IRC #thisboatcan campaign

IRC #ThisBoatCan campaign © RORC Rating Office

The UK-based RORC Rating Office, the technical arm of the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC), has joined forces with IRC sponsors Spinlock to launch a social media campaign using the hashtag #ThisBoatCan. This initiative is launched on the back of the success of the #thisgirlcan campaign, launched by Sport England and embracing women doing their thing, irrespective of their prowess or what they look like!

Today's campaign launch is timed to coincide with the all-encompassing Spi Ouest regatta taking place from 2-6 April in La Trinité- sur-Mer. Last year they hosted 146 boats racing across five Spinlock IRC classes. The class winners ranged from a 2007 TP 52 to a 1978 Half Tonner, but the top ten places in each class were notably filled by popular production designs of all sizes and ages.

Supporting Spinlock IRC for all

#ThisBoatCan is aimed squarely at encouraging more IRC participation around the world using wide-ranging examples and thereby helping to refute the oft-held impression that racing under Spinlock IRC is only for larger high-performance, grand prix yachts. Nothing could be further from the truth but then perception often takes precedence over reality. In 2014 the Rating Office issued over 8200 certificates to 6200 boats, with the majority of these falling into the 26 to 50 feet bracket.

The 2015 sailing season is underway and Spinlock is looking forward to some great racing using IRC. James Hall, Sales & Marketing Manager at Spinlock, comments:

"As well as new designs and launchings, IRC encourages fair and competitive racing for boats of a spread of ages and designs, with many exciting fleets and regattas using IRC for 2015, both in the UK and globally. #ThisBoatCan is a great way for the sailing community to really share and highlight the impressive and diverse group of yachts and regattas using IRC for their racing and encourage new entries to join the fun."

Andrew McIrvine, the Royal Ocean Racing Club's Admiral and #ThisBoatCan supporter is fully behind this topical initiative. He also considers that Spi Ouest is the biggest and best run IRC regatta in the whole of France and has competed in four of them.

"The fact that it is run early in the year - at Easter - means the French crews are always ahead of us in preparation for the season - which may in part explain their continuing success in the RORC series. The formula of a lot of short races and some coastal racing, is a good test for crew work."

The Rating Office and Spinlock are both very active on social media and by hitching testimonials and examples of those racing under Spinlock IRC to #ThisBoatCan it will help focus a spotlight on IRC for those planning their racing whilst also supporting IRC events and competitors around the globe.

The #ThisBoatCan campaign will run for six months until the end of September 2015 and comprises free to enter monthly prize draws. Three winners per month will win a Spinlock new WING or FOIL Personal Flotation Device (PFD). Full details of the campaign are available here http://www.spinlock.co.uk including full terms & conditions of entry.