In a surprise move the Royal Ocean Racing Club have announced that the popular CHS rule is to be discontinued by the end of this year. The handicapping system that has become an international benchmark for cruiser racing will be replaced by the newly formed IR2000 Club (IRC) and become effective a year early starting by Jan. 1 1999.

Another version of the new rule is also under way and the draft version of IR2000 Measured (IRM) will be unveiled at the Paris Boat Show this year and published in its final form next July with full implementation in January 2000.

According to the RORC, this stepped introduction of the new rule is designed to create the seamless change from CHS to IR2000 and allow IRC certificates to be issued in exactly the same way as previously under CHS. Owners will apply for re-validation in the normal manner and from January 1999 and will receive in return an IRC certificate. From a race management perspective there will be no change as the IRC certificate will show a simple TCF figure which race organisers are used to.

Matthew Sheahan