In order to create a fairer and more competitive event, the Loro Piana Caribbean Superyacht Regatta and Rendezvous will use the new ORC SuperYacht Rule to handicap racers during the event, running in the fabulous Virgin Gorda yacht charter location in March 2015. The new handicapping system has also been adopted by the St Barth Bucket and Newport Bucket Regattas as well as Superyacht Cup Palma.
Loro Piana Caribbean Superyacht Regatta & Rendezvous 2014. Photo Jeff Brown/Superyacht Media
Handicapping widely disparate superyachts represents one of the most formidable challenges any rule authority can undertake. With racing yachts that include schooners, sloops and ketches of varying lengths and with displacements ranging from 50 to 600 tons, it is a challenging task.
It is not unusual for a century old cruising schooner to share the same racecourse with a newly launched, state of the art performance oriented cruiser/racer. It is the huge disparity in yacht type, size and shape that creates the biggest challenge to fair racing. Superyacht regattas have used a number of different rules over the years – the Bucket Rule, IRC, ORCi, and most recently the International Super Yacht Rule (ISYR).
YCCS Sporting Director Edoardo Recchi will debut the ORCsy at the Loro Piana Caribbean Superyacht Regatta in March. “We have been listening to our constituents and there have been recurring requests for more transparency with the handicapping. The ORCsy rule delivers that and their working party continues to make great progress as they prepare for the 2015 regattas,” Recchi remarked.
All yachts entering the Loro Piana Caribbean Superyacht Regatta and Rendezvous in Virgin Gorda must adhere to Amendment N.01 Rating/Handicap Rule and Certificates within the Notice of Race, and all handicap certificates are due to the Organising Committee, YCCS, no later than 1st March.
The ORCsy handicap application is available now at the Superyacht section on the ORC website, together with an explanation of the background of the rule, how it works, and practicalities for the 2015 season.
The deadline to enter the Loro Piana Caribbean Regatta and Rendezvous is 30th January 2015.
