One week from now the International Technical Committee (ITC) of the Offshore Racing Congress (ORC) will have its final full meeting of the year over 21-22 October in Hamburg, Germany.

 The recommendations of the ITC influences the continuing development of the ORC rating system including its core tool for predicting sailing yacht performance, the ORC Velocity Prediction Program (VPP).
Members of the ITC and the committee's Research Associates include the world's prominent Yacht Designers, sailing industry innovators and sailing technologists.

 Besides Claughton, current membership includes: Alessandro Nazareth (Vice-chairman), Adam Scott-Mackie, Adolfo Carrau, Antoine Cardin, Antoine Lauriot Prevost, Bruce Nelson, Chris Williams, David Lyons, Davide Battistin, Jason Ker, Jeremy Elliott, Jim Schmicker, Lex Kuening, Manolo Ruiz de Elvira, Marcus Mauleverer, Mark Mills, Matteo Polli, Nicola Sironi, Robert Ranzenbach, and Stu Bannatyne.

"This is the most important ITC meeting of the year," said ITC Chairman Andy Claughton. "The Committee has to crystallize the 2024 VPP from its ongoing research, and also respond to the Submissions from the National Authorities that will be considered at the ORC Congress meeting next month."

 The Agenda of this meeting, held from 0930 - 1800 CET on Saturday and Sunday, 21-22 October at the Hamburg office of the Deutscher Segler-Verband (DSV), can be found at this link.

 The Submissions to the ORC Congress are posted on the ORC website at this link: https://orc.org/agm-2023-submissions.

 "Observers at this meeting will get a snapshot of the big issues," said Claughton, "and contribute to the discussion if they wish."

 Observers are welcome to attend the ITC meeting online at https://meet.google.com/mij-svkb-xjj.

 Submissions to the ORC Annual Meeting held over 10-14 November in Malaga, Spain and the Committee meeting schedule are posted at https://orc.org/agm-2023-submissions.