Racing Classification

Capn Pugwash

Capn Pugwash

Well-Known Member
Joined
27 Jun 2006
Messages
602
Location
On Kite - Greece
www.boatbabysitters.com
SWMBO and me would like to take part in the Round the Island Race but I am a tad confused on how to class my boat! I have a Canadian built Whitby 42 twin headsail ketch but not sure where that fits in the grand scheme of ISC rating system and ISC etc. Can anybody advise/help?
/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
 
To be competitive it's best to sail against a similar type of boat crewed by similar types of people.

IRC is mainly the preserve of people who race week in week out and have good racing sails, a clean bottom and a bowman who owns his own climbing harness.

ISC is designed for cruisers for whom the RTI is probably the only race they do all year and last raced seriously when "mast abeam" was still in the rule book.

If you've never heard of IRC it's very likely that it's not for you...
 
I too have an American made 42 foot yacht, a Sabre 426, albeit a sloop not a ketch. Like many, the RTIR is the yacht's one race of the year, so no IRC rating. Instead, we race under an ISC rating, last year in ISC Division 4B. Getting the ISC rating was a doddle, simply go on line to the website, download their measurement form, complete and return. All very simple if you know your sail measurements, eg mainsail hoist (P), Foot (E), etc. I found that the few unknowns ("Mainsail Three quarter Width") could be estimated using a bit of elementary trigonometry, and entered as an estimate. Then the ISC works its magic over your data and produces a rating. Mine has changed each year, so there must be an element of past perfomance involved. Or is it true that they simply use random numbers????

Anyway, it's all great fun and not to be missed. Get your entry in and we will look forward to seeing you on the start line! (We are dark blue hull, boat name is Resolution).

Cheers
Peter
 
Thanks for the advice guys - it has been some time since I last competed. Look forward to seeing you Peter - currently carrying USA178 sail number but have applied to RYA for a new sail number! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
 
Nice looking boat by the way - and moored in a prominent position too!

We have competed iin the RTIR several times under ISC and we too sail a long keeled ketch. The ISC handicap works well and (I'll whisper this bit) seems quite well disposed to heavyish, long keeled ketches /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif With our (measured!) 10.6 tons on a 27ft LWL, Macregor 26s were effectively giving us a head start /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

You won't see us on the line this year as we shall be away, but you'll have a great day.
 
Oi...careful mate, less of that. And what is wrong with a Doris. Lets be 'aving your boat/tank maybe down in the south and on a start line. Bloody cheeky easties!
 
[ QUOTE ]
You mean you can't shout 'Mast abeam!' any more? - what <u>is</u> the sailing world coming to? ... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

OK I'll expose myself to ridicule again - what is / was the "mast abeam" shout /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
You mean you can't shout 'Mast abeam!' any more? - what <u>is</u> the sailing world coming to? ... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

OK I'll expose myself to ridicule again - what is / was the "mast abeam" shout /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Back in those halcyon days when close-hauled gave way to running free and never-mind the tack*, it was permissable to ram any boat attempting to overtake through your windward side - this was known as "luffing". However if the helmsman manged to avoid your attempts to hit him you were required to return to your "proper course" once he, in his normal position (no running forward!) could claim "mast abeam".

A rule that I much enjoyed and which discouraged the big bullies from getting too close to smaller boats.

* "Mast abeam" continued into the days when starboard was given absolute precedence over port.
 
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