IRM proposed for prestigious open class at Ford Cork Week

At the IRM Class Association General Meeting, held at the RORC last evening, it was announced that FORD CORK WEEK, 2002 will consider running a separate “prestige” class for all the grand prix racing boats under the IRM Rule.

In his presentation to the meeting, John McWilliam, chairman of the CORK 2002 Race Committee, said that in having a separate class it was important that all the competitive grand prix raceboats sailed in that class and that they were not split between IRM and the IRC cruiser-racer fleet which is such an important Cork Week constituent.

So the CORK Committee are planning to have a formula that defines what boats are put into the IRM Class, based on a DLR (Displacement to Length Ratio) of 145 or below. This includes all the recognised grand prix raceboats including the Farr 52, IC45, Race1 Ker 11.3, Farr 40 and the new Race1 Ker 9.8, as well as one-offs like Peter Morton’s Mills 50, Stephen Bailey’s IRM optimised Sydney 40, Jason Ker’s one-offs Roaring Meg and ShakerMaker II, Stimpson’s new IRM 41 and the new Corby 48, building for Richard Matthews. A move that will ensure that all the best racers will compete together in a spectacular IRM class of at least 25 boats; a focus of interest for spectators and media alike.

Other top racing boats that do not automatically come into IRM under this formula, such as Corby’s other one-offs Nokia (ex Barlow Plastics) and Gloves Off, will be invited to join the grand prix racing fleet in IRM if they wish to enjoy what will undoubtedly be the best racing for big boats in the CORK regatta.

The Association also proposed to CORK that the IRM class should be unrestricted, so that those who wish to race with or against professionals may do so, whilst ensuring that the racing is at as high a level as possible. This should assist the CORK organisation in achieving its desire that boats with professionals sail in a separate class.

The IRM Class Association heartily congratulated John McWilliam and the CORK Race Committee for taking such a positive initiative. The Association expects the RORC to follow this lead in supporting IRM by promoting these Grand Prix racing boats in their forthcoming events including future Admiral’s Cup challenges.

There was an impressive list of owners present (a number of them RORC members) who now enthusiastically race under IRM. Many had enjoyed the fantastically close and highly competitive racing of the Class in the recent Hamble Winter Series, which showed just how much fun and excitement the IRM Rule had brought to sailing

For questions or more information please contact Steph Merry, the Chairman of the Association, on 07786 543138.