Observed Performance Factor (OPF)
A yacht’s rating may be adjusted by an Observed Performance Factor (OPF). OPF is adjusting time allowances for yacht’s performance for light and strong wind while effect on the wind ranges in between is calculated proportionally between light and strong wind. It is expressed in percentage of modification of time allowances. Read more
Cruising Yacht Criteria
From the very beginning, some 30 years ago, superyacht racing was a competition between large cruising sailboats. In recent years, the SYRA and regatta organizers have defined ‘superyachts’ as those yachts with a minimum overall length (LOA) of 30.48 meters or 100 feet. Some superyacht regatta organizers include minimum LOA as a criterion for entry or for participation in superyacht classes at their respective regattas. Learn more
Performance Oriented Sloops
Information & link here.
Corinthian Spirit Class
Corinthian Spirit Racing — Expanding the Playing Field
A 2017 SYRA initiative, Corinthian Spirit racing is showing some real traction just one year later. With fleet building a primary goal, this class is designed to attract yacht owners new to superyacht racing as well as with those who participated in the past, but are not currently competing. Informal polling has revealed that the reasons for dissatisfaction from those who left racing was quite varied, and included the former handicapping rule, expenses related to yacht optimization, the need to augment permanent crew, and perceptions regarding safe racing.
The SYRA, in collaboration with the ORC, has created a superyacht racing experience with an emphasis on fun, competitive racing with streamlined access to a handicap certificate, fewer regatta related expenses, and minimal impact on the yacht captain’s resources. The initiative debuted successfully at the 2017 edition of the St Barths Bucket with four yachts competing and all participants pleased with the class debut. This year’s Bucket featured a six-yacht class and the Superyacht Cup Palma will have a ‘Spirit Class’ later this month.
A key Corinthian Spirit goal is to keep the racing fun and competitive without yacht owners having to optimize their yachts. The aim is to provide an enjoyable experience for participating owners and their guests with all well sailed yachts capable of a podium finish regardless of pre-regatta optimization and preparation.
The most notable criteria and class specific rule precludes spinnakers, Code 0 sails and mizzen staysails. Additionally, jibs on furlers or hanks are a must. All participants are required to have a valid ORC Corinthian Spirit (ORCcs) handicap certificate and an experienced RRS-Safety Afterguard Member on board.
The process of acquiring an ORCcs handicap certificate is simplified with the ORC and regatta organizer assisting if a captain asks for help. The ORC representative meets with all captains (and owners if so desired) on the participating yacht at the regatta for an information exchange prior to racing. When handicapping yachts, the ORC takes into account each yacht’s optimization for racing (or lack thereof) before final handicaps are assigned.
Handicap adjustments can and will be made by the ORC/SYRA panel between races based on observed speed potential and maneuvering characteristics of the yachts (using GPS tracking and on water observations).
And there will be a 1% Owner / Driver credit applied to handicaps of those yachts who’s owner drives at least half of each race.
Safe racing has been and will continue to be a top priority of regatta organizers and the SYRA for all superyacht racing. There will be no compromise to safe racing in the Corinthian Spirit Class. The pursuit or staggered start racing formats are used with the superyacht RRS Appendix SY in play to ensure safe racing remains the top priority.
Because the Spirit Class yachts race without spinnakers, their class may sail shorter courses than the conventional racing classes.
We hope to continue experiencing growth with this superyacht initiative and feel strongly that it can expand the playing field, enabling more yacht owners to enjoy the superyacht racing experience.
Race Committee Role
Information & link here.
Accounting for Sails in ORCsy
SYRA Working Party’s Proposal to ORC
The current superyacht handicap rule authority, ORC, was considering changing the accounting of sails in their Rule and VPP just prior to the 2019 season. The SYRA encouraged them to delay any change and to research the issues more thoroughly. Should there be a policy change, it is important to ensure that programs are informed in a timelier manner. To that end, the SYRA formed a Working Party to assess this important issue. Members of the Working Party included program managers, sail makers, afterguard members and regatta organizers. The SYRA proposal to ORC can be found here. If you have input please feel free to contact Peter Craig peter@superyra.org
19 June, 2019
SYRA Proposal for 2020 ORCsy Rule
Accounting for Sails
As you know, from our meeting in Porto Cervo earlier this month, the SYRA Fair Racing/Handicapping Committee formed a Working Party to address the issues of sail accountability as it pertains to the ORCsy Rule and VPP, and what might be the best policies for superyacht racing going forward.
Members of the Working Party, represent an extensive cross section of knowledgeable professional sailors, program managers and sailmakers who represent well over 20 superyachts that are currently active racing Read more
2019 ORCsy Rule and VPP – Better Yet
The handicap rule used by nearly all of event organizers for the past 4 years is the ORC Superyacht Rule (ORCsy). This came about 4 years ago through a SuperYacht Racing Association initiative in response to feedback from superyacht owners who sought to have a fully transparent rule. The resulting collaboration between the ORC, the worldwide leader in rating technologies, and the SYRA has been recognized by yacht owners and crews as a great success to this point.
At the conclusion of racing every autumn the ORC, with input from SYRA technical representatives, compiles a list of superyacht handicap rule and Velocity Prediction Program (VPP) issues to be researched further and tested in order to continue with refinement and improvement of the rule in the interest of fair racing.
The first test run of the 2019 is expected later this month for evaluation by the ORC and SYRA. The list of features and areas being researched for the 2019 ORCsy VPP include, but are not limited to :
- KEEL RESISTANCE – The keel resistance (frictional and residuary) will be revised for high thickness and shallow draft keels.
- DYNAMIC AND TACKING ALLOWANCE – These allowances will be revised to better assess heavy boats accelerations, not only in tacks and jibes.
- STABILITY – In the computation of righting moment the effect of free surfaces of liquid tanks will be taken into account for those boats providing a certified stability booklet.
- MIZZEN STAYSAIL – The efficiency of the mizzen staysails, which depends on the blanketing effect of the mizzen, will be further evaluated.
- DECLARED CERTIFICATE PENALTY – The penalty will be reviewed and tuned according to the number of races a yacht participated in previous seasons. For those new to superyacht racing it will be reduced. (presently at 1% for declared certificates)
- SAIL ALLOWANCE – The allowance for the number of sails carried on board will be reviewed to better assess cruising configurations.
- CORINTHIAN SPIRIT CLASS – A screening factor based on Sail Area /DSPL and/or DSPL/Length ratios will be studied to make the class more homogeneous in the Corinthian Spirit Class.
- CORINTHIAN CERTIFICATES ONLY – A size factor will be studied to assess different acceleration for big yachts.
- DYNARIG assessment improvement.
ORCsy Measuring
It is important to separate fact from fiction regarding measured yachts under the current superyacht handicapping rule. While the Rule Authority clearly prefers measured date over declared data, it is not mandatory to measure one’s yacht in order to race under the ORCsy.
The perception from some that unmeasured yachts receive a significant penalty assigned to their ORCsy handicaps is not true. For the 2018 ORCsy VPP, a rating adjustment of 1% across all wind ranges is assigned to yachts that are not measured. As an example, for a yacht with a 400 second per mile rating, this amounts to approximately 1 minute 20 seconds for a 20nm race. It is worth noting that this transparent adjustment is mentioned in section 302.3 of the ORCsy Rule… “A boat with a “Declared” ORCsy certificate shall receive a penalty of 1% on her rating time allowances”. Captains have been reminded that this was to be put into effect numerous times prior to the 2018 racing.
It has not yet been determined how non-measured yachts will be treated with the 2019 VPP. The ORC is contemplating a more significant rating adjustment than 1%, though this issue is to be discussed at a meeting between the ORC and SYRA later this spring. SYRA members are encouraged to provide us with your feedback on this issue.
A welcome change in superyacht racing in recent years has been a growing sense of confidence from owners and sailors that the superyacht rating rule of choice (ORCsy) has clearly enhanced fair racing. A fully transparent VPP has played a major role in the popularity of the rule, which debuted 4 short years ago. But so too has the fact that measured data is steadily replacing declared data fleet wide. As of March 2018, 54 superyachts were fully measured with more already partially measured or scheduled to be fully measured soon.
There are two steps to measuring – the out of water hull scanning to capture offset files and then the flotation and inclining procedure while in the water. For more information on measuring your yacht, please contact the ORC at orc.org/superyacht or refer to the applicable section of the ORC website: ORC SY Measurement Guidance 2017.pdf
List of ORC measured superyachts tops 50
A welcome change in superyacht racing in recent years has been a growing sense of confidence from owners and sailors that the superyacht rating rule of choice (ORCsy) has enhanced fair racing. A fully transparent VPP has played a meaningful role in the popularity of the rule, which debuted 4 short years ago. But so too has the fact that measured date is steadily replacing declared data fleet wide. As of December 2017, 50 superyachts were fully measured with another 18 partially measured or scheduled early in 2018. Click to see the current this list of ORC Measured Yachts (pdf)
As more yachts get measured, it has been substantiated that some of the data declared by teams has not accurately reflected the ‘as raced’ condition of their yacht. Both the SYRA and ORC have been encouraging racing superyachts to consider getting measured during the next yard period when they are scheduled to haul out. In addition to playing a role in fair racing, programs will be able to accurately quantify their yachts’ ‘as raced’ displacement and stability.
Participating programs have been reminded that the ORCsy VPP will again feature a rating adjustment for those yachts that are unmeasured (approximately 1% across all wind ranges in 2018). This transparent adjustment will be reflected on the certificates. It is the intent of the rating authority to reassess the rating adjustment for the following year as they learn more about the realities of measured versus declared data. Regatta Organizers and the ORC encourage those programs planning to race in the future to make arrangements to measure the next time their yachts are scheduled to be hauled.
There are two steps to measuring – the out of water hull scanning to capture offset files and then the flotation and inclining procedure while in the water. The Rule Authority is more than willing to explain the process to Captains who would be measuring for the first time. Please contact the ORC here or refer to the applicable section of the ORC website: ORC Measurement Guidance.