Name: ORC Sportboat North American Championship 2026 - Charleston Race Week
Start: 2026-04-15T18:00:00-04:00
End: 2026-04-19T21:00:00-04:00
Location: Charleston, S.C.

ORC Sportboat North American Championship 2026 - Charleston Race Week

𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘁’𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗥𝗖 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗯𝗼𝗮𝘁 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗢𝗥𝗖 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗯𝗼𝗮𝘁 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽!
During the event’s 30th anniversary edition (𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟭𝟲–𝟭𝟵, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲), Race Week will debut an 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗢𝗥𝗖 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗯𝗼𝗮𝘁 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀, with updated ORC sportboat parameters, developed in consultation with the Offshore Racing Congress.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘄?
• Length overall: 𝟲–𝟭𝟬 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀
• Maximum displacement: 𝟮,𝟯𝟬𝟬 𝗸𝗴
This adjustment opens the door for many popular designs – 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗿 𝟯𝟬, 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝟯𝟭, 𝗠𝗲𝗹𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝟯𝟮, 𝗛𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗲 𝟯𝟯, and other custom and production sportboats — to compete for a continental title.
“We’ve seen incredible growth in the Cape 31 and Melges 32 fleets,” says Event Director 𝗥𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘆 𝗗𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁𝘇. “Expanding the ORC Sportboat definitions brings even more talent into what will be an outstanding North American Championship.”
2026 will feature a four-day format, including a Wednesday Skippers’ Meeting and an enhanced 𝗢𝗥𝗖 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗯𝗼𝗮𝘁 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝗰𝗲 on Thursday, designed to showcase the fleet’s diversity and performance.
With this expansion, 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻, and Thanksgiving weekend is the ideal moment to start talking schedules with your team and family.
𝗘𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟯𝟭
Secure your spot early for the best rate and get ready for a spectacular 30th anniversary Charleston Race Week at Patriot’s Point.
More info & registration at charlestonraceweek.com
https://orc.org/sailors/news-archive/expansion-of-orc-sportboat-class-at-charleston-race-week-at-patriots-point
Photo: Ty Baird Media / https://www.tybaird.media
#orcsailing #orcsportboats #theequalchancetowin
https://www.charlestonraceweek.com/