A new ‘corrected time’ platform has been launched to enable owners and skippers of a wider variety of yachts to take on some of sailing\u2019s most iconic records.Whilst many events and races have successfully applied rating systems to determine an overall winner across different classes, sailing records have always been dominated by the largest and fastest yachts like Comanche and Rambler.
\nA new platform called IRCRecords.com, created by sports management company Fourth Cape, will enable any skipper and crew to use their yacht and its IRC rating to attempt a record course and, if successful, see their new benchmark time published.
\nAttempts will be calculated and ratified using the \u2018International Rating Certificate\u2019 system (IRC), which means that yachts ranging from\u00a0a 100ft super-maxi to a standard production cruiser-racer can compete over the same courses for a corrected time record.
\nOnce entered on IRCRecords every boat has a 14-day attempt \u2018window\u2019 allowing teams to select favourable weather and tidal conditions. Sailing records will be validated using a YB tracker, which can be loaned from an IRCRecords partner, purchased at a discounted rate, or rented.
\nJules Verne Trophy winner and 33 times world speed sailing record holder, Brian Thompson commented: \u201cI have spent a good proportion of my sailing career on the quest to break world records and I have utterly loved the challenge of racing the clock. After all, it\u2019s the original form of sailboat racing, harking back to the tea clippers racing through the Southern Ocean, or the fishing schooners on the Grand Banks racing home to sell their catch.\u201d
\n\u201cWhat is particularly wonderful about this aspect of the sport is that we need the ideal weather for a record, which means we sail in the perfect conditions to suit our boat, providing the most exhilarating and unforgettable sailing! I\u2019m looking forward to getting my name on this new record leaderboard.\u201d
\nThe IRCRecords platform will have an online leaderboard of successful attempts at sailing records
\nDirector of Rating for IRC Dr Jason Smithwick explained: \u201cThe IRCRecords\u00a0platform allows accurate calculations for the wide range of boats that have IRC certificates across the world to challenge these record attempts.
\n\u201cThe IRC rule is used in over 40 countries for local and international, inshore and offshore events, we welcome more boat owners to apply for their certificates and to take part in this new challenge,\u201d he added. \u201cWe look forward to seeing record courses grow in both number and geographical spread. It will be interesting to see which courses emerge as the new \u2018classics\u2019 establishing themselves as \u2018the one to hold.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kicking off initially with courses in the northern hemisphere, including classic routes such as the around the Isle of Wight or around Britain and Ireland, IRCRecords will ratify record courses in each major IRC region allowing club racers to establish new courses and set new sailing records. Courses in the southern hemisphere will be opened in time for the start of the next sailing season.
\nThe IRCRecords platform will enable any IRC-certified yachts to make a record attempt at iconic courses such as the around the Isle of Wight. Photo:\u00a0Rolex\/Carlo Borlenghi
\nFourth Cape Managing Director Charles Darbyshire said: \u201cWe\u2019ve all enjoyed watching the high-profile teams going on standby then attempting and breaking the major records. We are very pleased to be launching the concept of corrected time records, which will make the skill and thrill of record breaking accessible to a much wider group of sailors, making best use of the equipment they already own or have access to. \u00a0We wish IRC rated yachts the best of luck as they establish, then lower the corrected record times across our wide\u00a0variety of challenging courses.\u201c
\nThe new list of IRC record-holders will start with a blank slate, so anyone who fancies becoming a record-breaking sailor or owning a record-breaking yacht may want to make an early attempt.
\nTo see available courses or find out more at\u00a0www.IRCRecords.com
\nThe post New platform to set sailing records on \u2018corrected time\u2019 appeared first on Yachting World.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A new ‘corrected time’ platform has been launched to enable owners and skippers of a wider variety of yachts to take on some of sailing\u2019s most iconic records.Whilst many events and races have successfully applied rating systems to determine an … <\/p>\n