Industry Partners:

CONFERENCE CALL -- February 13, 2008

MINUTES: 2007 US-IRC Owners Committee and Technical Advisory Committee Meeting.

ATTENDANCE: Larry Huntington, Gero Brugmann (German Owners Assn), Dan Nowlan and Nathan Titcomb (US Sailing), John Siegel (San Fran.Bay Owners Assn), Jim Miller, Steve Benjamin, Barry Carroll, David Aisher (Commodore RORC), Eddie Warden-Owen (RORC), Ed Freitag, Bruce Bingman, Paul Zabetakis, Mort Weintraub, Jim Madden, Luiz Kahl( incoming US-IRC Exec.Director), John Mendez outgoing Exec.Dir.; Sec-Treas.US-IRC), Richard du Moulin (Chairman, Owners Comm).

1. Minutes of December 4 Meeting accepted for posting on US-IRC website.

2. Message from RORC Commodore David Aisher: reported that the Commodores Cup scheduled for this summer in the UK has broad interest, perhaps aided by the narrow rating bands for the boats. Noted the success of second generation TP52s now entering IRC racing. These well-sailed fast boats are showing tight handicap finishes with other types. IRC will monitor this carefully. Complimented Storm Trysail Club working with the Transpac Yacht Club in developing the STP65 Box Rule which has produced a solid offshore IRC-compatible boat, namely ROSEBUD, which just won the Sydney-Hobart. Comm. Aisher also introduced Eddie Warden-Owen who is the new CEO for the RORC Program. Eddie commented on the importance of his keeping in close touch with IRC results around the world to ensure that new and old boats remain mutually competitive.

3. Discussion of Mike Urwin's HF (Hull Factor) Paper: The IRC Office just published a paper elaborating on the philosophy behind the HF and emphasizing the fact that HF is based on measured and observed factual information. While the paper did not reveal IRC "secrets" it did help explain the use of HF. Due to lack of knowledge, some of the public has viewed HF as very judgemental vs objective. Americans in particular, newer to IRC, often view HF to be determined by a "PHRF" approach rather than calculated. In its history, IRC has not believed it beneficial to make public explanations outside of the IRC system (Committee and Congress structure). But Comm. Aisher agreed that with IRC growing so large and international, that it might now benefit from more such explanations.

4. Gero Brugmann reported that IRC in Germany has grown to about 40 boats, and will be sending a team to the Commodore's Cup.

5. US Sailing: Dan Nowlan reported on the pickup of IRC recertifications. He also described the extra spinnaker allowance now permitted for Category 0,1, and 2 distance races. This has been very well received, with Storm Trysail Club's Block Island Race shifting from Cat.3 to Cat. 2 to allow competitors to add a chute to their inventory for distance racing, and to best prepare for the upcoming Bermuda Race (featuring the North Rock Trophy for overall fleet IRC). Dan also pointed out that the new HF Paper is on US Sailing's website, as will be a reference to the IRC Yearbook which is published now in electronic form. Dan and Luiz Kahl have scheduled a Measurer Training Seminar in Detroit April 12 and are working on others in the Mid-Atlantic, New England, and West Coast. To help with HF ratings, Dan encourages the liberal use of digital photography by a measurer, who can then send in the photos to the Rating Office. Nathan's excellent service has been related to us by several IRC customers in recent months.

6. San Francisco Bay IRC Owners Assn: John Siegel reported on the excellent progress of this startup organization. Their website SFBay-IRC.org offers their Charter, Board contacts, and Event Schedule. A season-long IRC series is planned. There is also a scheduled weighing and measuring day. Every region of the US should have its own IRC Owners Assn to help promote local racing.

7. Southern California: Jim Madden has followed up the November IRC Tour and was pleased to list many top quality events that will offer IRC in 2008: San Diego-Puerto Vallerta, Balboa YC's Cabo Race, Ensenada Race (maxi class), San Diego's Yachting Cup, and several others pending. There are about 40 interested boats, primarily 45 foot and up.

8. Crew Weight: IRC crew weight policies in many cases vary from US practices. To clarify the situation for US race organizers and competitors, this Committee suggested that the IRC Office come out with "Crew Weight" as their second "paper" for 2008. In the meantime we need to provide more clarity on our website. Here are some bullet points: a) crew weight is not used in calculating TCC's; b) the crew number on the certificate is for guidance only; c) a race organizer may make any crew weight proscription (or none) they wish; d) in the absence of any race instruction, racing requiring endorsed certificates restricts crew number to that number on the certificate. To avoid confusion, the Owners Committee recommends that race organizers explicitly state how they want to handle crew weight and number. For example, today, San Francisco states: "certificate number OR cert.number X 180 lbs." Storm Trysail Club states: "certificate number plus one, times 180 lbs." New York Yacht Club requires endorsement and does not state weight or number, thereby reverting to the number on the certificate.

9. Nationals: Luiz reports 22 yachts signed up to date for the IRC Nationals to be held at the Little Travers Bay Yacht Club in late July.

10. John Mendez is retiring from Executive Director to remain Secretary-Treasurer of US-IRC. John has been a huge help from the beginning of IRC in America, and has been instrumental in founding the Gulf Stream Series. Luiz Kahl who brought IRC to the Great Lakes, will take over in March. The Owners Committee thanks both gentlemen for their great work.

11. Other Items: Barry Carroll and Luiz Kahl will be speaking March 8 to the Southern Yacht Club in New Orleans about IRC at the invitation of Stephen Murray. A trip to the Pacific Northwest also needs to be planned.

12. Next Meeting: tentatively set for Tuesday April 8 at 230 pm eastern time.

Respectfully submitted,

Richard du Moulin
Chairman, US-IRC Owners Committee