The Offshore Racing Congress (ORC) is an international body for the sport of competitive sailing and is responsible for the establishment and maintenance of rating and classification standards used to define offshore, that is marine as opposed to inland , yacht racing handicap categories.
16-731: The ORC was established in 1969 to create a single international handicap standard to combine the two pre-existing dominant handicap standards - that of the Cruising Club of America which covered North and South Americas, and the standard of the Royal Ocean Racing Club for Europe and the Antipodes. The combined ruleset, the International Offshore Rule or IOR, was initially successful. The ORC developed International Measurement System (IMS) in
32-520: A Governing Board of officers and elected members, and operated by standing committees including Finance, Audit, Nominating, and Membership, to name but a few. The club has eleven stations, each with its own rear commodore and officers, and its own annual activities. The stations are: Bermuda, Bras d'Or, Boston (including Buzzards Bay Post, Gulf of Maine Post, and Narragansett Bay Post), Chesapeake, Essex, Florida, Great Lakes, New York, Pacific Northwest, San Francisco, and Southern California. Membership
48-686: A pastime of idle officers of the Bermuda Garrison and the Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda . In 1845, Prince Albert consented to become Patron of the Club and in 1846 the club was permitted to add the adjective "Royal" to its name. The RBYC flies the blue ensign with the RBYC badge. In 1933 the club moved to its current site at Albuoy's Point, Hamilton . Currently the club has about 850 resident and non-resident members. The club
64-713: Is also the third oldest 'Royal' club outside the British Isles. The club has co-hosted the biannual Bermuda Race from 1906 to 1926 with various American yacht clubs, and since 1926 with the Cruising Club of America . It also currently hosts the Charleston Bermuda Race. The RBYC gave name to the Royal Bermuda (Yacht Club) Cocktail , a variant of the daiquiri that contains Barbados rum , fresh lime juice, Cointreau , and falernum , recorded since 1941. This Bermuda -related article
80-458: Is by invitation. According to the CCA constitution, "A person eligible for membership in the club must be a sailor and a person of acceptable character and personality who has demonstrated his or her ability to handle or command and navigate and pilot a small vessel at sea, and who has had sufficient cruising experience." According to the club's candidate qualifications guidelines and policies, "a sailor"
96-516: Is defined as follows: "This word does not exclude a seaman by trade or profession. It has long ceased to mean only a rope-and-canvas seaman; the mariner in power is likewise a sailor. We consider, however, that a candidate who cruises under power should have established his or her qualifications under sail." With the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club , the CCA sponsors the biennial Bermuda Race from Newport, Rhode Island to Bermuda . It
112-412: The Club is structured around national committees that conduct mission-related work and manage the administrative operations of the organization, and around geographical Stations that provide regional focus for the membership. Primary mission-focused committees include Safety at Sea, Offshore Communications, Technical, Environment, Cruising Guides and Charts, Bermuda Race, and Awards. The Club is managed by
128-739: The IMS, ORC International and ORC Club, the ORC is also the sole authority recognized by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) for the administration of the ORC Grand Prix Classes Rules and the co-related Regulations, measurement and classes. ORC Rules & Regulations In addition to the IMS and ORC Rating Rules, the ORC also publishes "The ORC Championship Rules, Standard Notice of Race, Standard Sailing Instructions and ORC Classes" or 'Green Book',
144-579: The VPP documentation and other software and related documentation as well as a number of technical data sets including their Stability and Hydrostatics Datasheet. The ORC comprises a Congress and Officers, a number of Committees, Chief Measurers and Rating Offices. ORC Congress & Officers The Congress' honorary President is currently King Harald V of Norway . Bruno Finzi has held the post of President since 2002. The congress includes national representatives and two from ISAF . ORC Committees Apart from
160-661: The early 1990s and it was widely used to the early 2000s. This made use of a Velocity prediction program or VPP. While still maintained, the IMS has been largely superseded by the Offshore Racing Congress Rule in its International and, simpler, Club forms. These more recent rule sets are based on the same VPP as the IMS. The VPP is used "to rate boats of different characteristics in size, hull and appendages shape and configuration, stability, rig and sails measurement, propeller installation and many other details affecting their theoretical speed". Along with
176-686: The general Management Committee, other committees cover "Offshore Classes & Events", "Race Management", "Special Regulations", "Measurement" and "Promotion & Development". General technical matters, including responsibility for the maintenance and development of the VPP and other software, are encompassed by the "International Technical Committee" (ITC), chaired by Andy Claughton. A number of working groups also exist. ORC Rating Officers The 'Central Rating Office' establishes delegated Rating Offices in each country with active offshore racing. Rating offices issue ORC International and ORC Club certificates and administer their national fleets by supervising
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#1732775802465192-466: The interests, achievement, experience, and love and respect for the sea of the club's founders. Now in its 100th year, the CCA continues to use the collective wisdom and experience of its members to influence the "adventurous use of the sea" through efforts to elevate good seamanship, the design of seaworthy yachts, safe yachting practices, and environmental awareness. The Cruising Club of America has no clubhouse or shoreside base, and no paid staff. Rather,
208-480: The major ones can be grouped as follows: Cruising Club of America The Cruising Club of America (CCA) is an international organization of cruisers whose objects are to promote cruising and racing by amateurs, to encourage the development of suitable types of cruising craft, to stimulate interest in seamanship , navigation and handling small vessels, and to keep on file all information which may be of assistance to members in cruising in any waters. The CCA
224-494: The measurement and rating of the yachts. For countries where a national Rating Office is not established, the central ORC Rating office may provide support in issuing certificates and supervising measurement. A 'Chief Measurer' chairs the Measurement Committee. The current Chief Measurer is Zoran Grubiša. National Chief Measurers are established in each national Rating Office. The ORC organizes multiple events, and
240-601: Was launched in the winter of 1922 at Maskells Harbour on Nova Scotia's Bras d'Or Lake by a handful of experienced offshore cruisers interested in cruising The founders included Gilbert Hovey Grosvenor , F.W. (Casey) Baldwin , William Washburn Nutting, Jim Dorsett, and William A. Wise Wood. As of 2021, the club has more than 1,400 members, including 116 women. Members range from 25 to 99 years of age, averaging 70.7 years. CCA members report owning 1,036 boats, averaging 41.3 feet. This includes 702 sailing yachts, 225 powerboats, and 49 "undesignated" boats." CCA's members personify
256-685: Was responsible for developing the CCA Rule, which, until the advent of the International Offshore Rule , was the handicapping rule used for most handicapped yacht racing in North America. Royal Bermuda Yacht Club The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club (RBYC) is a private yacht club that was established as the Bermuda Yacht Club on 1 November, 1844, after the sport of racing yachts had become established in Bermuda primarily as
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