Southland Sailing : LAYC Is First on West Coast to Adopt IMS

Los Angeles Yacht Club is the first West Coast club to adopt the International Measurement System (IMS), formerly Measurement Handicap System, for its offshore racing series, the opener of which is the race around Catalina Island today.

An IMS class will be added to this year’s Whitney series, along with the International Offshore Rule (IOR) measurement system.

Race officials said that the IMS is intended to appeal to owners of dual purpose boats--racing and cruising--who want serious racing based on a measurement rating less expensive and less exacting than IOR.

Besides the Whitney series, one of the oldest offshore racing series in the Southland, LAYC will offer the Los Angeles Times trophy for Performance Handicap Racing Fleet ratings. The Times trophy is the oldest yachting prize in Southern California, dating back to 1903 when it was dedicated by the late Harrison Gray Otis.

One of the entries in the Times series this year is the J-35 sloop, Thor, skippered by Jim Skaug, who will be tuning up for the U.S. sailing team which will be competing later this year in the Tour de France regatta in Europe.

Other classes in LAYC ocean racing series are the Midget Ocean Racing Class (MORC) competing for the Little Whitney trophy, and the Todd Pacific Series for PHRF yachts under 30 feet.

Hobie Cat sailors from throughout the Southwest are heading for San Felipe, Mexico, this weekend for the Hobie Midwinters West regatta, which annually draws several hundred of the speedy catamarans. The Midwinters West is one of the largest Hobie Cat regattas in the world.