Eurocard Gotland Race 2008 has just chosen ORC International as the rating system used to determine its Overall winner. This announcement means that nearly all the major handicap regattas in Northern Europe have chosen the new VPP-based rating for the 2008 season.

Sandhamn, Sweden – The Royal Swedish Yacht Club (KSSS) has recently announced that its 2008 edition of the Eurocard Round Gotland Race will use ORC International to determine the overall winner in this classic Swedish offshore regatta. This news complements announcements from other clubs who have chosen this handicap system for their use, and indicates a broad acceptance of the rule’s use throughout Northern Europe.

The Eurocard Round Gotland Race is traditionally the largest offshore race in the Baltic Sea, attracting entries from countries throughout the Baltic region, Scandinavia, and beyond. From 250 to 300 monohull, multihull, and classic yachts compete annually on courses starting and finishing off Sandhamn, about 20 miles east of Stockholm, and going around Gotland island, a favourite tourist destination with a colourful history dating back to the Vikings and the Hansa trade network. Next year’s race will start on Sunday, 29 June, and will feature courses which vary from 180 to 550 miles in length and are designed to keep the boats out for a period of 48 to 72 hours.

The overall winner of the 2008 Eurocard Round Gotland Race will be announced from the participants in the ORC International classes. Other participating classes include the Grand Open Class for racer/cruisers over 50 feet, which will be sailed in ORC Club, and the LYS, IRC and Nautor Swan classes. A minimum of 15 entries is required in each handicap class.

For the 243 entries in the 2007 race, 68 competed in two IMS classes, and 51 raced in three classes using ORC Club.

Gutta Johansson, chairman of the Offshore racing committee at KSSS, says the new ORC International was a natural choice when they decided on a rating system for the Overall winner. “We believe that the VPP-based system ORC International gives the most fair results, because it’s the only system that takes wind speed and angles in to consideration,” said Johansson. “And it’s also the only rating system where the sailors can compete in World and European Championships.”

Björn Österberg is a well-known sailmaker working for North Sails Sweden and an experienced Gotland Race sailor, with over 20 races to his credit. Next year he will be racing on board a Grand Soleil 37 in the ORC International class.

“ORC has a very refined program where dual purpose boats can sail ORC International and Grand Prix boats can sail in the GP classes. Last September I sailed in the IMS 670 World Cup, and the format was outstanding. All the boats were dual-purpose, and the VPP’s ability to calculate the boat’s speed in different wind strengths gives us racing just as fair as one design racing,” said Österberg. He is among many sailmakers and designers who are looking forward to studying the complete ORC International rule when it is launched next month.

Other races and regattas in the region to use the ORC International rule in 2008 include:

• The Göteborg Offshore Race and the European Championship organized by Royal Göteborg Yacht Club (GKSS) in Marstrand, Sweden;

• In Norway, the Norwegian Ranking Series, consisting of 5 regattas, including the Faerder Race, the largest overnight regatta in the world, and the annual National Championship Regatta;

• In Germany, there will be 4 days of racing under ORC International in Kieler Woche, and the National Championship will also be sailed under the new rule;

• In Poland, ORC International will be used for all the major regattas as well as the National Championship next year.

More regattas and countries are expected to follow this trend as the racing season calendars are compiled for 2008.