New handicap system lures big fleet for series

HOBART yacht owners have embraced IRC as the major handicap system for the Combined Clubs Summer Pennant Series which starts on the River Derwent today.

So far 33 yacht owners have revalidated their IRC certificates or are in the process of getting rated under the handicap, double that of last season.

The major objective is to prepare Tasmanian boat owners and race officers for the Australian Yachting Championships to be conducted by the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania in January 2020.

IRC is the Tattersalls Cupdeciding handicap system used in the Sydney to Hobart and most other major yachting events internationally. but in recent seasons the Victoria- designed AMS system has proven popular, although only in Victoria and Tasmania.

Today’s race has attracted a fleet of more than 50 keelboats, a river race starting and finishing off Castray Esplanade, Battery Point.

The fleet has been divided into four divisions and all but Division 4 will have results based on IRC, AMS and PHS scoring.

However, IRC results from today’s harbour race will be provisional as some certificates have not come through in time to be used in calculated corrected times. Results will be recalculated when all yachts have received their ratings.

Division 1 of the Combined Club Summer Pennant has attracted an outstanding fleet of 18 boats of which all but one has entered the IRC category.

Heading the fleet are last season’s summer pennant winners Intrigue (IRC and AMS) and TasPaints (PHS), and shortcourse winner and Australian IRC champion Philosopher.

Fleet pacesetters The Fork in the Road, Oskana, Doctor Who are also in the fleet, as well as Wild West and Crusader.

Five Division 2 boats and six Division 3 boats also now have applied for IRC ratings, indicative of the boost for club racing using this rating system.

In Sardinia, 2018 Tasmanian Sailor of the Year Michael Cooper, sailing a new boat also named Export Roo, is in ninth place overall in the Melges 20 world championship.

In Sydney yesterday, teenager Will Sargent won the sailoff for fifth place overall in the Australian youth match racing championship.