Superyacht Racing Finds Its Balance

5 March, 2026 - Antigua - The 15th Superyacht Challenge Antigua is officially underway. On Wednesday, 4 March, at the historic Nelson’s Dockyard in Antigua, sailors gathered on the Race Office balcony for the Pre-Regatta Briefing. Ten magnificent superyachts are ready for four days of racing off Antigua’s spectacular south coast.

A decade of ORCsy development meets the start of the Caribbean season in Antigua

The Caribbean superyacht racing season got underway today in the turquoise waters off Antigua as the fleet set sail for the opening races of the Superyacht Challenge Antigua. With steady trade winds, Atlantic swell and a spectacularly diverse fleet — from powerful modern sloops to majestic classic schooners — the regatta once again provides a snapshot of how superyacht racing continues to evolve.

Behind the scenes lies the ORCsy, developed by the Offshore Racing Congress specifically for the unique challenges of the world’s largest sailing yachts. Over the past decade, the rule has steadily gained acceptance across the superyacht racing circuit thanks to technical development, improved measurement and close collaboration with the racing community.

Building the rule from the racecourse

The ORC Superyacht rule was first introduced during the 2015 Caribbean racing season. According to ORC Superyacht Technical Coordinator Alessandro Nazareth, the early success of the system came from staying closely connected to the fleet.

“The ORCSY VPP was first developed in late 2014 and introduced during the 2015 Caribbean races,” he explains. “Even though it was initially a simple adaptation of ORC International to the characteristics we knew about the superyacht fleet, it was very well received by owners, captains and professionals.”

A key factor was observing the boats directly during competition.

“An ORC team was always present at the events — sometimes even three people — and we also raced aboard different yachts,” Nazareth says. “That allowed us to observe the boats closely and tune the VPP with many features that are typical of superyachts.”

Measurement accuracy has also improved significantly. While early certificates were often based on design drawings, the majority of active racing superyachts today have undergone full measurement.

“After eleven years we now have around seventy-five percent of the fleet fully measured, including laser scanning of hulls and inclining tests,” Nazareth says. “This means the VPP is no longer affected by uncertain inputs, which improves the accuracy of the ratings.”

Data and transparency

Transparency has always been central to ORC’s rating systems.

“All ORC VPPs are fully transparent,” Nazareth explains. “Designers, sailmakers and professionals can purchase the VPP to test their yachts, while sailors can perform simulations online through ORC Sailor Services. At the same time, all certificates issued over the past eleven years remain freely available.”

The growing database has become a powerful tool for refining the rule.

“Our database increases every year,” he says. “We have documentation, drawings, measurement data and race records. We can even re-score races from previous seasons to evaluate how VPP changes would affect results. This feedback allows us to improve the rule continuously.”

Future development is already underway, including CFD analysis of centreboards and modelling of split rigs such as ketches and schooners, as well as further work on aerodynamic modelling and wave resistance.

A partnership with the fleet

The rule’s progress has been closely linked to the partnership between ORC and the Superyacht Racing Association (SYRA), which represents the interests of the superyacht racing community.

“What started as a handshake in 2014 has evolved into a decade of cutting-edge VPP research and implementation on the racecourse,” says Tony Rey.

Rey, recently elected President of SYRA, believes the growth of the racing calendar reflects confidence in the system.

“Fleet sizes are increasing, and new regattas are appearing almost every year,” he says. “That points to the strength, reliability and transparency of the ORCsy rule. SYRA is very fortunate to have ORC as a reliable partner as we continue to grow the sport.”

Looking ahead, the collaboration will remain essential.

“Going forward we continue to work closely with ORC to ensure that each yacht’s unique sailing characteristics have a place in the VPP,” Rey says. “That partnership is key to keeping the racing both competitive and fair.”

From an organisational perspective, the collaboration is equally important.

“ORC is integral to every superyacht event,” explains SYRA Manager Shirley Robertson. “Not only through the rating rule itself, but also through the technical support they provide to the organising authorities.”

“With every edition, the ORCsy rule becomes more sophisticated and accurate,” she adds. “And with that, superyacht racing becomes fairer.”

Antigua: where the season begins

Few venues capture the spirit of superyacht racing like Antigua, where the Caribbean season traditionally begins.

“What’s not to love about racing in Antigua?” Rey says. “Reliable trade winds and plenty of sea state keep things interesting. It’s only a short sail from Falmouth or English Harbour to the start line, and once you leave the harbour it feels like you’re in the open ocean.”

The fleet competing this week once again highlights the diversity of the superyacht world.

“There’s always a great mix of yachts here,” he says. “The upwind-oriented boats like Hummingbird and Prevail will have their opportunity on the beats, while strong reachers like Rebecca and Adix will shine on the reaching legs. And the beautiful Hetairos will surely be fighting for line honours.”

For Robertson, the atmosphere ashore is just as important as the racing.

“Every superyacht event has its own flavour, its own DNA,” she says. “Our season kicks off in Antigua, and it’s the perfect way to start — turquoise water, trade winds and strong race management.”

“Owners and crews love it here, but so do the captains and permanent crew,” Robertson adds. “Antigua has a bedrock of world-class superyacht services, so it works for everyone.” 

As racing gets underway this week, the combination of spectacular yachts, world-class venues and an increasingly refined rating system highlights how far superyacht racing has progressed — and how closely its future remains tied to the collaboration between ORC and the superyacht racing community.

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