Simon Forbes joins ORC team

The Offshore Racing Congress (ORC) is pleased to announce that UK-based multihull expert Simon Forbes has joined the team at ORC to help manage the issuing of ORCmh (ORC MultiHull) certificates, a new product line for ORC. His appointment is effective immediately.

Forbes brings four decades of expertise in an impressive range of skills in the Multihull world. After receiving his diploma in Yacht and Boat Design at Southampton in the early 1980’s, he started his career in design and construction with Derek Kelsall in a wide variety of innovative performance-oriented multihulls.

Within a few years Forbes started putting these skills to work also at World Sailing in a variety of roles: Assistant Measurer, Technical Officer, Technical Manager, and Technical & Offshore Manager. While at World Sailing he supported the Keelboat, Centerboard Boat, Multihull, Measurement, Board Sailing, Offshore Special Regulation and Oceanic and Offshore Committee, as well as the International Regulations Commission.

Since 2000 Forbes has also been managing the Multihull Offshore Cruising and Racing Association (MOCRA) rating system, which is currently used around the world for numerous offshore races.

Another important element of Forbes’ four decades of background is his insight gained from his own multihull experience: he has sailed on such high-profile boats as Alain Thébault’s 60-foot foiling HYDROPTERE the 110-foot catamaran MAIDEN II with Brian Thompson, Loic Peyron’s 110-foot catamaran INNOVATION EXPLORER and his 60-foot trimaran FUJICOLOR (shown above) and Lalou Roucayrol’s BANQUE POPULAIRE.

“I am passionate about the world of sailing, and so have spent my career and personal life deeply involved in the sport,” said Forbes. “In my new role I’m looking forward to working with the extensive resources of the ORC team to continue to develop and improve the ORCmh rule and issue certificates to multihulls interested in receiving fair, science-based ratings.”
“It’s a privilege for us to have Simon join our ORC crew,” said Bruno Finzi, Chairman of ORC. “His passion and knowledge of multihulls will greatly contribute to a new and important sector of our growing base of customers.”