They are forbidden from using autohelm of any kind.
So where does this leave the conventional fully crewed boats? Interesting question. (There are no IMOCAs currently in Australia.) It is difficult to imagine there would be many owners prepared to race in just those two divisions.
the rudder(s) plus canting keels, daggerboards, foils, canards or DSS – can only compete for line honors or PHS (Performance Handicap) trophies. Meanwhile, a two-handed boat that uses autohelm to control multiple appendages – i.e. In essence, two-handers can now compete for IRC and ORC honors if the boat “limits the output of the autohelm to the rotation of the boat’s stern rudder(s).” But the surprise for many competitors is that there is no limitation placed on the data input to that autohelm – it can be as complex and sophisticated as money can buy. The group’s recommendations were then endorsed by the CYCA Board. It adopts the recommendations of the special Working Group assigned by the club to consider the controversial issues relating to short-handed offshore racing and autohelm that emerged during the run-up to the COVID-cancelled 2020 Sydney-Hobart.
We can safely assume that this NoR, released yesterday, reflects what is intended to be the club’s policy for all major offshore races in the future. Two-handers using autohelm can now compete alongside fully crewed yachts for the same handicap prizes. That distinction has lasted for just one classic blue-water event – the 2021 Sydney-Hobart Race last December.Īs foreshadowed in SA a fortnight ago the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia has enshrined its new rules in the Notice of Race for the Sydney-Gold Coast Race beginning on July 30. The two-handers are no longer a separate division in offshore racing in Australia.