In 2009, the Worldwide International Canoe community agreed that the IC should become a development class again after a 37 year period as a one design using the Nethercott hull shape. The Nethercott boats (known as IC One Design ICOD) are still sailed competitively and now available at a very low entry level price offering a wonderful way to introduce new sailors to the dark arts of IC sailing.
For the more adventurous and seeking the ultimate ride, the latest designs are real cutting edge boats which are designed to be highly efficient taking narrow slender hull design to the limits. The rules adopted in 2009 world wide were intended to use the latest design and boat building techniques to produce the most slippery hulls possible down to a minimum weight. This is accomplished by reducing maximum beam at the waterline to 750mm (was 1050mm) and the all up weight has been reduced to a minimum of 50kg including rig and foils. The design is still restricted to a rig of 10m2 which can be a una rig and the righting moment must be provided by a 2m sliding seat. The box rule allows any hull shape to be accommodated so long as there is an overall length of 5200mm and at a point chosen within 1.6 and 2.5m from the stern the hull beam must not measure less than 750mm between 100-150mm from the keel line. Forward and aft of this Beam Measurement Station (BMS) the hull must be smooth within 1m and can’t be hollow measured across the BMS.
This has lead to a number of many new designs most of which have developed towards a very fine bow entry, low rocker and either a traditional low drag rounded stern or an angular fat bottom shape to give a flatter planning section aft. Underwater sections vary from a flatter double chine approach to a very rounded bilge with flat aft sections.
The latest rules has allowed the class to again become the leading performance monohull without a spinnaker and speeds are continue to rise with optimised hull shapes and development of new rigs to squeeze the very best performance form 10m of sail with amazing upwind and reaching performance.
Hull development has been rapid over the last 7 years but three main designs have now materialised and the performance between these designs is now very similar. The class has recognised that whilst individuality is essential it’s also important to allow sailors to buy a boat which is not going to be outgunned within a short period of time. Designs have largely stabilised to such an extent that a standard boat can be bought off the shelf and raced competitively with minor tweaks and adjustment of sails and rigs possible to make that difference at the top of the fleet.
The main designs are available from C12 Performance Boats and Bloodaxe Boats offering well proven production moulded boats with a proven pedigree. There are also many individuals are produce their own one off designs and this options is available to anyone who has the necessary skills, time and patience to build their own.
The following shows some of the designs currently available from professional builders in kit and partially/full built form.