Stop trying to rate everything

It was 2022 when FlyingNikka was revealed, a 60 feet full-foiling monohull yacht conceived by a team of designers coordinated by Irishman Mark Mills. Similar to the AC75 now used in the America’s Cup, the plan was to compete in notable maxi events in the Mediterranean.

In a series of reports, Scuttlebutt questioned how a rating system (IRC) or event managers could see a good outcome from their inclusion. “It’s amazing how people repeatedly make the same mistakes as far as handicapping is concerned,” observed notable yacht designer Tony Castro.

While FlyingNikka has had a lower profile since 2023, the latest threat has arrived with the scow-bowed Mach 50 by Sam Manuard. After winning the 2026 RORC Transatlantic Race, its next test will be the 2026 RORC Caribbean 600, but yacht designer and past Seahorse magazine editor Julian Everitt sees history, noted by Castro, occurring again:

Where does IRC go now under pressure from scow hull shapes and foils? The answer, it seems to me, is that it’s time for IRC to stop trying to rate everything and return to its roots of promoting cruiser racers and stop being a rule that actively promotes development.

There needs to be a return to the ethos of CHS and the first few years or IRC when new designs were penalized and the more classic designs encouraged. It’s probably only a small change required looking at the results of the 50+ year old S&S 47 Love and War in the 2025 Sydney Hobart. Tiny changes to time correction does have a big effect.

If the new, more racy development boats don’t like it, then they can compete in an IRC division 2. And with foils and scows coming on stream, it may be necessary to even sub divide Division 2 with an IRC division 3. Of course, the division 2 and division 3 boats won’t be prevented from racing in Division 1, but they will carry a rating that is more appropriate to their development status.

This is how it was when the rule was born and it worked perfectly well until the, so called Grand Prix owners, left IOR and IMS and decided to colonize IRC. – Read on