A new, simplified yacht rating system is set to be introduced for keelboat racing in Ireland from 2026, providing a low-cost alternative for clubs and sailors without IRC certificates. The YTC system, already in use in the UK, will now be accessible to Irish boats following an agreement with the RORC Rating Office, offering a straightforward application process and greater inclusivity at club level, writes Nigel Biggs, Chair of Irish Sailing's Handicapping and Ratings Working Group.
During the last 12 months, Irish Sailing, through our Handicapping & Ratings Working Group (HRWG) in conjunction with ICRA, has been reviewing various options for scoring keelboat racing in Ireland.
Having listened to the opinions of a great many people in the sport, from across the country, we feel there is an opportunity for a cost-effective (cheap), simple rating system, which clubs could use alongside ECHO, for boats without IRC certificates.
When used in its intended progressive way, ECHO does an excellent job of handicapping the performance of a boat and its crew, such that beginners and experienced racers can compete against each other with an equal chance of winning. However, some sailors wish to measure their skills against each other using a rating system which only handicaps the performance of the boat.
For the more serious racers, IRC provides such a system which has been used successfully in Ireland for many years now. IRC considers a boat’s performance at a detailed level with a great many measurements and factors being taken into consideration. This makes the system accurate but potentially off-putting for those who race less seriously and perhaps don’t want to get involved in the complexity or cost of an IRC application.
With a huge database of different boat types and almost 2,000 certificates issued in 2025, we feel that YTC offers the best solution for us in Ireland.
YTC is a simple to use rating system designed to promote the racing of cruising yachts and cruiser racers at club level, although up to now, it was only available to boats in the UK.
Due to the excellent and longstanding working relationship we have with our neighbours at the RORC Rating Office, we have been able to secure access to YTC certificates for Irish boats from 2026. Applying for a YTC certificate is easy and involves completing a simple online form via a portal and will cost £30 sterling.
We are extremely excited about the introduction of YTC to keelboat racing in Ireland and believe it is the ideal solution for clubs and classes, including white sails / non-spinnaker, wanting the benefit of a measured rating system, without the cost or detailed measurement requirements of IRC. We feel it will sit very well alongside the progressive ECHO handicap system for club racing and will help encourage more boats to the start line.
For those boats who hold IRC rating certificates, we have also listened to your feedback and are pleased to confirm that costs for these, and any new, certificates have been reduced for 2026.
You can find more detail on YTC at https://rorcrating.com/ryaytc
where certificates can also be applied for, once the portal opens again in mid-February. In the meantime, please send any queries to racing@sailing.ie
We hope you will share our enthusiasm for these new initiatives and look forward to a great season afloat.
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