ORC

What ORC does

ORC (Offshore Racing Congress) Limited is a UK-incorporated, non-profit private company limited by guarantee that operates the world's largest measurement-based handicap rating system for offshore yacht racing, recognized by World Sailing. Founded in 1980 and headquartered in London, ORC issues rating certificates to boats from Sportboats to Superyachts and from Monohulls to Multihulls across 45 countries, administered through a global network of National Rating Offices and an ORC Central Rating Office fallback. Its portfolio includes ORC International, ORC Club, ORC One Design, ORC Sportboat, ORC Multihull, and ORC Superyacht certificates, plus the in-development ORC Classic Division for vintage vessels.

The technological core is the proprietary Velocity Prediction Program (VPP), a physics-based mathematical system that predicts yacht speed from hull geometry, displacement, sail area, wetted surface, and appendage data to calculate fair All-Purpose Handicap (APH) ratings. ORC complements the VPP with the Sailor Services online platform (certificate database, speed guides, target speeds, test certificates), Weather Routing Scoring that replaces standardized wind assumptions with actual weather-routed predictions, and 3D laser scanning measurement in partnership with Leica Geosystems that halves traditional measurement time. Supporting tools include scoring software, ORC Design Guidelines, and a Python scripting tool for Rhinoceros 3D used by naval architects.

Revenue is generated primarily from rating certificate issuance (one-time license-style fees set locally by each National Rating Office), supplemented by championship sanctioning, title sponsorship (notably Garmin for the World Championship series through 2027), and institutional partnerships with marine-electronics, apparel, and media brands. ORC also organizes and sanctions global championship events (Worlds, Europeans, Double-Handed, Sportboat). The customer base spans four segments: yacht owners (primary), event organizers and race committees, naval architects and yacht designers, and National Rating Authorities, with no material enterprise concentration in any single account.

Name

ORC

Legal name

Offshore Racing Congress Limited

Website

https://orc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sailing Handicap Rating & Certification Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883), Navigational Services to Shipping (48833)

SIC

Services-Racing, Including Track Operation (7948), Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)

akta.pro primary industry

Classification Society & Flag-State Liaison / Plan Approval Support (IMAJAGAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Stability, Weight & Load Analysis (Intact/Damage Stability, Weight Control) (IMAJAGAI), Marine Systems Commissioning, Testing & Certification Support (TLAKAKAM)

Keywords

• Yacht handicap ratings
• Sailing measurement certificates
• Velocity prediction program
• Offshore racing ratings
• Yacht performance rating

Headquarters

HQ city

Kohtla-järve

HQ country

Estonia

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. ORC Rating Certificate Issuance: ORC issues rating certificates (ORC International, ORC Club, ORC Sportboat, ORC Multihull, ORC Superyacht, ORC One Design) to boat owners through national Rating Offices. Certificate costs are established by each national Rating Office. Once a valid paid certificate is issued, it is automatically entered into the ORC Sailor Services database. The system covers boats from Sportboats to Superyachts and Multihulls.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

ORC issues measurement-based handicap rating certificates for offshore yacht racing using a proprietary Velocity Prediction Program (VPP) that predicts boat performance across wind speeds and angles. Certificates are issued for monohulls, multihulls, sportboats, superyachts, one-design classes, and classic-era designs through a global network of national Rating Offices. ORC also operates the Sailor Services online platform for managing certificates, speed guides, and target speeds, and sanctions an annual calendar of World, European, Double-Handed, and Sportboat championships.

Product overview

ORC (Offshore Racing Congress) operates as a measurement-based rating authority for offshore yacht racing, offering a portfolio of interconnected products and services centered on its proprietary Velocity Prediction Program (VPP). The core offering comprises ORC International (ORCi) and ORC Club certificates — both underpinned by the same VPP and measurements — alongside specialized certificates for One Design, Sportboat, Multihull, and Superyacht classes. The Sailor Services platform serves as the customer-facing portal for accessing the global certificate database, Speed Guides, Target Speeds, test certificates, and scoring tools. Supporting products include the Weather Routing Scoring (WRS) system, scoring software, 3D laser scanning measurement services (via Leica Geosystems), the Python Script for Rhinoceros designer tool, ORC Design Guidelines, and a comprehensive measurement standards framework. ORC further extends its reach through sanctioned championship events (Worlds, Europeans, Double-Handed, Sportboat), and is developing the ORC Classic Division for vintage yachts. The ORC Classic Division is designed to handle older boat designs that lack modern VPP data, allowing them to compete fairly using recovered historical information from ORC's database. Together, these products form an integrated ecosystem from boat measurement and rating to event scoring and certification management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ORC International (ORCi) Certificate Full-measurement, VPP-based rating certificate for monohulled yachts, providing scientifically calculated handicap ratings recognized by World Sailing for fair racing between vessels of different designs.
• ORC Club Certificate Simplified-measurement rating certificate compatible with ORCi using the same VPP, providing an accessible entry point for club-level sailors to obtain ORC handicaps.
• ORC One Design Certificate Certificate for boats complying with One Design class rules, issued without additional measurement using data declared via an online form.
• ORC Multihull Rating System VPP-based rating system and certificate for multihull vessels (catamarans and trimarans), extending ORC handicapping beyond monohulls.
• ORC Sportboat Dedicated rating system and certificate for sportboats, including ORC Sportboat European Championship events for small high-performance racing yachts.
• ORC Superyacht VPP-based rating system and analytical tools for superyachts, used by J Class and other large racing yachts for class racing.
• Velocity Prediction Program (VPP) ORC's proprietary mathematical-scientific system that predicts yacht speed across a range of wind angles and speeds, forming the basis for all ORC rating certificates.
• Sailor Services Platform Registered-user online platform providing access to the ORC Certificate database, test certificates, speed guides, target speeds, polar diagrams, and scratch-sheet time-allowance tools for sailors and event organizers.
• Speed Guides and Target Speeds Digital products delivered via Sailor Services, providing polar performance charts and predicted target speeds for a specific boat across various wind conditions to support race planning and tactics.
• ORC Weather Routing Scoring (WRS) Scoring system in which a boat's time allowance is calculated using predicted elapsed time based on weather routing each boat around the course, providing fairer scoring that reflects real race conditions.
• 3D Laser Scanning Measurement Advanced measurement service using Leica Geosystems 3D terrestrial laser scanners to capture precise hull geometry, sails, rigging, and propeller data for ORC ratings, reducing measurement time versus traditional methods (e.g., from 6+ hours to ~3 hours on a ClubSwan 43) at 3mm resolution.
• ORC Scoring Software Race scoring software tools provided by ORC to event organizers for calculating and managing race results using ORC ratings.
• Python Script for Rhinoceros Python scripting tool for Rhinoceros 3D software, enabling yacht designers to integrate ORC VPP calculations directly into their design workflow.
• ORC Championship Events ORC-organized and sanctioned World, European, Double-Handed, and Sportboat championship events (e.g., Garmin ORC World Championship in Copenhagen 2027, Sorrento 2026, Tallinn 2025, Newport 2024; ORC Double-Handed Worlds in Monfalcone 2025), scored under ORC rules.
• Active Certificates Database Worldwide database of all valid and active ORC certificates, accessible publicly via the Sailor Services portal and used by event organizers and Rating Authorities for scoring and verification.
• ORC Classic Division New division under development providing VPP-based ratings for older yachts (Veteran pre-1950, Classic 1950-1973, IOR 1970-1995), reviving design information from the ORC database using modern rating tools.

Quantifiable outcome

• ORC has issued over 14,000 certificates to yachts across 45 countries
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Yacht Racing ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 April 2025ORC announced institutional partnership with the Yacht Racing Forum, the leading annual conference for the business of sailing and yacht racing. The forum, held in Amsterdam on November 20-21, attracts 300+ industry participants. ORC participates as an institutional partner, connecting with industry leaders to discuss the future of yacht racing.
• Leica GeosystemscoreTechnology or Integration · 6 November 2024ORC partnered with Leica Geosystems to use 3D laser scanning technology for yacht classification. The partnership was demonstrated at Nautor Swan's Pietarsaari shipyard where a ClubSwan 43 was measured using Leica terrestrial 3D laser scanners, achieving measurement in half the time of traditional methods at 3mm resolution. Leica created a case study documenting the scanning process and outcomes.
• VENNVINDcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 September 2024VENNVIND, the renowned Italian sportswear brand, is the Official Technical Clothing Supplier for ORC. The partnership debuted at the 2024 ORC World Championship in Newport and includes an exclusive ORC-branded VENNVIND collection. ORC Chairman Bruno Finzi described the collaboration as creating numerous opportunities for growth. VENNVIND CEO Loris Greggio emphasized eco-sustainable practices in their products.
• GarmincoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGarmin serves as title sponsor of the Garmin ORC World Championship series, including the 2027 event in Copenhagen, 2025 in Tallinn, and 2026 in Sorrento. As a global leader in marine electronics, navigation, and performance sailing technology, Garmin's sponsorship reflects shared dedication to innovation, precision, and the advancement of offshore racing.
• PredictWindsupportingTechnology or IntegrationPredictWind is listed as an ORC partner, providing weather forecasting and performance routing tools that complement ORC's scoring and racing services.
• TracTracsupportingTechnology or IntegrationTracTrac is listed as an ORC partner, providing tracking and race visualization services for ORC-sanctioned events.
• Yacht Club MonfalconecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYacht Club Monfalcone is the host of the 4th ORC Double-Handed World Championship 2025 (September 7-13, Monfalcone, Italy). The club, established 1976, is a cornerstone of Italian offshore sailing and operates within Marina Monfalcone. ORC Chairman Bruno Finzi and YCM President Germano Scarpa jointly promoted the event.
• Royal Danish Yacht Club (KDY)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Royal Danish Yacht Club (KDY) is the host of the Garmin ORC World Championship 2027 in Copenhagen, Denmark (August 6-14, 2027). The venue (Skovshoved Harbor) previously hosted 131 boats from 13 nations in 2016. KDY Sports Director Ann-Marie Mohr welcomed the ORC fleet back for this first major event from the club's new clubhouse.
• Nordic Offshore Sailing Federation (NOSF)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNOSF represents Group G in World Sailing and serves as a coordination platform for Northern European offshore sailing. The group, including Nordic countries, Germany, and the Netherlands, held its annual coordination meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania in February 2026.
• New York Yacht Club (NYYC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe New York Yacht Club co-organized the 2024 ORC World Championship in Newport, Rhode Island (September 27 - October 5, 2024), hosting 43 yachts from the US and internationally. This was the first ORC World Championship hosted in the US in nearly a quarter century (since 2000).

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Aegean 600 / Hellenic Offshore Racing Club (HORC): HORC organizes the Aegean 600, a major ORC-rated offshore race in Greece. It represents an emerging regional race organizer that competes for yacht entries against traditional Northern European events.

Others

• PredictWind: PredictWind is a weather forecasting and routing provider listed as an ORC partner. It is an adjacent technology provider that complements ORC's Weather Routing Scoring system rather than competing directly.
• TracTrac: TracTrac is a yacht race tracking and visualization platform used at ORC-sanctioned events. It provides complementary infrastructure for race management without competing on rating or scoring.

Broad incumbents

• J/Boats: J/Boats is the world's largest sailboat brand for one-design and performance racing, offering J/70, J/80, J/105, and other class boats that may carry ORC One Design certificates. It is a broader incumbent in the racing yacht market.
• World Sailing: World Sailing is the international governing body for the sport of sailing, which officially recognizes ORC as the leading measurement-based handicap system. It sets broader rules and oversees all international sailing disciplines beyond ORC's rating scope.

Regional players

• Royal Yachting Association (RYA): The RYA is the UK national body for sailing, including offshore racing. While not a direct rating authority, it influences handicap system adoption in UK yacht clubs and works alongside ORC and IRC at the regional level.
• US Sailing: US Sailing is the national governing body for sailing in the United States and serves as a channel partner for ORC certificate issuance in the USA. It operates primarily in North America with different rating and certification offerings than ORC.

Direct peers

• Performance Handicap Racing Fleet (PHRF): PHRF is the dominant handicap rating system for yacht racing in North America, providing empirical (rather than VPP-based) ratings. It directly competes with ORC for adoption in US sailing clubs and events.
• Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC): RORC organizes major offshore yacht races globally and is closely associated with the IRC rating system. It competes with ORC-sanctioned events for yacht owner participation and championship prestige.
• International Rating Certificate (IRC): IRC is the primary alternative measurement-based handicap rating system for offshore yacht racing, managed by RORC and UNCL. It competes directly with ORC for handicap rating adoption at yacht clubs and championship events globally.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ORCsailing
• Facebookfacebook.com/offshoreracingcongress
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/offshore-racing-congress
• Instagraminstagram.com/orcsailing

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ORC