Offshore Racing Congress (ORC)
What's new for 2023?
Continual research performed by the ORC Technical Committee has updated the VPP for 2023. These and other changes approved by the ORC Congress and its Committees are summarized in a Changes to the Rules document available at this link.
Its important to remember that while there are changes to ratings in the new year’s certificate, for the vast majority of boats these changes relative to their competitors are usually <0.5% different in their general handicap.
US Sailing’s Offshore Office has spent the off-season developing an improved and more comprehensive application system, as well as an internal processing system designed to make issuing certificates more accurate, efficient, and repeatable.
Start your 2023 ORC Application
Who Owns It
Offshore Racing Congress (ORC)
Why Did It Start
The ORC was founded in 1969 by the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) and the Cruising Club of America (CCA) to develop a handicap standard for the international community. Since then, the ORC has supported several rules including the IOR, IMS, and, most recently, the ORC Rule. The ORC Rule was structured in the late 2000’s to promote safe design practices and to fairly rate a broad range of designs, including cruiser/racer and modern race boats. The ORC Rule is recognized by World Sailing as an International Rating System. Learn more about the history of the ORC.
How It Works
The ORC Rule relies on a Velocity Prediction Program (VPP) based on standard measurements defined by the Universal Measurement System (UMS). More information on measurement may be found on our Services page. The rating calculator outputs a multi-number rating, suitable for various scoring options and course configurations. While ORC Club and ORC International certificates differ with respect to measurement criteria, they rely on the same calculation routine. As a result, Club and International certificates may be scored consistently with each other. The ORC VPP is updated annually and all rules, regulations, certificates and VPP documentation are freely available to the racing community. ORC scoring options include Time-on-Distance, Time-on-Time, Triple Number, and Performance Curve Scoring. In 2022 all ORC certificates include custom scoring options tailored to specific races and events are explained on the Scoring Options document.
Who Uses It
ORC is globally recognized in local, national, and international races making it the most popular measurement-based rating system in the world. With primary interests among European race circuits, the annual ORC World Championships draw international attention to the rating system. The ORC has been recently featured in numerous regions throughout the US, including Galveston Bay racing in Texas; SORC and Key West racing in South Florida; at Charleston Race Week; the Chicago Mac and Bayview Mac races as well as local races in the Chesapeake Bay, Biscayne Bay, St Petersburg, Long Island Sound, Seattle, San Francisco, and San Diego.
Where We Fit In
US Sailing Offshore is charged with acquiring, processing, and archiving all data to issue ORC Club and ORC International certificates to boats based in the United States.
Products
ORC International
ORCi is based on a complete boat measurement carried out by a US Sailing Official Yacht Measurer as defined by the Universal Measurement System. The hull and appendages must be measured and the offset file approved by ORC to meet ORCi standards. This is the most accurate rating the rule system offers. These certificates are intended for use in World, Continental, Regional, and National level races. To request official measurement, please contact the US Sailing Offshore Office at offshore@ussailing.org.
ORC Club
Club certificates do not require verified measurement. Instead, owners are allowed to declare select measurements while other parameters are assigned by the rating office. Where input data is lacking, the rating office will apply estimates or default values that err to a faster rating. The more data submitted based on measurements, the more accurate the rating. ORC Club certificates are intended for club-level racing.
*Note that the example ORC Club certificate on the ORC website is only two pages - US Sailing-issued ORC Club certificates are 4 pages and include all the same information that appears on Pages 3 and 4 of ORC International certificates. Also note that Page 2 of both certificate types issued in the US contain scoring options requested by races and regattas held in the US and Canada.
ORC Double Handed and ORC Non-Spinnaker Certificates
ORC policy permits that any yacht with an ORCi or ORC Club certificate is entitled to an ORC Double Handed and/or ORC Non-Spinnaker certificate that is valid as well. DH certificates are designed to model the performance of a boat racing with a shorthanded crew of a default crew weight of 170 kg. Non-spinnaker certificates may not have any Spinnaker, Code 0 or Headsail set Flying active in the inventory.
There is a fee associated with these certificates, please see the pricing chart below for more information.
ORC One Design
For specific classes, ORCi and ORC Club certificates are available in a standardized configuration. All data affecting a boat’s rating are standardized based on One Design class rules or past measurements taken reflecting close tolerances. No measurements are needed for these certificates, provided that there is proof supplied to the rating office that the boat is complying with its Class measurements. Any configuration change shall invalidate the ORC One Design certificate and a new standard ORC International or ORC Club certificate must be issued.
ORC Super Yacht
Handicapping widely disparate Super yachts represents one of the most formidable challenges any rule authority can undertake. A Super yacht fleet typically includes schooners, sloops and ketches of varying lengths and with displacements ranging from 50 to 600 tons and the huge disparity in yacht type, size and shape is exceptionally difficult to handicap.
For more: ORC Super yacht
ORC Multihull
Using the same VPP technology as used for rating Monohulls, the ORC team has spent the past 4 years developing an analogous system for a scientific and fair rating system for Multihulls. The beta testing on this system has thusfar focused on offshore-capable multihulls, but in theory any multihull may be rated.
For more information: ORC Multihull
Amendment
For boats currently holding a current year valid certificate, any changes to the configuration must be reported and a new certificate reflecting those changes issued. For ORCi certificates, relevant parameters may need to be remeasured.
Copy Certificates
ORC provides free access to all measurements and any valid certificate issued by any rating office in the world since 2009 through the free ORC Sailor Services database. Measurements and copies of certificates are in HTML format and are available at no charge without limit. Copy certificates are NOT valid for racing.
Alphabetical lists of all boats with current valid certificates are also available on the ORC Active Certificates Database link from the ORC home page.
Trial
To understand how a potential modification would impact a boat’s rating, trials may be ordered through the Sailor Services system on the ORC website. There is no limit to the number of trial certificates issued in the ORC Sailor Services system. For instructions on how to use ORC Sailor Services, instructions are available.
To run trials that include a modification not available in Sailor Services, such as water ballast modifications, the Offshore Office can run trials for the boat. These trials are NOT valid for racing, and have an associated fee, seen here. If you have further questions regarding Sailor Services or running trials please contact the Offshore Office at offshore@ussailing.org or call 401-342-7953.
Hydrostatics/Stability Data Sheet
Understanding the limitations of stability is important to every boat owner, but this information is also useful to offshore race organizers interested in defining relevant safety standards in their entry requirements.
For more: ORC Stability Datasheet Explanation
Speed Guide
The ORC Speed Guide uses the ORC VPP to develop polar diagrams for your yacht. These diagrams are an asset to understanding relationships between performance, sail selection, wind speed, and wind angle. They display the polar data in graphic, tabular, and digital formats, including the format used by the Expedition routing program.
Pricing at $35 is at a 50% discount from the self-service rate when ordered through ORC Sailor Services.
For more: ORC Speed Guide Explanation, ORC Speed Guide Sample
ORC Pricing
2023 ORC – USS Pricing (Price per foot)
LOA (ft) |
ORCi New |
ORCi |
ORCi |
ORCi |
ORC Club New |
ORC Club Renewal |
ORC Club Amend. |
ORC Club Trial* |
0 – 29.99 |
$8.25 |
$7.04 |
$4.13 |
$4.13 |
$3.30 |
$2.81 |
$1.65 |
$1.65 |
30 – 39.99 |
$9.35 |
$7.98 |
$4.68 |
$4.68 |
$4.40 |
$3.74 |
$2.20 |
$2.20 |
40 – 49.99 |
$10.45 |
$8.91 |
$5.23 |
$5.23 |
$5.50 |
$4.68 |
$2.75 |
$2.75 |
50 – 59.99 |
$11.55 |
$9.90 |
$5.78 |
$5.78 |
$6.60 |
$5.61 |
$3.30 |
$3.30 |
LOA > 60 |
$12.10 |
$10.29 |
$6.05 |
$6.05 |
$7.70 |
$6.55 |
$3.85 |
$3.85 |
*ORC test certificates of existing boats that have been issued an ORC certificate at any time since 2009 can also be obtained using the online ORC Sailor Services system: https://www.orc.org/index.asp?id=1
2023 ORC – USS Certificate Add-ons Pricing
Product |
Price |
First Certificate Configuration (ex. Fully Crewed, DH, or NS) | See above |
Second Certificate Configuration (ex. Fully Crewed, DH, or NS) | ½ the price of first certificate configuration |
Third Certificate Configuration (ex. Fully Crewed, DH, or NS) | ½ the price of first certificate configuration |
First Certificate Speed Guide (ex. Fully Crewed, DH, or NS) | $35 |
Second Certificate Speed Guide (ex. Fully Crewed, DH, or NS) | $20 |
Third Certificate Speed Guide (ex. Fully Crewed, DH, or NS) | $20 |
Hydrostatics Sheet | $75 |
Offset File Generation | Contact offshore@ussailing.org |
ORC FAQ's
ORC Application
How to Apply
Read through the instructions below carefully. When you are ready to apply click the “Apply for ORC 2023 Certificate” button located below the instructions.
Our new application was built to gather information about an owner and their boat to issue certificates more accurately and efficiently. The application has a large amount of code running in the background to make it work effectively for all users. Please be patient as the application loads initially on your computer and as you are clicking through the questions.
Items to have on hand when applying:
- US Sailing Member ID – To obtain an ORC Certificate an owner must be a member of US Sailing. If an owner is not a member or needs to renew their membership, please use this link to learn more about our membership opportunities click here.
- Past Rating Certificate(s) – If the boat was rated under ORC, ORR, IRC, or PHRF in the past it is helpful to have one or all these certificates on hand. Our office is interested in the most recent certificate(s). If you are renewing a certificate under a rating rule, please have the prior year’s certificate handy. You will need the certificate number and year.
- Sail Certificates – Any new or remeasured sails that are being reported must have a sail certificate from the sail loft or a recognized measurer included in the application. If sails are being reported, the applicant will type in the measurements, measurer information, and sail certificate.
- Crew Weight – Owners declaring a crew weight will declare their given weight on the application. If crew weight is not declared the default crew weight for the class/make of boat will be used. Owners are highly encouraged to declare a crew weight. The declared crew weight is the maximum crew weight a boat shall sail at, as set by rule authority to sail within compliance of the certificate.
- First Race Information – On the application owners will declare the first race they are doing under the rule they are applying for a certificate under. Have the name and date of the boat’s first VPP race on hand. The Offshore Office will use this information to guarantee owners have their certificates in time to race.
For the best user experience please use Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge browsers.
It is highly recommended to open this application in a private or incognito browser for a faster user experience.
The application does not work in Safari.
Apply for 2023 ORC Certificate