Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race Week 2011
Classes Information

At Race Week 2011, we are offering ten Classes.
A brief class-by-class explanation follows.

IRC Racing Class

• For the top class racers
• Handicapped using IRC, certificate required
• More emphasis on windward/leeward courses
• Longest race approx 35 miles
• A mixture of windward leeward courses and island passage racing.
• May be split into divisions as required

IRC Cruising Class

• Intended for modern fast cruising yachts
• Handicapped using IRC, certificate required
• Never more than one race per day
• Most course marks are islands (rather than buoys)
• Longest race approx 35 miles

One Design (Sydney 38’s, Farr 40’s, Etchells, Ross 780s...)

• At least seven entries are required to form a One Design fleet.
• Racing under class rules. All competing boats must have class certificates
• Crew weight limits and sail restrictions as per class rules apply
• Competing off scratch
• Longest race approximately 20 miles
• Emphasis on inshore bay courses and some island passage races

Performance Racing Class

• Longest race approximately 35 miles.
• May be split into Divisions dependent on speed and size.
• A mixture of Bay racing and island passage racing.
• PHS division strives to give all entrants a chance of winning, provided they sail reasonably well. This is not a boat measurement based handicap but is based on the "performance" of a particular boat. If you are looking for boat measurement racing, then IRC is for you. The Initial PHS handicap reflects known or estimated performance for the boat or the type of boat. So two boats, identical except in age/condition, may receive a slightly different PHS handicap. The Handicap for each race is mathematically calculated using data from all previous races. Handicapper discretion may also play some part.

Sports Boat Class

• For high performance lightweight trailerable yachts
• Longest race approximately 20 miles
• Emphasis on inshore bay courses and some island passage races
• Handicapped using Sports-Boat Measurement System (SMS), certificate required

Inshore Sports Boats Class

• For high performance lightweight trailerable yachts
• Longest race approximately 16 miles
• Emphasis on windward / leeward courses but also some inshore bay courses
• Handicapped on known or estimated performance for the boat or the type of boat based on SMS handicaps

Super 30 Class

• For high performance, lightweight yachts up to 10.75 metres LOA.
• Longest race approximately 25 miles
• A mixture of windward leeward courses and island passage racing.
• Handicapped using Australian Measurement System (AMS), certificate required

Cruising Class

• For all types of cruising yachts with spinnakers
• Handicapped on known or estimated performance for the boat or the type of boat
• Handicaps adjusted after each race
• Longest race approximately 28 miles
• Never more than one race per day
• Most course marks are islands (rather than buoys)
• May be split into divisions as required

Non-Spinnakers Class

• For all types of cruising yachts without spinnakers
• Handicapped on known or estimated performance for the boat or the type of boat
• Handicaps adjusted after each race
• Longest race approximately 28 miles
• Never more than one race per day
• Most course marks are islands (rather than buoys)

Multi-Hull Class

• For all types of Multi-Hull yachts with spinnakers
• Handicapped using Offshore Multi-Hull Rule (OMR), certificate required
• Longest race approximately 28 miles
• A mixture of Bay racing and island passage racing
• Most course marks are islands (rather than buoys)
• May be split into divisions as required