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Offshore Race to kick off 2024 ORC World Championship
After three days of inspections, the first race of the 2024 ORC World Championship organized by the New York Yacht Club in cooperation with the Offshore Racing Congress (ORC) will start tomorrow with a long race designed to test the offshore skills of the 43 teams entered in the week-long event.
Starting at 1000 local time, all teams will set off from the start within Narragansett Bay and head offshore to various buoys and towers placed in the Atlantic, finishing near the harbor at Newport at Fort Adams.
There are three courses for each class: a 231-mile course for the fastest 6 boats in Class 0, a 203-mile course for the 19 entries in Class A, and a 177-mile course for the 14 entries in Class B. These courses have been designed for a target completion time of 24-30 hours based on the fastest and slowest-rated boats in each class and the predicted moderate northeast breezes expected.
“We’re using ORC’s Weather Routing Scoring for these courses, running more or less east-to-west,” said Ed Cesare, Chairman of New York YC’s Rating Rule and Measurement Committee. “Key factors in the race will be tactics and sailing fast. There are twists and turns in the course, so staying ahead of the decisions on the true-wind angles on the next leg will be important. Fatigue will also be a factor, balancing pushing with rest. Traffic may be a factor as well as tidal currents.”
Since 1969, the Offshore Racing Congress has been a world leader in providing a scientific and transparent rating system for fair racing. The 2024 ORC World Championship will be held in Newport, R.I., and hosted by the New York Yacht Club. Registration and measurement started on September 27, with racing kicking off on Monday, September 30, and finishing on Saturday, October 5.
Some teams practiced today with the Race Committee for the inshore phase of the competition. Starts and short courses were set in two areas east of Brenton Reef.
“Our team is excited and ready to take on this event,” said Jesper Radich, tactician on Hanno Zeihm’s Marten 49 Moana. “Our team is full of enthusiasm.”
“We have been planning for this event all year to take advantage of competing in a world championship here in Newport,” said Connie Baris, owner of the J/122 Class B entry Dire Wolf. “This is a bucket-list event.”
More information on the entries, race documents, scoring, and media resources may be found on the event website. Racing for the 2024 ORC World Championship will start on Monday, September with a 36-hour distance race, with buoy racing on certain days and a coastal race as well.
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Luca Moretti, an accomplished sailor and marine journalist from Genoa, Italy, has a lifelong passion for the sea that has defined his career. With a degree in Marine Journalism from the University of Genoa, Luca is celebrated for his vivid and insightful storytelling. His work captures the excitement of sailing and the rich maritime traditions of Europe, making him a well-respected voice in the sailing community. When he’s not writing, Luca can be found exploring the Mediterranean’s picturesque coastlines and competing in regattas, always seeking new adventures on the open water.
