US SAILING Offshore

U.S. SAILING Offshore

MORC

The Offshore Office is responsible for the day-to-day administration of US SAILING's various handicapping systems, the sail numbering system, the publication of offshore rules, regulations, time-allowance tables, and safety reports; and the distribution of bulletins relating to rule changes and event schedules.

New from the US SAILING 2005 Spring meeting - The Board of Directors passed this resolution. "The US SAILING Offshore Office will assist our sailors in obtaining measurement rating or handicap certificates when there is sufficient interest shown by US race organizers". This supersedes the previous policy that limited the support of the Offshore office to only IOR, IMS, AMERICAP II, PHRF, MORC and Portsmouth Yardstick.

The office publishes and distributes the Portsmouth Yardstick ratings (based on a statistical evaluation of actual performance by class), PHRF ratings (based on subjective evaluation of observed performance), IMS ratings (predicted boat velocities by sailing conditions based on experimental evaluation of rig, hull and floatation measurements), the International Offshore Rule (IOR) and the two mid-level rules, IRC and AMERICAP II ^TM.

The IMS is an international measurement rule for which the Offshore Office is the National Authority. The office is responsible for training and certifying IMS & AMERICAP measurers throughout North America; processing rating certificates, distributing the rules for measurement, level racing, equipment and accommodation standards; and production of performance prediction reports for specific yachts. Computer reports of rating data are available for yacht racing associations, local race authorities, rule analysts, designers and sail makers.

IRC is an ISAF internationally recognized rating rule jointly developed and administered by the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) and the and Union National pour la Course au Large (UNCL). The IRC is developed from, and replaces, the Channel Handicap System rating rule, and is widely used worldwide at a variety of different levels, ranging from club and local series through major events. US SAILING has the authority to process applications, train/certify measurers and issue certificates for US flagged boats.

The Offshore Office is also the authority for the IOR. The office is responsible for training and certifying IOR measurers processing measurement input, producing rating certificates, distributing the rules and publishing various data listings.

The office collates and distributes nationally local fleet PHRF handicaps for production boats nationally. Member fleets are provided with the Fleet Handbook and monthly bulletins, including approved guidelines for fleet organization and handicapping. US SAILING statistically updates the Portsmouth Yardstick and prints the new handicaps annually- Now published entirely on line for greater access, click Here.

Correspondence relating to offshore racing, handicapping systems, measurements, and any questions involving IRC, IMS, AMERICAP II, or IOR ratings should be directed to the Offshore Office. Matters intended for committee consideration will be referred to appropriate committees. The Offshore Director is the staff executive for the office.