The Newport to Bermuda Race is a prestigious biennial event that spans 636 nautical miles and is set to take place starting June 21, 2024, attracting a diverse fleet of 164 boats. For boats competing in this challenging offshore race, US Sailing’s Offshore Office plays a crucial role in ensuring fair competition. The Office is charged with acquiring, processing, and archiving all data to issue certificates to boats based in the United States. These certificates are used for various regattas, including the Newport to Bermuda Race.
“The rating system is crucial because it allows sailboats of different designs and sizes to compete fairly in races,” says Jim Teeters, US Sailing Head of Offshore Ratings Office
The Newport to Bermuda Race uses the Offshore Racing Rule (ORR) for its handicapping system, as it is believed by the race organizers to fairly handicap different boats in a diverse fleet without favoring any type of boat in any particular type of boat under varying conditions. Handicapping systems of this nature have been in place for this regatta since 1978.
The ORR grew out of a desire among North American sailors who felt that the International Measurement System (IMS) no longer met their needs. The ORA was founded in 2004 by the Cruising Club of America (CCA), Chicago Yacht Club (CYC), and the Transpacific Yacht Club (TPYC).
How US Sailing Determines Ratings
ORR is one of several handicapping systems used by US Sailing to rate and categorize boats for offshore racing competitions.
They consider a wide range of factors influencing a boat’s performance, such as hull shape, sail area, displacement, and righting moment.
To rate boats for the ORR system, US Sailing conducts detailed measurements and assessments of each vessel, including the boat’s hull and appendages, and its rig and sails.
Using this data, a sophisticated computer modeling system then analyzes the boat’s performance across a variety of wind speeds and sea conditions. Velocity Prediction Programs (VPPs) simulate how the boat would perform in different scenarios and generate a performance profile that forms the basis of the boat’s ORR rating.
The ORR rating is expressed as a time correction factor (TCF), which is used to adjust the boat’s elapsed time during a race to produce a corrected time. This corrected time determines the boat’s placement in the race, allowing for fair competition among boats of different sizes and designs.
The TCF is dynamic, meaning it can be adjusted over time as more data about the boat’s performance becomes available or as modifications are made to the boat.
Both US Sailing and the Offshore Racing Association (ORA) have, over the last decade plus, been working with various race organizers on improving the handicap ratings used for their races. The Newport Bermuda and Marion Bermuda races frequently experience the weather phenomenon called the Bermuda High. This is essentially a zone of light wind that drifts across the racecourse and wreaks havoc with some, but not all, the boats.
Working with all these races we have developed weather-based handicap models. More recently, working with US Sailing board member, Stan Honey, US Sailing has explored the use of weather forecasts, coupled with boat speed polar files, evaluated for best performance with routing software Expedition to develop ratings the day of the races. F-TCF is that approach.
Rating systems are designed to be transparent and equitable, with an emphasis on promoting fair racing.
“ORA continuously reviews and updates the rule to reflect advances in boat design and to address any discrepancies that might arise. This iterative process involves input from naval architects, sailors, and race organizers, ensuring that the ORR remains a reliable and respected standard in the sailing community,” says Teeters
The ultimate goal of the ORR system is to reward skillful sailing and tactical decision-making, rather than purely design advantages, thereby enhancing the overall competitiveness and enjoyment of offshore racing.
US Sailing is in the process of developing a universal measurement database for all offshore sailboats in the US. Assigning each boat a unique ID allows the US Sailing ratings office to track each boat through its life span in an efficient manner, allowing the office to provide more accurate and timely service to members.
ORR in Racing
ORR is preferred by the Newport to Bermuda Race event organizers because it does not favor old designs, new designs, classics, or high-tech downwind flyers, nor does it reward owners that partake in expensive boat reconfigurations.
“What it does do is encourage well-prepared and capable crews,” says Teeters
According to Teeters, there aren’t many boats in existence that ORR cannot rate. ORR has two categories of certificates: Full Measurement and Partial Measurement. The Newport to Bermuda Race requires Full Measurement, with very few exceptions listed in the Notice of Race. Full Measurement requires that all the boat’s rating information comes from a US Sailing certified measurer.
Full Measurement is an added protection for fair competition by ensuring that the rating data for each boat is accurate, but also giving every boat a fair assessment of her characteristics.
The ORR is a popular measurement rule used in North America and is the rule of choice for such events as: Newport-Bermuda Race, Puerto Vallarta Race, Transpacific Yacht Race, and many more.
Including the ORR, US Sailing administers several rating and handicapping systems that allow equitable racing for diverse fleets. They are:
- International Rating Certificate (IRC)
- Offshore Racing Congress (ORC)
- Performance Handicap Racing Fleet (PHRF)
- Portsmouth Yardstick (D-PN)
- Offshore Racing Rule (ORR)
The 2024 Newport to Bermuda Race
As the 2024 Newport to Bermuda Race approaches, US Sailing’s meticulous process of determining ratings ensures that every boat has a fair chance to compete. This commitment to fairness and accuracy upholds the spirit of the race, allowing sailors to test their skills and endurance on the open ocean. Whether you’re a seasoned competitor or a first-time participant, the rating system is a crucial component of what makes the Newport to Bermuda Race a thrilling and equitable event.
For more information on the race, which starts this Friday in Newport, click HERE.
For more information on US Sailing’s offshore program, click HERE.