54 teams ready for 2023 ORC Double Handed Worlds in Barcelona

September 8, 2023 - Barcelona, Spain - Starting Saturday, September 9 through 15 September, Real Club Nautico Barcelona (RCNB) will host the second annual edition of the ORC Double Handed World Championship. The event is organized by RCNB, a delegation of the Royal Spanish Federation of Sailing (RFEV) under the authority of the Offshore Racing Congress (ORC) and the collaboration of the Catalan Sailing Federation (FCV).

The turnout is impressive: 54 teams from 9 countries are meeting in Barcelona and will be divided by size and speed into three fleets to compete for three World Championship titles: Class A, Class B and Class C. Each class will also recognize top-performing all-amateur teams in Corinthian division trophies.

After two days of inspections, racing will start on Monday at 1100 CET with a Long offshore race, followed on Thursday starting at 1100 with a Short offshore race of shorter duration.

The race lengths will vary from 70 to 200 miles, with the specific routes determined closer to the start of each race based on weather conditions to ensure an appropriate range of length, wind angles and duration for a World Championship. The course options will vary, with some taking participants from the coast of Barcelona to the Balearic Islands and back while other options will explore the Catalan coast.

The entry list shows an enormous variety of boat types entered in this championship that range from 34 to 50 feet in length. All entries are measured and ratings are determined using the ORC system, which calculates each boat’s performance potential in a wide variety of wind conditions that allow race managers to fairly score the races in these conditions.

Teams to watch

Among the favorites next week is Jordi Zaragoza’s (ESP) X362 Sport LA ORANA from Club Nautic Vilanova, who won the 50th edition of the Conde de Godó Sailing Trophy and has shown exceptional performance in the 2023 Palma Vela regatta. Another Spanish favorite is Tito Moure and Tony del Rio’s Swan 45 SMERIT from Club Vela Blanes, one of the largest boats in the fleet and a regular on the podium at events like Palma Vela, SM La Reina, and the Conde de Godó Sailing Trophy.

A third favorite from Spain and a local RCNB-based entry is Iván Olivé Bermejo and Antonio Pozo Tamarit’s Beneteau Figaro 2 SHAKA who recently finished second in the Conde de Godó Trophy.

Overseas international talent is also in Barcelona now for the event and are also considered strong contenders: Jonathan McKee and Alyosha Strum-Palerm from the USA are racing their Sunfast 3300 RED RUBY here after an active and successful 2023 season spent in the highly-competitive DH racing scene in France and the UK. McKee is a past World Champion in many classes and a veteran of America's Cup and Volvo Ocean Race events.

“We’re pleased to see such a strong turnout and interest in Barcelona,” said ORC Chairman Bruno Finzi. “Double Handed sailing has been an important and growing sector of offshore racing worldwide, and at ORC we have been providing ongoing support with our rating tools to produce fair racing. We wish all teams a great regatta.”