News
Weights for IRC
Published Tue 10 Sep 2024
Endorsed IRC certificates are those where the weight and measurements have been checked to ensure they don’t favour any boat and the integrity of the competition is upheld. Australian Sailing is changing some weighing practices to provide that level of integrity the IRC fleet want.
The weight of a boat is critical data for an Endorsed IRC certificate. Australian sailing is working to make sure that the weight data being used for boats’ IRC certificates meets the accuracy expected for fair racing in Australia.
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In short, Australian Sailing is:
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Load Cell Standards
Measurers and boat yards or clubs organising weigh days will be supported with clear standards as to what load cells must be used and approved. The following is summarised from the IRC Measurement Manual.
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Use a load cells with a quoted accuracy of +/-0.2% of maximum capacity, i.e., for a 10 tonne cell +/-20 kg, or for a 20 tonne cell, +/-40 kg.
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Measurers must decline to use a load cell that has not been cleared by Australian Sailing.
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A load cell should not be used to weigh a boat with a weight of less than a minimum of 15% of the cell's capacity.
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It is absolutely essential that the boat is empty. But it is acceptable to deduct a known weight of fuel from the gross weight.
Australian Sailing is also reviewing the load cells used around Australia and making sure that all meet the standards required.
Checking Weights of Boats
Australian Sailing is looking at the reliability of boat weights currently in use and have developed a position on when to ask that a boat be re-weighed. If the provenance of a boat’s weight data can’t be reasonably established, a boat may be required to re-weigh. Criteria for assessing reliability of a weight include:
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The boat was weighed overseas
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The boat hasn’t been weighed for 10 years
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There is a change of owner and the boat hasn’t been weighed for 5 years
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There is a third amendment to the boat’s weight without full re-weigh
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The weight is above expectations for that design
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The load cell used was outside accepted tolerances
When re-weighing might be asked of a boat depends on the circumstances, this work has already commenced. Firstly, Australian Sailing will look at a boat’s history using the guidelines above. If one of these criteria flag the boat, we’ll look at whether they are currently rated under IRC, what their next major event is and what their reasonable access is to weighing facilities. However, the revalidation process undertaken annually during April and May is the big opportunity to bring boats up to the desired standard.
We trust that IRC boat owners will applaud the initiative to bring all competitors up to the desired standard for such a critical piece of data.
Click here for IRC rating information.
IRC Measurement and Endorsement information is here.
By Chris Zonca
