Pressure from yachtsmen forced a Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) rethink on proposals to abolish the popular Channel handicap (CHS) this week. Following a meeting of its handicap council in London, new rule IR2000 now appears to be CHS by a different name.
The new secret rule, announced last September, has two levels; one for grand prix racing and a lower level supposed to replace CHS.
The abolition of Channel - in which Ireland has the highest per capita usage in the world - was more than RORC could bear and last Monday's meeting, attended by the Irish Sailing Association's ratings chairman, Peter Murray, saw the shape of the new rule become much clearer.
Higher level IR2000 will be a fairly simple rule and there will be no attempt to measure or control the hull shape within the waterplane - other than a ban on concave sections. Measurement will largely duplicate CHS with the addition of an International Measurement System (IMS) type inclination test. "It is almost certain that the new rule will encourage yachts which will be slightly heavier than IMS norms," said Murray. "Higher level certs will probably carry a notional `rating' in metres, as well as a four decimal time computation factor (TCF)," he added.
In the lower level, of most interest to Ireland's 270 CHS users, there are only a few superficial changes from CHS. It will have an equivalent to `endorsed' CHS and will be a secret rule with separate formulae.
Meanwhile, Clayton Love is searching for additional Sportsboat and one-design associations to swell the anticipated 13 classes for July's Ford Cork week. To date, 76 entries have been received for the biennial regatta that has outgrown Cowes Week in terms of participating numbers.
The Royal Cork Yacht Club's organising committee expect to reach the 100-boat target set for the Sigma 33 division, but are keen to attract smaller keelboat classes such as the J24s to join the 28-foot Impalas, who stage their national championship within the Crosshaven week from July 11th17th.
In Wicklow, Cork Dry Gin Round Ireland race co-ordinator Fergus O'Conchobhair is playing a waiting game for entries to the 704-mile race, but he says there have been three genuine Category C enquiries for Whitbread 60 yachts. Early entries are expected in February and for the first time, Paddy Power, the bookmakers, will take bets on the overall CHS winner of the non-stop circuit.
Abroad, following his debut season as the first Irish entry on the Figaro Singlehanded circuit, Damian Foxall intends to build on the experience from his nine-race 1997 season and starts 1998 in Lorient with a doublehanded transatlantic race on April 18th under new sponsor Elf Aquitaine. Foxall of Derrynane, Co Kerry, continues to race under Elf colours until July, but requires new sponsorship to compete in that month's Dunkirk Grand Prix and also to start the 1998 La Solitaire du Figaro from Cherbourg bound for Howth arriving sometime around August 9th.
A marina in the regatta harbour is just one of the themes to be discussed in next month's national maritime spring school, an initiative of Dun Laoghaire 1500 Ltd, who say the school will be an annual event for serious discussion on marine affairs.
Invited key note speakers include Minister for the Marine Dr Michael Woods, Charles Haughey and John de Courcey Ireland.
Contact the Dun Laoghaire 1500 office, telephone: 01 284 1864.
Confirmed Speakers for the Irish Sailing Association (ISA) cruising symposium on February 28th include top Irish Cruising Club (ICC) prize winner Cormac McHenry, BT Global Challenge skipper Tom O'Connor and Crosshaven's circumnavigators Frank and Barbara Fitzgibbon.
The individual fee is £25 or £40 for a "Brace of Spouses". The venue is the Royal St George Yacht Club. Details on this and the race management convention scheduled for February 1st from the ISA at 280 0239.
