International Monohull Open Classes Association
Encyclopedia
The International Monohull Open Class Association (IMOCA) is an international association within the sport of sailing
which administers the monohull
class of sailboat
s. The association is responsible for defining and updating the class rules for Open-class boats, and has the additional aims of co-ordinating events involving Open boats, and promoting their use.
The monohulls are high-performance racing boats, designed principally for single-handed
competition. Several high-profile yacht races
are based around these boats, such as the VELUX 5 Oceans Race
, the Vendée Globe
and the Barcelona World Race
(circum-navigations), the Calais Round Britain Race (crewed race around British islands), and the Route du Rhum
, the Transat Jacques Vabre
, the Quebec-St Malo the Single-Handed Trans-Atlantic Race
, and the Europa Race.
.
Boats are typically light and high-powered, with large sail-plan
s. Typically consisting of large carbon-fibre shells, there are few concessions to comfort.
Sailing
Sailing is the propulsion of a vehicle and the control of its movement with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to move the boat relative to its surrounding medium and...
which administers the monohull
Monohull
rightA monohull is a type of boat having only one hull, unlike multihulled boats which can have two or more individual hulls connected to one another.-Fundamental concept:...
class of sailboat
Sailboat
A sailboat or sailing boat is a boat propelled partly or entirely by sails. The term covers a variety of boats, larger than small vessels such as sailboards and smaller than sailing ships, but distinctions in the size are not strictly defined and what constitutes a sailing ship, sailboat, or a...
s. The association is responsible for defining and updating the class rules for Open-class boats, and has the additional aims of co-ordinating events involving Open boats, and promoting their use.
The monohulls are high-performance racing boats, designed principally for single-handed
Single-handed sailing
The sport of single-handed sailing or solo sailing is sailing with only one crewmember . The term is usually used with reference to ocean and long-distance sailing, and particularly competitive sailing....
competition. Several high-profile yacht races
Yacht racing
Yacht racing is the sport of competitive yachting.While sailing groups organize the most active and popular competitive yachting, other boating events are also held world-wide: speed motorboat racing; competitive canoeing, kayaking, and rowing; model yachting; and navigational contests Yacht racing...
are based around these boats, such as the VELUX 5 Oceans Race
VELUX 5 Oceans Race
The VELUX 5 OCEANS Race is a round-the-world single-handed yacht race, sailed in stages, managed by Clipper Ventures Plc since 2000. Its current name comes from its main sponsor, VELUX, a Danish company. Originally known as the BOC Challenge, for the title sponsor BOC Gases, the first edition was...
, the Vendée Globe
Vendée Globe
The Vendée Globe is a round-the-world single-handed yacht race, sailed non-stop and without assistance. The race was founded by Philippe Jeantot in 1989, and since 1992 has taken place every four years....
and the Barcelona World Race
Barcelona World Race
The Barcelona World Race is a non-stop, round-the-world yacht race for crews of two, sailed on Open 60 IMOCA monohull boats. Following the Clipper route, it starts and finishes in Barcelona....
(circum-navigations), the Calais Round Britain Race (crewed race around British islands), and the Route du Rhum
Route du Rhum
The Route du Rhum is a transatlantic single-handed yacht race, which takes places every 4 years in November. The course is between Saint Malo, Brittany, France and Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe, France...
, the Transat Jacques Vabre
Transat Jacques Vabre
The Transat Jacques Vabre is a yachting race that follows the historic coffee trading route between France and Brazil.The course was drawn up back in 1993 to follow in the wake of the clippers transporting coffee from Brazil to France. The Transat Jacques Vabre is a major date on the calendar,...
, the Quebec-St Malo the Single-Handed Trans-Atlantic Race
Single-Handed Trans-Atlantic Race
The Single-handed Trans-Atlantic Race, or STAR, is an east-to-west yacht race across the North Atlantic. When inaugurated in 1960, it was the first single-handed ocean yacht race; it is run from Plymouth to the USA, and is held every four years....
, and the Europa Race.
Classes
The class is the main focus of IMOCA. As the names imply, this class is "open", meaning that it does not represent fixed boat designs; instead, they are defined by a "box rule" which permits any design, as long as it meets certain restrictions. The restrictions limit the lengths of the boats and place certain safety requirements on the boats, such as minimum stability requirements. This class is recognised by the International Sailing FederationInternational Sailing Federation
The International Sailing Federation is recognised by the International Olympic Committee as the world governing body for the sport of sailing....
.
Boats are typically light and high-powered, with large sail-plan
Sail-plan
A sail-plan is a set of drawings, usually prepared by a naval architect. It shows the various combinations of sail proposed for a sailing ship.The combinations shown in a sail-plan almost always include three configurations:...
s. Typically consisting of large carbon-fibre shells, there are few concessions to comfort.