Less Maths, More Sailing – Seahorse August 2025
IRC is distinctive in its philosophy: it rewards well sailed boats over narrowly optimised designs, balancing fairness with innovation. The IRC article in the August 2025 issue of Seahorse Magazine explored how varying race conditions shape success…
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Strong Start for 2026 as IRC Rating Applications Open
Applications have been open for 2026 IRC Rating since the beginning of January, and the IRC Rating Authority (RORC Rating Office and UNCL, Pôle Course du YCF) has already issued certificates to over 660 northern hemisphere boats for the new season fo…
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Antigua Racing Cup debut includes IRC rating
The Antigua Racing Cup (ARC) is set to debut April 9–12, 2026, where the spirit of pure competition and professional race management meet the vibrant energy of Antigua’s sailing community and the island’s world famous hospitality. With dual-scoring b…
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World Sailing Storm Jib rule change
Following recommendation from the World Sailing Special Regulations Sub-Committee, the World Sailing Oceanic and Offshore Committee approved an urgent change to the requirements of storm jibs, aiming to clarify the primary role as essential safety eq…
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IRC Rating Rule at the Heart of International Team Racing Revival
The IRC Rating Rule continues to strengthen its position as the unifying measurement system for top-level offshore competition, as two of the sport’s most prestigious team events — the Sardinia Cup 2026 and the Admiral’s Cup 2027 — confirm they will…
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IRC Joins Forces with CSA to Bring Dual Scoring to the Caribbean
Exciting news for Caribbean sailors: the International Rating Certificate (IRC) will now be used for dual-scoring across major regattas in the region, with the RORC Rating Office in the UK working hand-in-hand with the Caribbean Sailing Association (…
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OD and Development Classes in IRC – Seahorse April 2025
One-design racing is highly competitive with all boats built to strict class rules, fostering tight, tactical racing. A step away from this is single-class racing, with a degree of flexibility in design but usually with constraints on key parameters…
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Rating headsail numbers – Seahorse April 2024
Sails are a boat’s driving force and a key area of development, so it’s no surprise how often an IRC rule change involves the rating of sails or associated rigging. A key change for 2024 was to start rating the number of headsails carried on board. T…
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IRC Rating open for 2025
Applications are open for 2025 IRC Rating and the IRC Rating Authority (RORC Rating Office and UNCL, Pôle Course du YCF) have already issued certificates to over 650 northern hemisphere boats for the new season, with another 560 southern hemisphere b…
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40 years of development – Seahorse June 2024
As an 18-year-old in January 1985, Jenny Howells’ first full-time job was as office junior at the RORC Rating Office; little did she know that she would get deeply involved in a nascent yacht rating rule that, over the next 40 years, would become a w…
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