The 2024 ORC World Championship, hosted by the New York Yacht Club in Newport, Rhode Island, from September 27 to October 5, showcased elite international competition. Offshore Racing Congress (ORC), governs yacht measurement and handicapping to ensure fair racing across a wide range of boats. This prestigious event attracted top sailors from around the world, competing in multiple classes: ORC 0, A, B, and Maxi.
The New York Yacht Club’s exceptional hosting of the ORC Worlds demonstrated its commitment to fostering world-class sailing competition and showcasing its rich maritime tradition. Their meticulous organization and hospitality provided an ideal setting for top sailors to test their skills on a global stage.
“From the day New York Yacht Club was awarded the ORC World Championship several years ago, we have worked extremely closely with the great team in the Offshore Office of US Sailing to ensure a successful event,” said Matt Gallagher, Regatta Chair and Secretary of US Sailing Board of Directors. “The team in the offshore office worked collaboratively with ORC in Europe and the NYYC staff and volunteers both pre-race and during the regatta to ensure that our racers had high quality, fair racing on the waters near Newport.”
A Convergence of Global Talent
With more than 40 teams from across the world, the 2024 ORC Worlds represented a true global convergence of sailing talent. Crews from different nations battled for the coveted title, showcasing their mastery of offshore sailing in one of the most prestigious arenas. The event highlighted the spirit of international competition, tradition, and innovation, all hallmarks of the ORC World Championship.
US Sailing’s Offshore Office played a pivotal role in ensuring all boats were fully measured for their ORC International Certificate, verifying hull files, in-water measurements, and sail reporting. The team also worked closely with owners to guide them through the process of declaring their proper sail inventory and ensuring all sails were measured and labeled correctly for the event.
“We worked closely with all boat owners to ensure they understood the regatta’s rules and were reporting accurate measurement data for their certificates,” said Chris Tutmark, US Sailing’s Chief Measurer. “Helping them declare their proper sail inventory, getting each sail measured and marked with the measurement sticker, was a new process for some, but we enjoyed guiding them through it. It’s exciting to see such a high-profile event succeed here in the U.S.”
Race Format and Challenges
The 2024 ORC Worlds featured both inshore and offshore races, offering a comprehensive test of seamanship, navigation, and endurance. Inshore races took place on shorter courses, emphasizing tactical prowess, while offshore races stretched over longer distances, challenging teams to perform in diverse wind and sea conditions. Newport’s renowned sailing waters provided the ideal backdrop.
- In Class 0: FOX 2.0, Botin 52 owned by Victor Wild
- In Class A: Interlodge 44, Botin 44 owned by Austin and Gwen Fragomen
- In Class B: Windwhisper44, Grand Soleil 44 P owned by Marc Sutkowski
- In the Maxi Class (North American Championship): Vesper, Maxi 72 owned by Jim Swartz
What ORC Represents
The Offshore Racing Congress (ORC) oversees a sophisticated handicapping system designed to make yacht racing accessible and competitive, regardless of boat design. The ORC rule, introduced in the 1960s, is globally recognized for its fairness, offering sailors of varying boat sizes and types the opportunity to compete together. The ORC Worlds is the ultimate expression of this system, bringing together a diverse fleet of high-performance yachts, each measured and rated to ensure competitiveness on the water.
US Sailing, in collaboration with ORC, supports this system in the U.S., promoting fair competition through the use of the ORC rating rule, which is based on the measured performance characteristics of each boat. The ORC provides sailors with options for simple or more complex scoring formats, ensuring inclusivity across a range of boats and skill levels, while maintaining accurate race results and ratings.
“Leading up to the regatta, we assisted with measurement inspections and the re-issuance of ORC certificates to ensure all competitors were properly rated,” said Sydney Hough, Junior Ratings Officer at US Sailing. “It was crucial that every boat met the necessary standards before they hit the water.”
The technical team on-site was an international group made up of ORC staff, US Sailing staff, and measurers from the USA, Sweden and South Africa.
US Sailing’s Involvement in Ensuring Fair Play
US Sailing played a critical role by measuring and certifying all of the participating boats to ensure compliance with ORC’s rigorous standards. This collaboration guaranteed a level playing field where speed, tactics, and teamwork decide the winners.
A critical element of the event’s success lies in the meticulous measurement of the boats involved. US Sailing, working alongside the Offshore Racing Congress, is responsible for conducting thorough measurement checks on each yacht, ensuring compliance with ORC regulations. Every detail, from hull shape to sail dimensions, is scrutinized to guarantee a fair rating. This attention to detail ensures that the competition is based on skill and strategy, not boat design advantages.
“US Sailing works with its trained, recognized US Sailing Measurers to measure the boats for the regatta,” said Hough. “Our office also ensured that all boats competing had accurate, valid ORC Certificates prior to the regatta.”
For full results and more information, please visit https://nyyc.org/2024-orc-world-championship