News this week that the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) is to tackle the problem of handicapping racing keelboats has received positive reaction from Irish sailing organisers.
The Channel Handicap System (CHS) and International Measurement System (IMS) are both to be replaced in the year 2000 by the International Rule 2000.
While CHS has been operating quite satisfactorily, recent trends show that yacht designers have cracked the secrets of the system with more and more Channel specific all-out racing yachts taking the lion's share of regatta trophies. The handicapping system has been maintained as a "black art" to protect its integrity.
While CHS has come under pressure in the last two years, IMS has proven to be an orchard of pickings for the designers and rapidly escalating costs have defeated the original aim of providing a cheap alternative to the once widespread International Offshore Rule (IOR).
The RORC have joined up with UNCL, the Offshore Racing Club of France and the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) to produce one rule that will replace both existing systems.
The ISAF will prove crucial if the new IR2000 is to gain global support, particularly in the United States where IMS has its best foothold.
The rule will be a Measurement Rule on two levels: one for club races where an economic self Measured Certificate will suffice; the other for use in Grand Prix and special events where a Measured Certificate will be required. The 2000 Commodore's Cup and 2001 Admiral's Cup will both be sailed under the new rule.
"This is good news," said Paddy Boyd of the Irish Sailing Association. "CHS has been under pressure for some time and IMS hasn't been working in Europe. "It's good to see that something is being done about it."
In Cork, Donal McClement also welcomed the news calling it "a good move."
On Dublin Bay where 52 keelboats have gathered for the Stentor Challenge which is being dubbed the "Irish Sea Open CHS Championship", organiser Fintan Cairns said last night: "Its a good aspiration. I hope they sort it out and don't go shooting themselves in the foot. I think the self-measurement (though) is a bit pie-in-the-sky. Hopefully it will be a seamless change."
