Dear Race Captains and Sailors,

The recently issued Amendment 1 to the Notice of Race includes new paragraph 4.15. (See Official Notice Board.) This paragraph clarifies that if you are sailing in a division that permits the use of powered equipment for the adjustment of sails and rigging, and your boat is equipped with and uses certain types of powered equipment—such as electric or hydraulic sheet winches—this must be reflected on the ORR certificate for your yacht that is submitted for the 2022 Newport Bermuda Race.
 
New paragraph 4.15 of the NOR states:
 
“4.15
Under ORR, ORR-MH, and ISYR, boats must declare the use of non-manual power or movable ballast at the time of measurement, rating application, amendment and/or revalidation, even if the rules for the division in which she is entered modify rule 51 and/or 52 or otherwise permit the use of non-manual power or movable ballast.”
 
The use of powered equipment (stored energy) is governed by ORR Rule 4.08:
 
“4.08 Energy Storage
Unless modified by the Race Organizing Authority the prohibition on the use of stored energy while racing - RRS 52 Manual Power - shall not apply to trimming, hoisting, reefing, furling or dousing of sails, adjusting of backstays and running rigging. Please refer to ORR Appendix 7 for boats rated with movable ballast (water ballast or canting keel).
 

4.08.1 The use of stored power for the hoisting of mainsails, or the reefing or furling of sails need not be declared.

4.08.2 Boats using stored power solely for the adjustment or operation of backstays shall declare this to the Rating Authority. There will be no rating change.

4.08.3 Boats using stored power for the adjustment or operation of running rigging other than as noted in 8.2 shall declare this to the Rating Authority and shall result in a rating adjustment.”

Note that ORR Rule 4.08 does not apply to the St. David’s Lighthouse Division, which specifically prohibits the use of stored energy for the purposes permitted by ORR 4.08.  Boats sailing in St. David’s must comply with RRS 52, Manual Power, as written.

If you are sailing in a division in the Newport Bermuda Race that permits the use of non-manual power, and your boat is equipped with powered equipment that is controlled by ORR 4.08.3, how do you know if your boat is properly rated and in compliance with both the ORR and paragraph 4.15 of the Notice of Race?

To clarify, the most common powered equipment requiring declaration and a rating adjustment per ORR 4.08.3 includes power winches for trimming sails. The use of this type of powered equipment must be reflected on your 2022 ORR certificate.

The 2022 ORR certificate has a new, more detailed format compared to previous ORR certificates. The upper half of page 1 of the certificate contains the basic data about the boat and its general configuration, laid out in two columns.

The last item in the right-hand column is titled “Stored Power,” and indicates whether or not the boat is rated for the use of stored energy for the adjustment of running rigging. If the Stored Power box on your 2022 ORR certificate is blank, your boat is not rated for the use of stored power.

If your boat does not use stored power for the adjustment of sails or rigging as specified in ORR 4.08.3, this box will be blank.

If the Stored Power box is checked on your certificate, it indicates that your boat is rated for the use of stored power, as is required by NOR 4.15 if you are sailing in a division that permits the use of stored power and your boat is equipped to use stored power.

If you are getting an ORR certificate for the first time, and your boat uses stored power as specified in ORR 4.08.3, be sure to indicate that in your ORR application.

If you are revalidating an existing ORR certificate, are sailing in a division that permits the use of stored power, and your boat is equipped to use stored power as outlined in ORR 4.08.3, inspect the old certificate you are revalidating to verify that it says, “Power Winches: yes” (or similar language) in the general data section near the top of the certificate on the right-hand side.

If your boat was not previously rated for the use of stored power, and you need to declare the use of stored power for the 2022 Newport Bermuda Race, you can do this in the comments section of the online revalidation application as required by NOR 4.15 and ORR 4.08.3.

This is the link to the 2022 ORR certificate revalidation page at US Sailing:

ORR Renewal/Revalidation - US Sailing

It is important that every boat sailing in the 2022 Newport Bermuda Race be properly rated for the division in which she is racing. If you have any questions about the application of the requirements of either the NOR or the ORR, please email the BROC Technical Committee. 

Warm regards,

Somers Kempe, Chairman
2022 Bermuda Race Organizing Committee
[email protected]