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ORC

World leader in rating technology

© Copyright ORC 2012

What is ORC ?

� ORC: Offshore Racing Congress, sanctioned by ISAF for Special Regulations, IMS measurement system, and ORC rating systems

� With organizational roots in IOR, MHS, & IMS through work by the ITC, ORC has provided world‘s most scientific rating systems for the past 40 years

� Governs GP 26, GP 33, & GP 42 box rules

� Provides guidelines for ORC World & regional Championship events

What is an Ideal Rating System?

It should be:

� Fair to all boat types and be non-typeforming

� Objective, non-biased & open to input

� Simple to use and understand

� Not too expensive

� Flexible for use with different course types

� Reward only those who sail well!

Features of ORC

� 1. Science-based: ITC improves Aero- & Hydrodynamic models of VPP

� 2. Rule transparency: published, no ‘black box’ & open to input at Congress

� 3. Locally managed: controlled w/in each country

� 4. Numerous Scoring options

� 5. Worldwide use

� 6. Adaptive & Flexible: Two rating options – ORC Club & ORC International

1. ORC rating science

� Rigorous IMS measurement methods for hulls, spars, appendages, and sails

� Acceptance of designer hull files - reduces measurement procedure and cost

� Measured data provides input to VPP

� VPP is based on latest aero- and hydrodynamic modeling, updated by the ITC which meets 3-4 times/year

� Output is a custom performance matrix for all windspeeds and angles*

� *(Speed Guide gives even more data)

2. Rule transparency

� Published online: www.orc.org

� Software available for VPP simulation

� No politics, no guessing

� Stable, consistent for the racing season

� Predict rating differences with changes in

measurement

� Full access to system with Sailor Services

� Input from users: annual submissions to ORC

Congress from each country

3. Locally managed

� Rating Offices are within each country to issue

certificates, not centrally-controlled

� Allows faster response and better access for sailors,

race managers & industry

� Certificate pricing determined locally

� Inquiries and troubleshooting can be handled locally

� Certificates can be issued in local language

4. Scoring options

� Time-on-Time (ToT), Inshore or Offshore

� Triple Scoring (inshore)

� Multiple options allows for greater accuracy in varied

conditions, not merely one-size-fits-all solution

5. Worldwide use

� >8000 certificates issued worldwide (>5% growth in 2011) in 41 countries

� Rating is same anywhere in the world, no local variations

� Ratings not subject to change w/in a season

� Numerous regional championship options

� Only ISAF-sanction for an Offshore World Championship

� Worlds Championship regatta standards controlled by the ORC Green Book

Two ORC rating systems available:

� ORC International for national &

international-level events

� ORC Club for local & regional events

6. Adaptive & flexible

� Complete measurement of all speed-relevant data

� Complete measurements of all sails

� Complete measurements of all rig dimensions

� Speed prediction for 10 courses and 7 windspeeds

� Accurate hullform = accurate hydrodynamics

� Inclining test = accurate stability

� Result: best accuracy and best speed prediction

worldwide

Advantages ORC Int‘l certificates

ORCi certificate

format, Page 1

� Single-number

� Double Hand

� Sail Limitations

� Sail Areas

� (eg, storm sails)

� VPP matrix, w/

boatspeed in

knots

New certificate,

Page 2

� Rig

� Sails

� Sail areas

calculated

� Inclining test

� Propeller

� Sail inventory

� Less hassle = less costs

� Easy-to-read, accurate graphics

� Ideal for entry-level competitors

� Suitable for club-level regattas

� Objective, non-political, yet still used

worldwide

� Has power of ORC VPP

Advantages ORC Club certificates

ORC Club

� Scaled graphics:

� Spin setup (symmetric)

� Rig details

� Spin pole

What ever happened to IMS ?

� 1. Old IMS was split into two parts: Measurement (IMS)

and Rating (ORC)

� 2. IMS defines complete measurement of boat: hull,

appendages, propeller, stability rig and sails

� 3. IMS use ERS in 90% of rig and sails measurements,

only some small parts are adjusted by the VPP

� 4. Since 2007 the ORC VPP has been significantly

improved, allowing ORC International to rate fairly all

type of boats without any significant typeforming

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ORC VPP Innovations 2011-12

� Only 27 submissions - most people happy

� Better treatment of boats w/immersed transoms, long root chord keels, & double keels

� Improved aero model at spin/jib crossover (AWA=60°)for large spins in light air, furling jibs & mains, & non-spin configurations

� New, more accurate calculation of Offshore single number handicap

� Option now to measure in IRC ‘light ship’ trim

� Downwind leeward crew weight now considered

� VMC now considered: important for distance races

� Carbon gyradius adjustment now the same for Performance & Cruiser/Racer designs

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Other useful products

� ORC Speed Guide

� Stability and Hydrostatics Datasheet

� Sail plan included in all graphics

� w/Designer DVP, can test rating calculations online

� Worldwide online database of >2,000 boat types and >50,000 certificates

� ORC Sailor Services: unique public access to the rating system: test cert’s available for only 10 Euros!

2020

Speed Guide:

Custom

performance

predicted by

ORC VPP

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Stability &

Hydrostatics

Datasheet:

Measured

stability for

OSR Cat. 1-2

offshore races

� Complete measurement of all speed-relevant data

� Complete measurements of all sails

� Complete measurements of all rig dimensions

� Speed prediction for 10 courses and 7 windspeeds =

most accurate scoring options available to RC

� Accurate hull form = accurate hydrodynamics

� Inclining test = accurate stability

� Result: best accuracy and best speed prediction

worldwide

Advantages ORCi certificates

� Q1: We already have a simple handicap system. Why

change to ORC Club or ORC International ?

� A1: ORC has the most accurate & fair system for

wide variety of boat types. It is free of local bias,

though can be administered locally. When changes

are made to boats, these can be evaluated by

measurement, not guessing. Ratings are also

universal, unchanged between fleets. Also, stability

is measured, not inferred, with ORCi, and VPP can

offer polar performance data for your boat

Typical Questions

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Typical Questions

� Q2: How much do the ratings of the fleet change

from year to year ?

� A2: Typically 0.5% as VPP improves for the 2000+

boats in the test fleet. Modern and relatively stable

boats rate more fairly than ever before. It does not

favor low stability and low Length/Volume Ratio

type-formed boats anymore, because new ITC-

derived aero- & hydrodynamic formulations deliver

better speed predictions

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� Q3: Other simple rules have been spoiled by “rule

beaters.” How can a cheap and simple system also

be accurate across the fleet? And what about new

boats ?

� A3: With an objective, scientific-based system, there

are few ways to “beat” the rule if accurate

measurements are provided, regardless of boat

type. And the system is ideal for new boats, as there

is no guesswork performed as in PHRF (or IRC).

Typical Questions

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Typical Questions

� Q4: If the output to an ORC certificate is a complex

matrix, isn’t a computer needed for scoring or

keeping track of progress on the water ?

� A4: No! Using Performance Line, ToD, or ToT

scoring options, progress and results can be

calculated simply with a hand calculator (or iPhone

app)

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Typical Questions

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� Q5: What about measurement: does a measurer

have to be hired for every boat? What about custom

designs ?

� A5: ORCi requires boats to have rig, sail, freeboard

and inclining measurements, but hull and

appendage data can come from the ORC database of

1000’s of production designs. For custom boats, the

owner has to work with the Rating Office to gather

relevant information to ensure accuracy. For ORC

Club, all data can be declared by owner

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Data

sources

Submission

Certificate

Rig: Measurer

Flotation/stability:

Measurer

Offset file: Measurer

Offset file: Designer,

verified by

Measurer

or

ORCi Certificate generated

from local Rating Authority

Measurer submits data to

local ORC Rating Authority

Sails: Sailmaker or

Measurer

ORCi certifcate process

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Data

sources

Submission

Certificate

(Flotation/stability:

Owner or Measurer)

Hull Offset file: in

ORC database by

boat type

ORCi Club generated from

local Rating Authority

Online application (production

boats) or submission to local

rating authority (custom boats)

Sails & Rig: Owner, boat

dealer, sailmaker or

Measurer

ORC Club certificate process

� Q6: There are differences in ORC and IRC sail

measurements, so do I need to have all my sails re-

measured ?

� A6: There are a few different measurements required

between ORC and IRC, but most sailmakers

measure for both. If only IRC measurements are

available, ORC will assign default values to non-

measured parameters

Typical Questions

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Typical Questions

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Q7: We’ve heard Code 0 Sails were not allowed in IMS -is this true in ORC ?

A7: No, they are legal! In fact, asymmetric spinnakers with a mid-girth of 55-75% of the foot are calculated in the VPP with special sail force coefficients for Code 0‘s derived from wind tunnel testing.

They will be counted in the sail inventory list (max. amount of sails on board) as asymmetric spinnakers.

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Typical Questions

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� Q8: There appears to be typeforms favored in IRC

(eg, heavy DSPM <45 ft LOA, light DSPM >50 ft LOA).

Is there the same tendency in ORC?

� A8: This is not apparent. The 2011 World

Championship in Cres had 119 entries of varied

sizes and styles, including grand prix racers and

racer/cruisers. Well-sailed boats did well without a

strong bias in design style

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Typical Questions

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� Q9: In the past, ORCi seemed to typeform sail plans

to favor small upwind and downwind sail area - is

this still true?

� A9: No. In fact, the top 15 boats in both Class A &

Class B in the 2011 ORCi World Championship fleet

showed a tendency to favor more sail area, both

upwind and downwind. More sail area => better

results.

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� Q8: What about scoring software ?

� A8: Any scoring program will work for ORC, so

scoring products like VelumNG and CyAltura work

fine and prove to be accurate. Yacht Scoring online

software currently under development, as is Top

Yacht in AUS. These allow immediate web-access to

results.

Typical Questions

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Typical Questions

� Q9: What about certificate cost ?

� A9: ORC Int’l and Club certificate prices are set by

the local rating office (eg, €80 in Finland). But with

this comes the most accurate VPP-based ratings in

the world, along with rating performance data for

your boat

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Sailor Services: user portal to ORC

� Free and easy access from home page: www.orc.org

� Secure registration and log-in

� Search for known certificates or boat types from 55,000

records

� Purchase any issued certificate copy for only €10/each

� Access measurement data and edit to run test

certificate copy on latest VPP for €10/each

� Use to see affects of changes on rating of any boat

� Also, for each test cert run, purchase ORC Speed

Guide for only €65

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Sailor

Services:

Search

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Sailor

Services:

My Boats

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Sailor

Services:

Boat file

menu

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Sailor

Services:

Edit

menus

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Text

Sailor

Services:

Test

certificate

Questions?

� Online resources:

ORC www.orc.org

ISAF www.sailing.org

Thank you!