Is handicap racing getting shook up?

Before the 2026 RORC Caribbean 600, yacht designer and past Seahorse magazine editor Julian Everitt wondered aloud if the IRC needed a reset. The scow-bowed Mach 50 Palanad 4 by Sam Manuard was a significant departure from modern hull shape, and it had won the 2026 RORC Transatlantic Race. Did IRC get it right?

Blast reaching across the Atlantic is a lot different than a 600 nm race that weaves around 11 Caribbean islands, but Palanad 4 again dominated, winning her class and runner-up overall. More so, the trades were more south-easterly than typical, producing significantly more upwind and tight-reaching sailing across the course.

For the Mach 50 Palanad 4, renowned for its reaching performance, this was not ideal. “Probably about 60 percent of the race was upwind or tight reaching,” said Palanad’s navigator Will Harris. Additionally, Palanad 4 suffered an early setback when a halyard issue dropped their J1 shortly after the start, giving the fleet a one-mile head start. Yet they excelled.

The scow-bow has been fast with for the Mini 6.50 and Class40. Is handicap racing getting shook up too?