Severe weather forces abandonment of opening race at 4th ORC Double-Handed World Championship
by Offshore Racing Congress 11 Sep 04:17 NZST
7-13 September 2025
Opening Ceremony in Olympic Hangar - ORC DH World Championship 2025 Monfalcone © Andrea Carloni
The opening race of the ORC Double-Handed World Championship 2025, hosted by Yacht Club Monfalcone in collaboration with the Offshore Racing Congress (ORC) and held at Marina Monfalcone, was abandoned today due to severe weather conditions in the Northern Adriatic.
After several days of measurement checks, equipment inspections, and final preparations, the championship was officially opened on Tuesday evening during a vibrant ceremony in the impressive Olympic Hangar, home to the Red Bull Sailing Academy. The ceremony featured welcome speeches from YCM President Germano Scarpa, Mayor Luca Fasan, representatives of the Italian Sailing Federation, and key partners, including Io Sono Friuli Venezia Giulia. The evening continued with a festive crew dinner at La Vela Rossa, bringing together sailors, race officials, and supporters in the heart of the marina.
Expectations were high going into Wednesday's Short Offshore Race, scheduled to begin at 11:00. However, sailors awoke to heavy rain, poor visibility, and unstable wind conditions. The postponement flag was initially raised ashore while the race committee closely monitored the evolving weather. By early afternoon, Principal Race Officer Giancarlo Crevatin made the call to abandon racing for the day.
"After a long discussion with the Race Committee and careful evaluation of the weather conditions, we made the difficult decision to abandon today's Short Offshore Race. The continued heavy rain, poor visibility, unstable wind direction, and the risk of very strong northerly gusts made it unsafe and unwise to proceed. Starting the race this late could have also resulted in teams remaining at sea overnight. We believe it's the fairest and safest choice for the fleet, and we are now focusing on delivering a proper long offshore race tomorrow and Friday." — Giancarlo Crevatin, Principal Race Officer
With better weather on the horizon, attention now turns to the Long Offshore Race, set to begin on Thursday, 11 September. The day will begin with a weather briefing at 08:45 in the Olympic Hangar, followed by the first warning signal at 10:55.
This critical leg of the championship will take the fleet deep into the Adriatic, testing double-handed teams with endurance, navigation, and strategic decision-making.
Weather and Sea-State Analysis
Each class will sail a distinct course: approximately 190 nautical miles for Class A, 167 for Class B, and 150 for Class C. Courses lead south along the Italian coast and into Croatian waters, with marks including Plicina Albanez, Hrid Galiola, Rt Lakunji, and Hrid Silo, depending on the class. Mandatory gates include the passage between Sveti Ivan and Sveti Ivan Na Pucini and another north of the Savudrija lighthouse, both of which serve as potential shortened course points if conditions demand.
The race has a 52-hour time limit per class. Complex navigation, shifting winds, and nighttime sailing will push crews to their limits as they race for the world title.
Fans and supporters can follow the race live thanks to Metasail's GPS tracking, which offers real-time updates and route monitoring across the Adriatic.
The ORC technical team supports the operations on site, working in close coordination with race officials and the organising club. The team is proudly outfitted in gear from VENNVIND, the event's Official Technical Gear Supplier, further reflecting the professionalism and collaboration behind the scenes.