| THE FICO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP |
1 - Definition and criteria of the World Championship
The FICO World Championship for oceanic racing takes into account
oceanic races, i.e. events open to the FICO classes as outlined below, with
a minimum distance of 800 miles in accordance with ISAF rules, as well as some
races of between 500 and 800 miles in length selected for their international
nature and heavy media coverage, and also the ORMA and IMOCA Grand Prix races.
2- Period
Choice of period taken into consideration: 2 years. Points for both years
have the same weighting.
3 - Definition of skipper
Any yachtsman who participates in one or more FICO calendar events as
a skipper is considered to be a skipper for this championship. He or she is
thus classified in the skippers' table. If, during the championship period,
he or she takes part in an event as a crewman, he or she will score the same
number of points as the other crewmen on the boat, but these points will be
counted in the skippers' championship. He or she cannot be classified in the
table for crewmen.
5 - Points Attribution Principle
- In double-handed races the crewman scores half the number of points
awarded to the skipper.
- In fully-crewed races all the crewmen receive half the number of points awarded
to the skipper.
- For races run in legs points are awarded for the overall standings of the
event. Only skippers and crewmen who participate in all the legs on the same
boat can receive points awarded to the boat.
6 - Minimum Condition.
In order to be classified at the end of the year all skippers and crewmen
must have started and finished at least one of the year's FICO calendar races.
7 - FICO Categories
Yacht fleets are divided into two categories: monohulls and multihulls.
8- FICO Classes
FICO has established boat classes in the oceanic monohull and multihull
categories according to overall length (LOA):
Class 1 : 15.24 metres (50 feet) < LOA = 18.28 metres (60 feet)
Class 2 : 13.72 metres (45 feet) < LOA = 15.24 metres (50 feet)
Class 3 : 12.19 metres (40 feet) < LOA = 13.72 metres (45 feet)
Class 4 : 10.67 metres (35 feet) < LOA = 12.19 metres (40 feet)
Class 5 : 9.14 metres (30 feet) < LOA = 10.67 metres (35 feet)
The Length Overall (LOA) is the distance from the foremost point to the aftmost
point of the yacht on water, not including spars or protruding items attached
to the hull, such as bowspirits, flying jib booms, pulpits and helms.
For all conversions between feet and metres, the figure should be multiplied
by 0.3048 for conversions from feet to metres, and divided by 0.3048 for conversions
from metres to feet.
FICO also sanctions one-design classes and restricted classes. To this day,
the following classes have been sanctioned :
One design classes :
- One Design Maxi Class
Rule or restricted classes :
- VOLVO 60 (V60)
- IMOCA 60 footers (monohull)
- ORMA 60 footers (multihull)
In order for a category to be recognised as such and thus receive points counting towards the FICO World Championship, a minimum of five yachts must be present at the start of an event.
9 - Monohull and Multihull categories receive the same
number of points
Whenever both categories of boat compete in the same event, the boats
in each category should receive the same number of points as the boats in the
corresponding class in the other category. Overall classification by category
is done according to the order in which boats finish races, regardless of class.
10 - Calculation Technique
The number one in the FICO World Rankings is the skipper or crewman
with the highest total number of points in the table. In the event of two
or
more competitors having an equal number of points at the end of the year, skippers
will be separated according to the greatest number of points received in single-handed
races and crewmen according to the greatest number of points in double-handed
races. In the event of there still being a tie, the highest-placed skipper
or
crewman in the last race they have participated will be deemed victorious.
The number of points awarded counting towards the FICO World Championship
for skippers and crewmen is calculated according to the following formula:
Points
awarded in Category X Coefficient of Event
11- Scales
The attribution of points for each class is always done according to
the following scale :
| 1st | 20 points | 8th | 6 points | |
| 2nd | 16 points | 9th | 5 points | |
| 3rd | 14 points | 10th | 4 points | |
| 4th | 12 points | 11th | 3 points | |
| 5th | 10 points | 12th | 2 points | |
| 6th | 8 points | 13th and bellow | 1 point | |
| 7th | 7 points |
The total number of points awarded in events is decided by the FICO General
Assembly for the forthcoming two years, according to the following principle
:
- Round-the-World race 200 points for winner in each category (coeff.10)
- Single-handed transatlantic 100 points for winner in each category (coeff.5)
- Double-handed transatlantic 70 points for winner in each category (coeff.3.5)
- Fully-crewed race 60 points for winner in each category (coeff.3)
- Race less than 800 miles in length 30 points for winner in each category (coeff.1.5)
- Grand Prix races 10 points for winner in each category (coeff. 0.5)
In the vent of a tie at the end of the racing year, sponsors are separated in the same way as skippers.
13- Annual Prize-Giving Ceremony
The attendance of skippers and crewmen at the annual prize-giving ceremony
is compulsory if they wish to receive prizes for the FICO World Championship.
Any skipper or crewman absent from this ceremony will not be able to receive
his or her prize.
In case of dispute, the French version of the present document will prevail.