddell
Secretary
Bay of Island Sailing Week Inc
register@bayofislandssailingweek.org.nz
phone 09 4037177 or 022 12 66 232