IRC
Rating

On 1 July 2005, RORC changed its IRC administration system and now requires that new applications for IRC Certificates will have to be submitted in EXCEL file electronically, i.e. by email only. New applications submitted in any other way will not normally be accepted. For enquiry, you may email us at irc@sailing.org.hk. Details of the IRC Rules 2020 are also available at the RORC website, the rules will be changed annually when the South Year changes.

Application for IRC Certificates

The application for IRC certificate is now open. Please download the form below and submit your application to irc@sailing.org.hk for processing. Please note that it may take up to 28 days to process your application in particular during peak season, therefore you are advised to submit your application well in advance so as to make sure you will receive the certificate in time for your race. An Expedited Processing Fee(EPF) may incur for any applications (New application, Revalidation, Amendment, Trial, Re-registration) requiring guaranteed 5 working day turnaround (from receipt by the local Rule Authority).

New application form

Please remember to check the VALIDATION sheet before sending the form to HKSF, to check for missing or wrong data!

The tick box for EPF automatically doubles the fee quoted at the bottom of the form; LH needs to be input to calculate the fee.

Please use this form to apply for a 2021 IRC certificate if the Yacht is making its first application or it holds an expired IRC certificate older than 10 years:

• IRC 2022 New Application HKSF (Direct Download)
• One design application form – for use only by those designs listed on the form (please contact us for the form, and see this list for reference.) 

Revalidation

1. If a boat’s rating has lapsed a year, they will need to complete both year’s questions where applicable and shown on the form.

2.Only boats rated within the last 10 years may revalidate using the simple revalidation form; earlier than that they must complete a new application form to make sure all the information is up-to-date. If the boat is still under the same ownership then the revalidation fee still applies, otherwise the new application fee applies.

The tick box for EPF automatically doubles the fee quoted at the bottom of the form; LH needs to be input to calculate the fee.

Please use this form to record any changes for an IRC Revalidation, it can be used in conjunction with the pre filled in revalidation form that was mailed to all current IRC certificate holders or it can be used as a stand alone form:

• IRC 2022 Revalidation HKSF (Direct Download)

Amendment & Trial

The tick box for EPF automatically doubles the fee quoted at the bottom of the form; LH needs to be input to calculate the fee.

Re-registration – This only applies to change of ownership on a current, valid certificate.

Please use the below forms to the amendment and re-registration and trial for the IRC certificate:

• IRC 2022 Amendment / Re-registration HKSF (Direct Download)
• IRC 2022 Trial HKSF (Direct Download)

Short-handed new application – may only be used where a boat holds a current primary certificate, but wishes to rate with a different sail configuration for short-handed racing. Note that the crew number alone does not affect rating.

Short-handed revalidation – As above, but for boats renewing a 2010 Short-handed certificate.

Expedited Processing Fee – Applications (New application, revalidation, amendment, trial, re-registration) requiring guaranteed 5 working day turnaround (from receipt by the local Rule Authority) may incur an Expedited Processing Fee (EPF). The EPF does NOT guarantee turnaround shorter than 5 working days! Applications received requesting same or 2 day turnaround are considered unreasonable and unfair to those owners who have applied in good time and may be refused.

With effect from 2010, RORC has introduced a dual fees system for boats with LH <18 m and boats with LH=>18m respectively.  The new fees system is shown in the table below:-

2022 IRC Fee

For the payment of IRC fees, please put down your yacht club account number on the application form so that we could debit the fee from your account direct.

Please note that applications (New application, revalidation, amendment, trial, re-registration) requiring guaranteed 5 working day turnaround may incur an Expedited Processing Fee (EPF).

The HKSF provides measurement service by RORC approved measurers at the rates listed below:-

Measurement charges

• Measuring @ HK$560 per hour
• Inclining Charge @HK$350 per metre LOA
• Weighing of Yachts @HK$125 per metre LOA (does not include crane hire)
• Hire of 13t Single Point Loadcell @HK$500 per yacht
• Hire of single point load cell suitable for yachts in excess of 20t @ hk$6,000 per yacht

An additional transport charge may be payable depending upon the location of the yacht.

For enquiries about IRC applications and measurement etc, please email to irc@sailing.org.hk for assistance.

• Hong Kong IRC Owners’ Association Consitution
• IRC Congress past minutes

• IRC 2020 Rule changes

• IRC 2020 Rule changes summary

• Notice 2018/01 RRS 49.2 Crew Positions; Lifelines
• Spinnakers and Poles / Bowsprits Explained

Adoption of IHC for Sail Measurements in HK for IRC

HKSF Council formally adopted IHC (In House Certification on 22 November 2011 for sail measurements for IRC in Hong Kong.  What this means in preactice for yachts racing under IRC is as follows:-

1. Endorsed certificates
– Sail measurements can be made by HKSF approved IRC Measurers
– Sail measurements can be made by IHC Certified lofts in accordance with the IHC Scheme, they must fully complete a Sail input form and return it directly to the Rule Authority.

2. Non endorsed certificates
– Sail measurements can be made by HKSF approved IRC Measurers
– Sail measurements can be made by Owners.
– Sail measurements can be made by IHC Certified lofts in accordance with the IHC Scheme, they must fully complete a Sail input form and return it directly to the Rule Authority.
– Sail measurements can be made by non IHC Certified lofts, they must fully complete a Sail input form and return it directly to the Rule Authority however the data will be recorded as owner declared data on the rating certificate. 

Please note Sailmakers can only declare Sail data.
 

List of IRC Rating for 2022

List of IRC Rating for 2021

NOTE

Hong Kong operates IRC under the ‘South’ Year which runs from 1st June to 31st May the following year.

Note to Organizers

Certificate Validity – ‘Certificate Year’

With an increasing number of boats travelling the world to compete in major races, it becomes increasingly important for race organizers to a) specify which IRC year the event is to be held under and b) check certificate validity.

The specific issue is that the ‘certificate year’ is different from the northern to the southern hemispheres for the first 5 months of each year. For Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and most Asian countries, the start of the IRC new year is delayed until June to better match the sailing seasons in those countries. Thus, a ‘south’ boat coming north in the early part of the year will need to revalidate her certificate earlier than if she was staying at home. Her certificate remains valid in her home country, but if she has travelled to a northern hemisphere country, it will not be valid there. Similarly, a ‘north’ boat racing in a south country in the first 5 months of a year, will need to produce a certificate for the correct year. The Rating Authority will advise and assist as necessary.

Organisers should therefore explicitly specify which year’s IRC Rules apply; Simply requiring a ‘valid IRC certificate’ is insufficient. Secondly, organisers of international events should check boats’ certificate year and advise boats as appropriate.