Round two from Ger O'Rourke:

Below are the IRC constitution objectives:

3. Objectives

3.1 To facilitate handicap racing based on the IRC Rule for a wide range of cruising and racing ballasted monohull keelboats by providing a system of measurement to classify boats for competition with single figure allowances based on time or distance.

3.2 To encourage design innovation consistent with stability, rounded performance, seaworthiness and safety.

3.3 To discourage unnecessary expense.

4.5 The IRC Technical Committee is appointed by the IRC Congress from representatives nominated by the RORC Rating Office & UNCL Centre de Calcul. The IRC Technical Committee has sole responsibility & authority over the technical content of the IRC Rule and reports to the IRC Congress.

Cowes decision now accepting that if 6 or so canters show an interest they will run a canting keel class is welcome but how is a class to begin if not allowed to race prior to 6 being available.

IRC handicaps heavily canting keels & due to such heavy handicapping loading there is evidence around the world that they are not competitive in shore. Therefore to create canting keel class time should be allowed to develop as was the case in down South. The actions of a few are going to scare owners away from them at the expensive of IRC's constitution, performance of multihull sailing a mono hull, youth experience & fun. Cowes are breaking the principles of IRC objectives above - IRC Rule for a wide range of cruising and racing ballasted monohull keelboats

Cowes asking owners to pin their keels is a total lack of understanding, grossly unsafe & liable to a serious accident breaching design. If an owner was to attempt the expense would be huge, to request is in breach of IRC constitution above 3.3 To discourage unnecessary expense.

There will never be enough of canters in the North if a small few self interested biased owners attempt to protect themselves, afraid of creating a class up North while our fellow Southern yachties are more openly advanced. Already down south such an IRC class exists and if we let them sail past us there will be a second generation of Northern sailors lacking in ability, technological advances.

Attempts to stop progress will harm IRC globally, the fact that the same small group of self interested owners are on some IRC Technical committees is a worry. 4.5 The IRC Technical Committee is appointed by the IRC Congress from representatives nominated by the RORC Rating Office & UNCL. There should be someone representing canters on this committee! Any one who has not sailed a canter is not qualified to decide their future in IRC racing (Cowes request to ping keels is an example)

Let a class of canting keel boats build by accepting the principles of the IRC above, let race in IRC bands until we get the half dozen at which stage break into their own class.