Copenhagen to host 2016 ORC World Championship

2014 ORC Worlds fleet in action on the Baltic © Pavel Nesvadba / Ranchi

Royal Danish YC and Egaa YC join forces to organize the first-ever ORC World Championship in Denmark

The views of Big Boat racing will be spectacular along the waterfront when the ORC World Championship comes to Copenhagen with the Royal Danish Yacht Club (KDY) and Egaa Yacht Club (ES) as organizers. The big event is a reality after an approval decision today by the Offshore Racing Congress (ORC).

On the occasion of its 2014 Annual General Meeting, the Congress approved the recommendation of the Offshore Events and Classes Committee that the 2016 edition will be hosted at KDY's base in Tuborg Harbor. Through the last year representatives from the two yacht clubs have worked intensively on the bid application, together with the Danish Sailing Federation (DSA), Sport Events Denmark (the Danish national sport events agency) and Wonderful Copenhagen (Copenhagen Tourist Agency). The proposal was presented at the ORC annual meeting this Sunday in Palma.

Bruno Finzi, Chairman of ORC, said: "We congratulate the Royal Danish YC and the Egaa YC on their successful selection as the host organizers of the 2016 ORC World Championship. Their strong racing history, excellent venue, and inspiring shoreside program were key factors for the Congress to approve their bid. Given the recent growth in popularity of ORCi racing in the Baltic region, we have every confidence the 2016 Worlds in Tuborg Harbor will continue on the recent trends of providing an event of both high popularity and quality for all entered teams."

Hans Natorp, President of the DSA, welcomes the decision: "Denmark is one of the world's leading sailing countries. Our yacht clubs and volunteers are highly respected as organizers of major sailing events and championships. It is wonderful but also natural that KDY and Egaa Yacht Club are able to attract an event like the ORC Worlds to Denmark."

CEO Lars Lundov of Sport Events Denmark, adds: "Following the award of the ISAF World Championships to Denmark in 2018 we have again been able to attract one of the most spectacular sailing events to Denmark. Denmark has steadily gained more recognition for the hosting of major international sporting events - also when it comes to sailing regattas."

The ORCi WC will take place in Tuborg Harbour just north of Copenhagen. The harbour offers sufficient space and good facilities for the expected 120-140 boats with up to 1400 sailors. The event will take place 15-24 July 2016 and will be an important element in the celebration of the Royal Danish Yacht Club's 150 years anniversary that year.

The CEO of KDY, Christian Lerche, who presented the proposal to the ORC this past Sunday, says: "This will be a spectacular event. I am so happy for the positive response to our proposal. Tuborg harbour, Öresund and Copenhagen will form an excellent framework for a major sailng event for big boats. We were recognized for our experience and capabilities as regatta organizers."

Michael Quist (Egaa YC) explains: "The number of Danish boats measured under the ORCi system is growing fast. By awarding the ORCi WC to Denmark, it is expected that even more boat owners will measure their boats under this rule and enable them to enter the World Championship." Quist was just nominated as the first Danish ORC Congress member by the DSA, an opportunity made possible by the increasing number of Danish boats.

Facts about the 2016 ORCi World Championship: The ORC World Championship is an event annually since 1999 and is the only offshore World Championship event sanctioned by ISAF. The events feature a week of inshore and offshore racing among boats ranging in size from under 30 to over 50 feet in length. The races will be sailed on courses north of Copenhagen combined with longer offshore races. In 2014 the ORC WC was organized by Kieler Yacht Club with 151 participants, and in 2015 the ORC WC will take place in Barcelona.

For more information about the Royal Danish YC, visit www.kdy.dk.

And for more information on ORC and ORC classes and events, visit www.orc.org.