#matchracing – Both the Leinsters and National Championships Irish Match Racing events didn't happen this year as the Irish Match Racing Association (IMRA) fell a couple of teams short of the number needed for a viable event each time. Here the IMRA's Ric Morris says that because the SailFleet J80 is also coming to the end of the current agreement with the clubs to fund the running of the fleet and although nothing is decided yet, IMRA needs to be ready for a future with out access to eight very equalized boats in one location.
While there's still a lot of interest in match racing from individuals - Peter Bayly is going to Germany to find racing early next year and an Irish team went to this year's World University Match Racing Championships - those things combined mean that it's not practical to run a large match racing event right at the moment.
So what we've tried to do is come up with a format that will allow absolutely anyone who can find a couple of boats of any class the opportunity to run a National Match Racing Championships for 2 teams (or Female or Youth Championships). Anyone familiar with the Americas Cup will be familiar with (the traditional!) idea of someone challenging the current champion to a game. I guess a 'stick winner' game of pool down the pub would be an equally apt analogy.
So everyone is clear who is responsible for what and in order to avoid some of the pit falls that can occur we've put some fairly basic rules together for a challenge. We'll also knock up a standard NOR and SIs too so that as much work has been done for people as possible. With a couple of volunteers running the racing and doing the umpiring running an evenings racing for 2 boats could be as cheep as the fuel for a couple of ribs.
Whether anyone will take it up we'll have to see. 3 or 4 people have already shown an interest and we'll do what ever we can to help them find boats and what ever they need to run the racing.
Challenge Rules and Notice of Challenge template attached below. We've set up a group called "Irish National Match Racing Champs" on Facebook fron which people can make a challenge.