IRB Racing

Coach: Mike Hartas

Overview

Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) racing is fast, exciting and very challenging. It requires an intimate knowledge of the boat, precision driving skills, and high levels of physical strength and fitness, as well as some plain good luck on race day.  The aims of IRB racing competition are to:

  • Improve the prowess of IRB drivers and crewpersons (hereafter collectively referred to as ‘crew’).

  • Encourage crews to correctly equip and maintain their IRB and motors for optimum safe performance and reliability for both lifesaving patrol duties and competition

  • Allow crews to demonstrate their techniques and their abilities to perform a rescue.

  • Bring crews together to discuss and improve IRB techniques and operations.

  • Promote safety awareness techniques for the crew and patients in simulated rescue scenarios

Racing IRBs under simulated rescue scenarios to assist drivers and crews in enhancing their skills began 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 continued to grow in popularity with surf clubs from across Australia.  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".  Since 2001, the rescue events have included the basic Surf Rescue, the Mass Rescue, the Tube Rescue, a Team Relay Rescue, each rescue is simulated by a team representing their particular club.  

For most events, the team consists of an IRB driver, a crew person, and a patient, though this is not the case with regard to the Team Relay, and Mass Rescue events,  Depending on club and team participation, events are usually run in heats, semi-finals, and final rounds. Team placement at each stage determines which teams are eliminated and which move to the next round. Competition takes place at carnivals that are spread out during the Winter season between the months of April and July.

  • Event No 1: Rescue Tube

  • Event No 2: Mass Rescue

  • Event No 3: Teams Rescue

  • Event No 4: Rescue

  • Event No 5: IRB Relay 

Competitor prerequisites 

At the date of entry closure for the competition to be contested:
(a) Drivers are required to:

  1. Be a minimum of seventeen years of age as at the date of competition.

  2. Hold their relevant state/territory maritime licence required to operate an IRB.

  3. Hold their IRB drivers award, be currently proficient as required by SLSA and have logged twenty (20) hours specific in-water IRB competition driving training under the supervision of a
    currently licensed IRB Surf Coach.

  4. Be endorsed by a currently licensed IRB Surf Coach as being competent for IRB competition.

Note: In all training and competition it is compulsory for drivers to wear SLSA approved level 50 Lifejackets (level 50S Lifejackets unless listed on the SLSA Approved Gear and Equipment List are not
permitted). It is not required for high visibility safety vests to be worn over the top of Lifejackets. See also Section 2 of the Surf Sports Manual.

Crew persons are required to:

  1. Be a minimum of sixteen years of age as at the date of competition.

  2. Hold their IRB crewpersons award, be currently proficient as required by SLSA and have logged twenty (20) hours specific in-water IRB competition driving or crewing training under the supervision of currently licensed IRB Surf Coach.

  3. Be endorsed by a currently licensed IRB Surf Coach as being competent for IRB competition.

Note: In all training and competition it is compulsory for crew persons to wear SLSA approved level 50 Lifejackets (level 50S Lifejackets unless listed on the SLSA Approved Gear and Equipment List are
not permitted). It is not required for high visibility safety vests to be worn over the top of Lifejackets.  See also Section 2 of the Surf Sports Manual.

Patients are required to:

  1. Be a minimum of fifteen years of age before October 01 in the season the competition is being conducted.

  2. Hold their IRB crewpersons award, be currently proficient as required by SLSA and have logged twenty (20) hours specific in-water IRB competition driving or crewing training under the supervision of currently licensed IRB Surf Coach.

  3. Be endorsed by a currently licensed IRB Surf Coach as being competent for IRB competition.

Note 1: In all training and competition it is compulsory for patients to wear SLSA approved level 50 Lifejackets (level 50S Lifejackets unless listed on the SLSA Approved Gear and Equipment List are not permitted). It is not required for high visibility vests to be worn over the top of Lifejackets. See also Section 2 of the Surf Sports Manual.

Other Information

IRB Competition Gear and Equipment Regulations 2017 - Download Here