IRC Rating Certificates for Cape2Rio Race 2023

South Atlantic Trophy © Royal Cape Yacht Club

The Royal Cape Yacht Club, Cape Town, South Africa is pleased to announce that yachts with a valid ORC and ORCi rating certificate can also now compete in the IRC Fleet in the Cape2Rio Race 2023.

The RORC Rating Office has agreed to use the ORC measurements to create an IRC certificate, and this will be managed on behalf of the entrants by the Cape2Rio Yacht Race Organising Committee working closely with the RORC Rating Office. This process will not require any re-measurement, but the ORC certificate must be valid for the applicable period of the race 2022/23 and will be converted to reflect the applicable rating as per the IRC 2022 edition. The cost of conversion will be absorbed by the Cape2Rio Race 2023 Organising Authority.

The Royal Ocean Racing Club welcomes this initiative and as a show of support for the Cape2Rio Race 2023, the RORC have allowed that any miles accrued in the past five years by sailors who have participated in previous Cape2Rio Races, will be eligible for inclusion in the minimum mileage requirement for membership of the RORC.

"Candidates for Ocean Racing Membership must have completed no less than 500 miles racing offshore including at least two nights at sea, and if possible at least one RORC race, within the last five years."

Commodore Neil Gregory from the Royal Cape Yacht Club welcomed this collaboration and said: "It provides a step back into the international arena for South African ocean racing, and should encourage participation in the Cape2Rio 2023. Looking at the calendar for international events in 2023, we see that a great world circuit is developing organically. This is an exciting scenario to be planning for, post COVID-19 restrictions."

2023 Sailing Calendar:

• Cape2Rio Jan 2023
• RORC Caribbean 600 Feb 2023
• Caribbean Season 2023
• Transpac 2023
• Rolex Fastnet 2023
• Rolex Middle 2023
• Rolex Sydney Hobart 2023

RORC Commodore James Neville welcomes this initiative. "The Cape to Rio race has a long history and tradition and we are delighted that the Royal Cape Yacht Club have decided to use IRC as the rating of choice for this prestigious race. IRC is used by most of the major classic offshore races around the world and this move will strengthen the international recognition of the Cape to Rio race and the number of entries from around the world."