Improving participation is everyone’s job

International rating rule systems like ORC and IRC tend to focus more on the belief that they can fairly rate dissimilar boats, utilizing their measurement formulas to determine the impact of yacht design and equipment. While one design class organizations consider restrictions to maintain the health of competition, the rating rules tend to see that as someone else’s problem.

But cost in time and money is a primary variable that impacts participation, and rating systems are businesses that need participation. And as race boats become more dissimilar, which no rating rule can do well, just because they want to rate a foiling boat or specialty sail doesn’t mean they should.

So, it was of interest to learn how the GBR IRC Committee, which includes members representing owners from around the country and key organizations, recently held its annual meeting to discuss topics including trends in racing participation, economic challenges, and technical updates for the IRC rating system.

For the meeting minutes, click here.