Handicapping top priority, says Boyd

The long-standing tenure over a key branch of sailing by the Offshore Racing Council ended recently with transfer of responsibility to a newly formed group under the direct control of the International Sailing Federation (ISAF). Ireland will be represented on the new Offshore Racing Committee by ISA secretary general Paddy Boyd.

The new structure will see the former ORC effectively become a class association under ISAF while the new committee will take over the duties that includes issues as diverse as crewed and solo ocean races, safety standards. Most of all, sorting out the mess that global handicapping has become will be the top priority according to Boyd.

While the old ORC was an event organiser for the former 'ton' cups and issued safety guidelines, it also heavily promoted the American originated International Measurement System (IMS) that succeeded the universally popular International Offshore Rule (IOR). Both were used to handicap boats of varying design for major competitions such as the Admiral's Cup, at one time considered the world championship of offshore racing.

The rise of IMS was notable for its highly complex operation, involving various additional calculations of tide, wind, course and other variables before reaching a boat's final result for a given race. In many ways, the IMS reflected the deep interest of matters technical that dominated its regular meetings.

Favouring IMS prevented the market-driven systems such as Channel Handicap (now known as IRC) from receiving proper endorsement even though it has now overtaken IMS with an international following of more than 5000 individual boats. In effect, the playing-pitch has now been levelled between the handicap systems and the stagnation that has crept into big boat racing will hopefully end.

Big boat owners may now choose between a number of options, principally: IRC for club level boats and especially popular in Ireland, Britain, several continental European countries and Australasia; IRM for grand prix racing though a faltering start due to lack of confidence in his area has yet to clarify its future; One-design - such as the owner-driven Farr 40's, ID35 and other new boats; or IMS, found principally in the United States, Germany and the Mediteranean.

So now that Boyd has been elevated to this powerful group, will his views on solo racing alter? Having in the past refused to acknowledge solo ocean racing, Boyd told The Irish Times that "personally speaking, I am not convinced that long-distance solo racing is the most seaman-like of activities but you must also recognise courage in the face of adversity."

Boyd also points to recent developments such as new technologies that improve watch-keeping as well as developments in sleep management techniques. Additionally, races such as the Figaro are 'accompanied', further reducing the chances of collision. "

Meanwhile, Boyd will be aiming to ensure that there is an outlet for top Irish sailors at international level. "We need to ensure that Irish sailors and their views and the sport that we know here is represented at that level," he said this week.

Nevertheless, the lack of a national offshore grouping in Ireland reflects the reduction in numbers offshore and a move to inshore, according to Boyd.