New ORR Class and new Team-Racing Trophies announced for 2020 Newport to Ensenada Race

Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race © Event Media

The Newport Ocean Sailing Association (NOSA) is pleased to announce a new class scored using the Offshore Racing Rule (ORR) and, in partnership with the Storm Trysail Club (STC), a new set of team-racing trophies for the 2020 Newport to Ensenada Race, which starts on April 24, 2020.

This is the first time in many years that a measurement-based rating system has been used for monohull entries in the 125-mile race; only PHRF scoring has been used for monohulls in the past. Establishing a class for boats using the ORR is intended to encourage high-level racers to enter what is the largest international yacht race in North America.

"We feel the addition of ORR as a rating and scoring option helps us to encourage entries of the faster and more experienced offshore racing yachts that participate in other Pacific races to Mexico and Hawaii," said NOSA Commodore Bill Gibbs. "Transpac YC's race to Tahiti in May, for example, has already attracted the interest in the N2E from some overseas entries in this race, which also uses ORR."

"ORR is pleased to support the Ensenada Race," said Dick Hampikian, ORR Chairman, "and add yet another great event to the expanding schedule of West Coast events for racers under ORR."

The new trophies offered by Storm Trysail Club in partnership with NOSA aim squarely at increasing the fun factor, which has always been important in the Newport to Ensenada Race.

An amendment to the Notice of Race has been published that states prizes will be awarded to the 3-boat team skippers who compile the best team score, as determined by using the total of each team member's percentage placement in its respective class. There is no limitation on the criteria to form a team: it may be composed of members of the same club, alumni from the same school, old shipmates now racing different boats, etc.—any social, recreational, geographic or cultural affiliation that three entries may have in common is acceptable.

There will be numerous classes of monohulls and multihulls racing in the 2020 N2E including PHRF, ORR, ORCA and an Unlimited class for first-to-finish contenders. Teams may be formed from any three-boat combination of entries from any of these classes provided no more than two are from the same start class. The list of start classes is available after the close of regular entry registration, on or about April 1st, but teams may be registered starting now.

"We're pleased to offer this promotional award to NOSA, a West Coast club that supports ocean sailing very much like our own does wherever our members sail, particularly on the East Coast," said STC Commodore AJ Evans. "We have found this an effective and popular way to promote camaraderie and add another fun element to the competition."

Last year at other prominent offshore races such as the 50th Transpac race from Los Angeles to Honolulu and the 2019 Chicago-Mackinac Race nearly a third of each fleet formed teams to be eligible for Storm Trysail team trophies.

"This is yet another new innovation we are offering in this year's N2E," said Gibbs. "Our mission of getting more sailors out to enjoy ocean racing in a competitive and safe environment is very much aligned with Storm Trysail's, and this new trophy offers another dimension of competitive fun to the race. We expect a strong turnout in April."

To enter the Storm Trysail Club team competition, sign up on the NOSA website at nosa.org/team-entry. Team entries are accepted up until one week prior to the start, with the deadline set at 1700 April 17th, 2020.

For more information about the Offshore Racing Rule visit www.offshoreracingrule.org.

For more information on the 73rd Newport to Ensenada Race, visit www.nosa.org; to enter, visit registration.nosa.org/register.