Mission Worldrule - ORC and IRC start cooperation!

by Hans Genthe on 15 Nov 2010 At the Hanseboot panel discussion 'Meet the Experts' on Wednesday, 3.11.2010, Wolfgang Schäfer was visibly proud to announce the cooperation of ORC and IRC to use the best of both systems for a standardised global formula. Volker Andrae, chairman of the German Offshore Owners Association, Eckard von der Mosel, race manager of the Kiel Week, ORC vice president Wolfgang Schäfer, and Uwe Wenzel, chairman of the offshore sailing race association, were debating in the stage.

Background: Fast sailing yachts with a deep draft and much ballast were penalised in the ORC formula. This was a good reason for the RORC to develop a new formula favouring these boats. So this formula was quickly spread among the fast racing boats. But ORC has improved its own system.

Uwe Wenzel confirms this: 'The majority of the sailors want to sail with one formula. The formulas became more similar. We want to consolidate and sail with one single formula.' Also Eckard von der Mosel, race manager of the Kiel Week, wants a formula for big racing fleets.

Wolfgang Schäfer: 'We are about to establish a new company, which develops a formula. The respective press release was published today.'

This is a real hit and a fantastic improvement for the sailors. Even Volker Andrae, known as a grim protectionist of IRC, is glad. 'I would recommend to keep the formula simple. The yacht owners should be able to take influence on the formula development. The ISAF should push the countries to also include the national rating systems.' Background: In Denmark, they are sailing with Dansk Handikap, in Sweden with SRS, in Norway with LYS (Leading Yard Stick). In the USA, there are more than 10,000 measurement certificates for ORR or other systems.

One World, One Rule!

To give the Northern European race sailors the opportunity to express their opinion and thus take influence, the German Offshore Owners Association organises a panel discussion during the International Yacht Forum at the Chamber of Commerce in Hamburg on 12th Feburary 2011. 500 guests and international speekers are expected. In the second part of the event, designers and other experts will be talking about developments in the sail racing sport.

At the end of the event, there will be a big party.