IMS (sailing)
Encyclopedia
The International Measurement System (IMS) is a system of handicapping
sailboats for the purpose of racing that replaced the earlier International Offshore Rule (IOR)
system in the early 1990s. It is managed by the Offshore Racing Congress (ORC)
. In the sailing world it is usually referred to simply as 'IMS'.
IMS was the first yacht racing rule developed around the central idea of a Velocity prediction program
(VPP). The VPP was a very highly developed computer program that integrated continuous hullform information in order to predict a given boat's speed.
Boat owners much preferred this as they were able to design new yachts to maximise performance under the rule with a degree of certainty they had not enjoyed under the IOC rule. IMS is generally believed to have made and most expensive yachts were able to gain a significant technology advantage which the rule was less able to account for. Smaller yacht owners began to feel unfairly disadvantaged under the rule and between 2003 and 2007 much handicap racing around the world changed to using the newer IRC
rule.
However, a club activities, heralding a return to the IMS system in a more modern form.
Handicapping
Handicapping, in sport and games, is the practice of assigning advantage through scoring compensation or other advantage given to different contestants to equalize the chances of winning. The word also applies to the various methods by which the advantage is calculated...
sailboats for the purpose of racing that replaced the earlier International Offshore Rule (IOR)
International Offshore Rule
The International Offshore Rule was a measurement rule for racing sailboats. The IOR evolved from the Cruising Club of America rule for racer/cruisers and the Royal Ocean Racing Club rule.-Rule context - past and present rating systems:...
system in the early 1990s. It is managed by the Offshore Racing Congress (ORC)
Offshore Racing Congress
The Offshore Racing Congress is an international body for the sport of competitive sailing and is responsible for the establishment and maintenance of rating and classification standards used to define offshore, that is marine as opposed to inland, yacht racing handicap categories.-Ratings and...
. In the sailing world it is usually referred to simply as 'IMS'.
IMS was the first yacht racing rule developed around the central idea of a Velocity prediction program
Velocity prediction program
A velocity prediction program is a program which solves for the performance of a sailing yacht in various wind conditions by balancing hull and sail forces...
(VPP). The VPP was a very highly developed computer program that integrated continuous hullform information in order to predict a given boat's speed.
Boat owners much preferred this as they were able to design new yachts to maximise performance under the rule with a degree of certainty they had not enjoyed under the IOC rule. IMS is generally believed to have made and most expensive yachts were able to gain a significant technology advantage which the rule was less able to account for. Smaller yacht owners began to feel unfairly disadvantaged under the rule and between 2003 and 2007 much handicap racing around the world changed to using the newer IRC
IRC (Sailing)
IRC is a system of handicapping sailboats and yachts for the purpose of racing. It is managed by the Royal Ocean Racing Club in the United Kingdom through their dedicated Rating Office....
rule.
However, a club activities, heralding a return to the IMS system in a more modern form.