IRSA is the worldwide radio sailing organization as an affiliated member of ISAF. IRSA is dedicated to the enhancement of both current and emerging world radio sailing classes through the promotion and development of consistent class rules, measurement methods, radio yachting racing rules, and advice in running major racing events. IRSA’s major activities include:
— Designates and reviews radio classes as International, Recognised, or Classic.
— Approves or delegates approval of World and continental championships of IRSA Designated classes.
— Administers the M, 10R, and A classes, including the management of their class rules.
— Coordinates and submits changes to Appendix E of the RRS.
— Gives or approves interpretations of the racing rules as they relate to radio sailing, including publishing the radio sailing Call Book.
— Gives or approves interpretations of the equipment and measurement rules as they relate to radio sailing.
— Gives or approves interpretations of the radio sailing class rules.
— Provides approved standards and templates for Notices of Race and Sailing Instructions.
— Provides or approves rules and guidelines for events: event management, event scoring, and umpiring of fleet racing.
— Provides or approves rules and guidelines on technical matters: interpretations, Questions and Answers, and measurement.
— Monitors the quality of World and continental events of IRSA Designated classes, giving particular attention to rules observance and event management.
— Distributes and disseminates information about international radio sailing.
In all of these activities, IRSA promotes international radio sailing, consults and liaises with its Membership (DNMs and ICAs) and ISAF, and ensures its internal procedures and structures are effective, efficient, transparent in operation, and fit for purpose.
The major challenges for IRSA at present are to align its structures and regulations with its responsibilities and activities.
We have introduced new Class Committees to administer the M, 10R, and A classes. Our policy is to encourage the formation of independent International Class Associations for each of these classes, based upon their IRSA Committees as parent organisations.
We intend to introduce a new committee which will take responsibility for Events. Some years ago there was a Regatta Officer, and we intend to revive that portfolio as an Events Committee. While the Racing Committee currently holds responsibility for event rules, we intend to locate matters concerning events into this new committee so that it has a complete overview of regattas and championships.
We will debate the formation of a new committee to take responsibility for Measurement. At present, measurement fall under the brief of the Technical Committee, and it is an important discussion whether a separate committee is needed to address the full range of measurement issues.
We will debate the formation of a committee to take responsibility for developing IRSA’s services and possibly products. We will debate the enlargement of the role of the Treasurer to become more of a commercial director with responsibility for services and products, and the creation of an associated committee which will focus on these matters.
We intend to re-name and re-launch “Publicity” as Information and Communications, which we feel is more appropriate in these days of the Internet and the Web and the way in which IRSA conducts its business.
We intend to retire Regional Officers. While it is obvious that these officers have an important liaison and communication role in IRSA, they were more significant within IRSA when global communications were more restricted and less immedfiate than they are today. It is clear that there are no specific or specialist responsibilities and activities associated with these roles which require separation from the responsibilities of the Executive Committee or from the work of the other IRSA committees such as the Information and Communications committee.
We intend to retire the Organisation and Policy Committee, and have its reponsibilities undertaken by the Executive Committee.