The Owner of ORR and EZ

ORA develops and maintains the ORR and EZ rules. It is a non-profit American company run by offshore racers, race administrators and technical design specialists who believe the best rating rules for North American fleets should fairly rate the variety of production and customized sailboats found here.

The Basis for Accurate Ratings

ORA owns the ORR Velocity Prediction Program (VPP) which is updated regularly to bring newer boats and technologies in line with the countless rating parameters that equalize boat speed potential of every offshore capable sailboat in a full range of conditions.

Personal Attention to Boat Owners and Organizing Authorities

ORA partners with US Sailing in certificate processing and has its own regional representatives who work closely with race administrators to help with decisions about the class divisions, course analysis and scoring options best suited to individual fleets or events.

The ORA Rating Rule Philosophy

The ORA philosophy is that the crews that sail best should finish best no matter what kind of well-designed and prepared boat they are on. This is contrary to the belief of other VPP rules that favor newer or optimized boats of a certain type.

The ORA Privacy Policies

In order to accomplish the ORA philosophy, we protect against using wholesale certificate processing, sharing our customers’ private information, and exposing yacht designers’ intellectual property.

History and Mission

The Offshore Racing Rule (ORR) grew out of a demand by North American sailors who felt the International Measurement System (IMS) was no longer meeting their needs. The Offshore Racing Association (ORA) was then founded in 2004 by the Cruising Club of America (CCA), Chicago Yacht Club (CYC), and the Transpacific Yacht Club (TPYC) as a Rhode Island-registered nonprofit to administer the rules and regulations.

As the only VPP-based rating organization based on this continent, the ORA is dedicated to enhancing the sailing experience for North American boat owners and sailors. Through continuous refinement of the rating rules and support for new high-performance boats, as well as a deep dedication to the competitiveness of older designs, ORA’s mission is to broaden the competitive opportunities in the sport.

As the owner, developer, and manager of the family of ORR Rules, ORA operates as a nimble and responsive volunteer organization, backed by a skilled national technical team. With a broad membership across the Americas, ORA collaborates directly with event organizers, race committees, and competitors, to address technical questions and promote fair competition.

ORA’s policies are guided by a Board of Directors, while operations for both ORR and EZ are supported by regional representatives who work closely with event organizers and competitors to ensure a seamless experience. The ORA Technical Advisory Committee, comprised of volunteer professionals nationwide, provides valuable insights to ORA’s technical team, ensuring that ORA’s rules keep pace with evolving sailing needs and technology.

ORA accepts tax deductible donations, click here for more information.