2010 News

RORC announces a change to the class bands for the 2010 Rolex Commodores' Cup

The Royal Ocean racing Club today announced a change to the class rating bands for the 2010 Rolex Commodores' Cup. The lower limit of Class 1 has been lowered by 10 points from 1.120 to 1.110. The rating bands for classes 2 and 3 remain unchanged.

Eddie Warden Owen, RORC CEO, explained the thinking behind the change: "We have become aware that many countries have struggled to find competitive Class 1 boats and by lowering the bottom rating limit of Class 1 and creating an overlap between classes 1 and 2 I am sure it will help countries select competitive teams."

"Interest in the event continues to grow from all over the world," explained Eddie. "America, Scandinavia, the Baltic, Germany and South Africa are all assembling competitive teams as IRC continues to grow worldwide."

The pre-notice of race has been altered as follows:

BOAT/TEAM ELIGIBILITY: A team shall consist of three boats, one from each of the following rating bands: -

Class 1 1.110 – 1.230 DLR not exceeding 200

Class 2 1.075 – 1.119 DLR not exceeding 200

Class 3 1.025 – 1.074 DLR not exceeding 215

DLR = Displacement Length Ratio

CHALLENGES: (which need not identify the boats) shall be lodged by a Member National Authority. RORC shall have the discretion to accept a Challenge or Challenges from two or three Member National Authorities in combination, with the intention that any such team is representative of an identifiable region (e.g. Scandinavia).

NATIONALITY: At least 50% (rounded up e.g. a crew of 9 = 5) of the crew of each boat on board in any race shall comprise individuals who are Nationals of the country of the relevant team or individuals who have since 1 August 2009 had their principal residence in that country or individuals who were born in that country.

SAILOR CLASSIFICATION CODE: ISAF Regulation 22, Sailor Classification Code, shall apply

(a) Crew Limitations

The crew of each boat shall include no more than:

For Class 1: two Group 3 sailors

For Class 2: one Group 3 sailor

For Class 3: one Group 3 sailor

The full Notice of Race will be published in January 2010.

Advance Notice of the 2010 Rolex Commodores' Cup

Race Date: Sunday 15th – Saturday 21st August 2010

The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC), together with Rolex, is delighted to announce details for the 2010 Rolex Commodores’ Cup to be held in Cowes, Isle of Wight between Sunday 15th and Saturday 21st August 2010.

This tough mix of inshore and offshore races will be compacted into a challenging 7 day racing schedule on the testing waters in and around the Solent. As in 2008, the handicap system will be IRC (Endorsed) and there will be three rating bands.

The international teams will consist of three boats, with one boat from each of the following Bands:

Class 1, TCC 1.120 - 1.230, maximum DLR (Displacement Length Ratio) 200
Class 2, TCC 1.075 - 1.119, maximumDLR 200
Class 3, TCC 1.025 - 1.074, maximumDLR 215

Note: the RORC reserves the right to change the rating bands slightly in the light of any changes to the IRC Rule. It is not intended to change the range of eligible boats.

Within these Bands, each boat must also comply with STIX and AVS (Safety and Stability Indices) requirements.

The three bands proved successful in 2008. These remain the same for 2010. This will promote close racing on the water, whilst still ensuring competing teams have a sufficiently large pool of yachts from which to choose.