IRC Rating Certificates
There are two types of IRC rating certificates: Endorsed and Non-Endorsed. Another type of Endorsed Certificate is the IRC One-Design Certificate.
Whether an Endorsed or Non-Endorsed Certificate is required depends upon the events that will be entered. Contact the race committee and/or check the Notice of Race to determine the type of certificate that is needed.
Click here to view the IRC Certificate Type Flow Chart for an overview of the different requirements.
One other type is a Trial Certificate. These certificates provide information as to the rating a boat would receive for planned or projected changes. A Trial Certificate is NOT valid for racing.
Non-Endorsed Certificate
An IRC Non-Endorsed Certificate may be based upon owner measured/declared information, designer data, sistership data or similar sources. A certified IRC measurer is not required.
Click here to download the IRC application.
Instructions for Completing an Application for a Non-Endorsed IRC Certificate
Click here to download the list of IRC Acceptable Sources of Data.
Contact US Sailing Offshore Office if you have any questions.
Endorsed Certificate
An IRC Endorsed Certificate is based upon verified data from select sources. The primary sources of the data are a US Sailing certified IRC measurer for hull and rig data and a US Sailing certified sail measurer for sail measurements. Verified data may also be extracted from ORR, ORC or IMS certificates.
Click here to download the IRC application.
Click here to download the list of IRC Acceptable Sources of Data.
Click here for a list of US Sailing certified IRC measurers.
Click here to download the IRC Measurement Manual.
Click here to download the IRC Owner Measurement Preparation Guide.
Click here to download the IRC Endorsement Standards.
Contact US Sailing Offshore Office if you have any questions.
IRC One Design Certificate
Another type of endorsed certificate is the IRC One Design Certificate. IRC One Design Certificates are available for boats in classes recognized by the IRC. No measurements are necessary to obtain an IRC One Design Certificate. When applying, the boat owner must certify that the boat is in full compliance with the current One Design Class Rules for the design and holds a valid class certificate.
Click here for a list of the IRC One Design classes.
Click here to download the IRC One Design application.
Contact US Sailing Offshore Office if you have any questions.
Short-Handed Certificate
A Short-Handed Certificate can be either Standard or Endorsed and can only be issued to boats holding a valid, current year primary, i.e., "full crew", certificate.
Short-Handed Certificates are for those racers who participate in events for which the Notice of Race has designated short handed classes for no more than two crew. The Short-Handed Certificate reflects changes to the boat's configuration more appropriate for short-handed crew. See Rule 8.2.1.
The Short-Handed Certificate will only vary from the primary certificate with respect to mainsail widths, headsail dimensions, single furling headsail allowance, SPA, STL/SPL, spinnaker pole/bowsprit, moveable ballast and variable ballast. In other words, if no configuration changes as described are made, the TCC on the short-handed certificate would be identical to that for the primary, full crew certificate.
Since a short-handed certificate is not required to enter designated short-handed events, there is no reason to get a short-handed certificate if the configuration is not changed.
Crew number/crew weight are not factors in IRC rating calculation.
Click here to download a complete description of the particulars concerning Short-Handed certificates.
Click here to download the Short-Handed application.
Contact US Sailing Offshore Office if you have any questions.
Trial Certificate
A Trial Certificate can only be issued to boats holding a valid, current year certificate.
When applying, details of the proposed or planned hull, rig and/or sail changes must be provided. There are limits on the number and types of trials that can be run. See the IRC Trial Certificate Policy for complete information.
Click here for the IRC Trial Certificate Policy .
Click here to download the IRC Trial application.
Contact US Sailing Offshore Office if you have any questions.