ECHO
ECHO certificates are issued by Irish Sailing. Irish Sailing and Irish Cruiser Racing Association strongly recommend that all cruiser races be dual scored under ECHO and IRC rating and handicap systems. The purpose of this policy is to encourage participation by all cruiser boats in cruiser racing.
Click here to download the Irish Sailing Echo guide for clubs 2022.
IRC Rating Rule and Definitions
IRC Rating Certificates in Ireland are issued by Irish Sailing. Irish Sailing is the IRC Rule Authority in Ireland.
IRC is a rating rule to handicap different designs of keelboats allowing them to race together. Each boat’s rating (her ‘handicap’) is calculated using measurements of the boat; her length, weight, draft, sail area, etc. The resulting time corrector, the boat’s ‘TCC’, is her handicap. After a race, each boat’s elapsed time (the time she has taken to complete the course) is multiplied by her TCC to calculate her corrected time (her race time making allowance for the characteristics of the boat). The boat with the shortest corrected time is the winner of the race.
Racing Rules of Sailing
The Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) govern the sport on the water. They are revised and published every four years by the International Sailing Federation. The current edition is The Racing Rules of Sailing 2025-2028.The Racing Rules of Sailing is available for purchase through the ISAF Secretariat. You can also download the complete document and related publications.