No more offshore racing for pre-RCD boats?

[ridgy]

Been wanting to do the AZAB and a two-handed Fastnet for many years but my current boat doesn't meet the stability requirements. I was idly pondering yesterday what would be the cheapest boat I could buy to do both events in 2027 and then sell on. Anything would do really just get me on the start line. I then dug out the current OSR 1 document to see whats needed:
https://d7qh6ksdplczd.cloudfront.ne...ffshore_Special_Regulations_2024-2025_v51.pdf

I was surprised to find that stability rating under SSS has been deleted from section 3.04, implying that the boat must have a STIX rating which not many pre-RCD boats do.
Intrigued, I then did some extensive googling which yielded only one pertinent result which was an argument from 2023 between ORC (discontinue using SSS in Cat 1 from 2025 and Cat 2+3 in 2026) and RYA/IRC (it's all fine what's the problem):

https://d7qh6ksdplczd.cloudfront.ne...f-SSS-in-the-Offshore-Special-Regulations.pdf

The outcome is not recorded but it would seem that ORC won since Cat 1 is indeed dropped in 2025 which implies that 2 and 3 will follow next year?
The document also indicated the likely cost of getting a STIX number for older boats of around 4k so probably not an option for most although I guess only one hull needs to be measured so Sigma 33 owners could maybe club together for it.

Then I thought well maybe UK races will just override it in the NoR so I got one for the next Cat 1 race, the Round Iceland race and there is no mention of it:
https://www.rwyc.org/_files/ugd/ccd497_a7798b53b49044eebda0f4a0223302a8.pdf

I'm guessing it doesn't really matter for cat 1 because few do those races anyway but cat 3 means no cross channel stuff. Either I've missed previous discussion on this or I'm surprised that it's not being talked about if it is really a thing.

 

[st599]

Just been looking at this for our club.

In the redline version of the 2026 document you can see SSS values are removed for category 0 and 1 and a cut-off created in terms of series date for category 2 and 3 (series date isn't listed in the definitions - so not sure what that means). Category 4 doesn't seem to have a stability requirement.

I can't see a club overriding this, getting event insurance when you're not following the international standards would be difficult.

 

[flaming]

JOG's current NOR is specific in its requirements.

IRC yachts must have a SSS Minimum Base Value of 10 (or equivalent STIX/AVS) to take part in Category 4races. In Category 3 races, boats with a series date of 2000 and later will be categorized under STIX and AVS.Boats with a series date before 2000 may be categorized under STIX, AVS or have a SSS Minimum BaseValue of 15 or equivalent.

I'd be extremely surprised if they changed that for next year. The reality is that the older boats racing in JOG (and RORC) are largely known designs that have a good safety record. I can't imagine any insurance company having an issue with Sigmas etc racing offshore. The issue will only really come to a head if someone finds some weird and wonderful one off from the 70s and enters it.

If I was JOG right now (and I am a member) then I would be agreeing a list of designs to grandfather in that would take care of the current fleet.

 

[flaming]

Been wanting to do the AZAB and a two-handed Fastnet for many years but my current boat doesn't meet the stability requirements. I was idly pondering yesterday what would be the cheapest boat I could buy to do both events in 2027 and then sell on. Anything would do really just get me on the start line.

As an aside, if you can find the cash buy something like a Sunfast 3200 or (if you can find one) a JPK 1010. In that segment of the market there is essentially zero depreciation at the moment. 1010 values (which I am very interested in!) have actually gone up over the last 3 years. On paper I'm actually in profit, even after my running costs for 2 season, which is insane. With their recent run of results in the big races, I don't see them dropping any time soon.

 

[st599]

If I was JOG right now (and I am a member) then I would be agreeing a list of designs to grandfather in that would take care of the current fleet.

Is it JOG's decision to make?

If World Sailing's OSR doesn't allow a boat to take part, it would be a ballsy decision to overrule that (if you're allowed to understand RRS). Imagine the fall out if something went wrong.

 

[flaming]

Is it JOG's decision to make?

If World Sailing's OSR doesn't allow a boat to take part, it would be a ballsy decision to overrule that (if you're allowed to understand RRS). Imagine the fall out if something went wrong.

Pretty sure it would be JOG's, probably in conjunction with their insurers. Remember that there is good correlation between SSS and STIX, but for older designs the work required to get STIX is very expensive. OSR's point is that you need to do most of the work to get an ORC rating, which is fair, but irrelevant in IRC land. So continuing to allow SSS feels like the obvious choice for a well established IRC based club.