IRB racing

IRBs being raced

Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) Racing, is a surf sport where local surf lifesaving clubs race Inflatable Rescue Boats in teams under competition conditions. IRB Racing competitions are held in various countries throughout the world including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States, Japan, Germany, and France.

IRB Racing consists of a number of simulated rescue events, with the aim of improving lifesaver skill through competition. It should be noted that competition rules vary from nation to nation, however the International Life Saving Federation has adopted the Australian rules for the 2008 IRB World Championship.

Overview

Since 2001, the rescue events included the basic Surf Rescue, the Mass Rescue, the Tube Rescue, a Team Relay Rescue, and the Assembly Rescue. Each rescue is simulated by a team representing their particular club. For most events, a team usually consists of an IRB driver, crewperson, and patient. This is not the case with regard to the team relay, and mass rescue events (see below).

Depending on club and team participation, events are run in heats, semi-finals, and final rounds. Teams are knocked out at preceding rounds according to their achieved placement in the race, thus preventing them from competing in the next round. Competition takes place at carnivals that are spread out over the off-season between the months of April through to July.

IRB racing is, fast, exciting and highly skilled. It requires an intimate knowledge of the boat, precision driving procedures, high levels of physical strength and fitness, as well as some plain good luck on the day.

Brief History

Soldiers Beach SLSC is regarded as the first club to develop the idea of racing IRBs under simulated rescue scenarios to assist drivers and crews to enhance their skills. Starting back in the early 1970s, the events were continuously refined until 1976 when Surf Life Saving Australia endorsed a set of IRB competition guidelines. IRB racing and competition flourished and grew in popularity with surf clubs from across Australia.

Since then, local clubs in each Australian State have competed against each other at regularly scheduled carnivals throughout the season in preparation for the annually held state titles. Clubs that do well in state titles submit teams for competition in national titles or "Aussies".

Competition Safety Review

Due to mounting safety concerns relating to IRB racing, competition was suspended for a period of 2 years effective as from the end of the 2000/2001 season. During this time the rules applied to racing IRBs in competition were thoroughly scrutinised and reviewed. Eventually a new format for racing was presented for trial in the 2003/2004 season. The new rules have noticeably effected the procedures for starting and finishing of races, as well as craft launching procedures and patient head protection.

Previously, driver and crewperson started all races (minus assembly), behind a starting line approximately 5-10 meters from the shore line. The craft was positioned at the waters edge, nose facing away from the sea. Upon firing of the starter's gun, the driver and crewperson would run up to the boat and swing it around, dragging it to an appropriate depth for starting. Since the review the rules call for the craft to be placed at the waters edge, nose facing out to sea and driver and crewperson now start the race standing outside of the boat but must be in contact with the craft. The driver must not be in contact with the motor in any way. After the starters gun fires, the driver and crewperson may proceed to drag the craft to an appropriate depth before driver jumps in and starts the motor to begin the race.

Patients must be of a minimum age of 16 years and possess and be proficient in the Bronze Medallion and crewperson's certificate.

Scrutineering

In its simplest form, scrutineering is a way of standardising craft performance in order to make the competition fair and equally matched. Scrutineering involves the craft, the motor and accessories (including fuel type), being inspected and checked for compliance to the specifications outlined in competition guidelines.

It is carried out by competition officials a few days prior to competition. No team may enter a craft into competition without it first passing scrutineering. Officials look for modifications to the motor, correct fuel type, and that all craft carry the minimum list of IRB accessories.

Marshalling

Marshalling is performed approximately 10 minutes prior to an event commencing to ensure all participating team members (driver, crewperson and patient) are present and accounted for. Any team or member failing to show up to marshalling before a cut-off time are disqualified from the race. During marshalling teams are allocated their own lane and designated buoy colour.

After marshalling, all patients are taken to a craft termed the Duty Boat which transports them to the buoys in their respective lanes.

Event Descriptions

Surf rescue

• Surf Rescue

Mass rescue

Mass Rescue is a competitive event that simulates a rescue in which more than one patient. is in trouble. Hence, it requires more than one trip back to the buoy to complete the rescue.

The Mass Rescue consists of two patient pickups and a changeover in between (2 patients as opposed to 1 patient in the basic rescue). The patients are both situated at the pickup buoys (one in front of the buoy and one behind) with one being picked up during each leg of the race. The IRB travels around the buoy in an anti-clockwise pattern. The start of the Mass Rescue is the same as that of the standard rescue race. After the first patient is picked up, the crew returns to shore where the driver gets out of the boat after cutting the motor and putting it into neutral, they then run up the beach around a turning post and head back to the boat for the second leg. During the driver's run leg, the crewperson has to turn the IRB around to face the surf once again. The first patient also gets out of the boat at this time. Upon entering the boat for the second leg, the driver has to restart the motor, upon which the crewperson will re-enter the boat and take up position on the bow. The second patient will have manoeuvred into position behind the pickup buoy after the first pickup and the second leg should progress in the same as the first. Upon returning to shore the driver has to cut the motor, place it into neutral and run over the finishing line.

The Mass Rescue is an excellent test of a crew's strength and endurance.

Tube rescue

• Tube Rescue

Team relay rescue

• Team Relay Rescue

Team positions and racing protocol

• IRB driver
• IRB crew person
• IRB patient

External links

• Rescue Racing: The Home of IRB Racing in Australia
• Surf Life Saving Australia