PHILIPPINE RC SAILING CLUB
International One Meter

FLEET HISTORY:

The International One meter is one of the most popular model yachts in the world.  It is an ISAF recognized class and have been around for decades.  There is a strong fleet in US, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, England, France, and Europe in General. In South East Asia, the most active fleet is in Singapore while there is now growth in Malaysia. More information about the IOM class here!

In the Philippines, we got our first look at an IOM during the first ever Lakeshore regatta, a good friend and an avid RC sailor from Singapore took time out from his very busy schedule to join the Lakeshore regatta, he brought with him a Highlander IOM. The IOM and her skipper dominated the open class race, swept all 5 series to win over all. Needless to say the boat ended up staying in the Philippines and becoming the first ever IOM owned by a Filipino. 

DEVELOPMENT OF THE FLEET:

After the success of the first IOM in the country, a lot of people were interested in acquiring one. Who wouldn't want to own a very fast and maneuverable One meter boat?  But then after learning about the actual cost of a production IOM boat from Australia, NZ or England a lot of people would back out, after all an entry level brand new IOM costs more than 5 months minimum wage salary here. So local boat modelers set about looking for ways to make an affordable IOM boat. 

Currently there are 2 ongoing projects for an IOM boat, both modelers are hoping to come up with a mould for an IOM hull that will at least be affordable. The idea is also to make them for their own use and maybe even make them available to others almost ready to sail. The 2 projects are going for a skiff type design very much like the Aussie and Kiwi designs probably because the first IOM they saw were of this type, hopefully in the future a canoe type boat will also be developed depending on the success of these two projects.  The target is to have a sailing sample by first quarter of 2004. The modelers are not doing the project for profit but to try to offer affordable boats to sailors, and the target cost is being pegged as the same as a Kyosho Seawind.

NEWSFLASH!  Check out the Locally built IOM here!

CLASS RULES:

The IOM class rules is actually very detailed and sometimes confusing. However in order for us to be able to compete along with our South East Asian Neighbors and maybe even invite them to visit us for regattas, we will have to comply with the IOM class rules.  However currently IOM boats are required to be inspected, measured and registered through an official measurer and a governing body. We have not established this yet, so the IOMs that will be made in the country will be governed first by PRSC using one design class rules as basis. The PRSC shall however make sure that all IOM boats shall pass measurements for an IOM certificate. 

Because the IOMs will be made out of a mould and will be "mass produced" the PRSC will consider both projects as "one design" class to make it more simple to control the measurements. Again if any of the IOM projects is found to not be in accordance to IOM class rules, the models shall be modified by the maker to make it class legal.  

PRSC IOM CLASS RULES- Basic IOM class rules for your reference
IOM Basic information- Great site to know more about IOM and how rules were made
IOMICA- the official website of IOM International Class Association which governs class rules.

MEMBERS:

Currently there are IOMs registered with the PRSC.