4th edition of the ORC Double-Handed World Championship now open for entry
by Offshore Racing Congress 5 Feb 13:19 EST
7-13 September 2025
Mauro and Giovanni Trevisan, sailing their Millennium 40 HAURAKI (ITA), ORC Class A Silver medallists at the 2024 ORC DH Europeans, have confirmed their entry for this year's Worlds in Monfalcone © Andrea Carloni
The Offshore Racing Congress (ORC) is excited to announce that entries are now open, and the Notice of Race has been published for the 4th ORC Double-Handed World Championship 2025.
This prestigious event will take place from 7 to 13 September on the stunning Adriatic Sea, hosted by the renowned Yacht Club Monfalcone (YCM) in Marina Monfalcone, Italy.
Monfalcone, often called the home of sailing in the Adriatic and the global capital of shipbuilding, boasts exceptional sailing conditions, making it one of the premier venues in the Mediterranean. Its favorable weather and location have attracted professional teams and Olympic-class sailors, establishing it as a hub for high-performance training.
Exciting format and new divisions
This marks the second time the ORC double-handed title will be contested on the Adriatic. When last year's ORC DH European Championship in Caorle, Italy was sailed with a one-race, winner-take-all format, then this edition will feature a two-race format:
- Long Offshore Race: Approximately 48-60 hours for the slowest boat.
- Short Offshore Race: Approximately 8-10 hours for the slowest boat.
The course racing area will be along the Italian, Slovenian and Croatian coasts. Scoring will be weighted to reflect the challenge of each race, with a 1.5 coefficient for the long offshore race and 1.0 coefficient for the short offshore race. The combined scores will determine the overall standings, with no discards.
In a groundbreaking move, ORC is introducing three new divisions, replacing the Corinthian class to foster inclusivity and competition:
- Male Division: Crews composed of two men.
- Female Division: Crews composed of two women.
- Mixed Division: Crews composed of one man and one woman.
These divisions, extracted from the overall results of each class, promote equality and diversity in the sport.
As ORC Chairman Bruno Finzi states: "The sport of sailing is evolving, and fostering greater inclusivity is essential for its continued growth. By introducing dedicated male, female, and mixed divisions at the ORC Double-Handed World Championship, we are taking an important step toward ensuring that offshore racing remains accessible, competitive, and relevant for future generations."
World-class competition
This year's championship promises fierce competition as top national and international teams take to the water. The growing popularity of double-handed sailing, recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as a potential future Olympic discipline, adds a layer of prestige to this event.
YCM will promote a "road to the Worlds" from April to September 2025 with many ORC DH offshore regattas as included in the NARC (North Adriatic Racing Circuit), a series for ORC events (DH and full crew) organised by some of the best Yacht Club of the North Adriatic area.
About Yacht Club Monfalcone
Established in 1976 as Yacht Club Hannibal, now known as Yacht Club Monfalcone, the club has been a cornerstone of Italian sailing for nearly 50 years. From hosting national championships to international regattas, it has solidified its reputation as a leader in offshore sailing in the Adriatic.
Yacht Club Monfalcone is situated within the prestigious Marina Monfalcone, one of the finest marinas in the Mediterranean, offering an extensive and exceptional range of services for yachts and maxi yachts. Marina Monfalcone features a new hospitality offering and proudly partners with the 4th ORC Double-Handed World Championship 2025.
As YCM President Germano Scarpa explains: "Monfalcone and the Yacht Club Monfalcone are proud to host the ORC DH World Championship 2025, which is one of the most important events of the 2025 international racing season.
Monfalcone, the northern point of the Mediterranean, has a long tradition with the Sea and the sport of sailing: the passion for sail racing is part of our DNA, and we can't wait to share our passion with all the teams competing at ORC DH Worlds.
Thanks to Marina Monfalcone for all the logistic service and infrastructure, one of the best in the Mediterranean, and to all our partners from public authorities to private subjects.
We are delighted to have such a great event on this territory, which is made of extraordinary people and where all the teams will discover a fantastic venue between nature and pure Italian feeling."
Get ready to compete
Whether you're a mixed, all-female, or all-male team, the 2025 ORC Double-Handed World Championship offers a platform to showcase your skills, compete for ORC medals, and celebrate the spirit of sailing. Don't miss your chance to be part of this incredible event.
For more details and to register, visit orc.org/dhworlds2025
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