Offshore Yacht Owners Association is pleased to announce that a limited number of owners will be able to fully measure their yachts to the ORC International Rule (ORCi) during the week of 15 June at Woolwich Dock. This will enable yachts to compete using ORCi in the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race in July. Yachts will be able to compete in both the IRC and ORCi handicap division in the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race.
Due to the thorough, fully measured nature of the rule, accurate and complete data must be recorded in order to support the Rule’s scientific basis. Accurate measurements are then reliable and repeatable and remove all subjectivity. Yachts requiring full measurement will undergo four stages of measurement, much of which is weather dependent:
- In water measurements including inclination to determine righting moment/stability, freeboards and a record of internal gear (measurement) inventory;
- Rig measurements, which for carbon masts involves removing the mast from the yacht, stripping all halyards and weighing it and recording the centre of gravity height;
- Full sail measurement and propellers or other appendages; and
- The hull shape which requires lifting of the yacht to the hardstand, leveling it and then taking measurements using modern professional surveying equipment.
Total costs of the process for full measurement may fall between $5,000 and $7,500 per yacht. These costs account for fees associated with rigger and measurer rates, hire of a crane, scales and various surveying equipment, lifting and hardstand space, and project management. Owners will also need to assign a boat manager to assist with the process. Measurement will be coordinated by Yachting Australia and is using its team of measurers is expected to take two days per yacht.
The full measurement process and the costs associated with that are once off in the boats life and campaign budget. Yachts with existing IMS hull files can be measured at a significantly reduced cost as only changes and new information needs to be checked and measured.
The owners of the following yachts have indicated that they intend to rate their yachts using ORCI:
- AFR Midnight Rambler
- Alfa Romeo
- Black Jack
- Limit
- Ichi Ban
- Quantum Racing
- Quest
- Ragamuffin
- Shockwave 5
- Shortwave
- Shogun
- Tow Truck
- Vanguard
- Wild Oats X
- Wot Yot
- Wot Now
If any owners wish to rate their yachts using ORCi please contact Matt Allen on 0409772290 or email matt.allen@cyca.com.au.
Alternatively, if you have any further questions regarding any OYOA matters, please do not hesitate to contact either Martin Hill on 02 9252 8777 or Matt Allen.
