Celestial withdraws, Gweilo new ORCi winner in Hobart Race

After discovering that ORC Rule 208.2 prohibits tacking a Headsail Set Flying and an Asymmetric Spinnaker simultaneously in front of the forestay, the ORCi overall winner CELESTIAL has withdrawn from scoring in that division of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race, and a new winner emerges: Matt Donald and Chris Townsend’s TP 52 GWEILO.

ORCi handicap polar speed tables reflect the size and shape of every sail carried on board and acknowledges the effects of flying multiple jibs. But to discourage extravagant close reaching sail wardrobes, and excessive loads on the bowsprit Rule 208.2 was introduced in 2015. To date the ORC has received no submissions suggesting it be amended.

The IRC TCF is based on the area of the largest sails and is unaffected by the number or type of sails that are flown simultaneously, therefore CELESTIAL retains her overall victory in IRC scoring to win the Tattersall Cup.

The different sail measurement rules between ORCi and IRC is unhelpful and costly for the sailing community, and the ORC will continue their efforts to complete the Universal Measurement System during 2023 .