27 TEAMS FROM 8 NATIONS START RACING TODAY AT ORC SPORTBOAT EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP

Lake Balaton, Hungary – After two days of measurement and registration, 27 teams representing Hungary, the Netherlands, Russia, Great Britain, Sweden, Switzerland, Poland and Turkey with sailors hailing from 13 countries will start to race today at the 2015 ORC Sportboat European Championship, hosted at Hungary’s oldest sailing club, the Balatonfüred Yacht Club. The competition begins today with a coastal race starting at 10:00 with a course around Lake Balaton to be announced in the morning by Principal Race Officer Denis Marinov.

Following the passage of a strong cold front, winds are forecast to be 15-20 knots from the northwest, trending to 10-15 knots from the north through the afternoon.

The remainder of the event will be inshore racing held daily through Sunday, May 24th. A minimum of three completed inshore races and one completed offshore race are needed for a valid championship, with a maximum of three races held in one day.

Despite the variety of boat sizes and types, the fleet will start as one class with ORC ratings and scoring applied.

There are a wide variety of boat types at this event, ranging from open dinghy-like designs with trapezes, to boats with keels and small cabins. All must be from 6 to 9 metres in length, weigh no more than 2 tons, and have a displacement/length ration of less than 4.50. All crews must be at least 50% ISAF Group 1 (Corinthian) sailors.

Despite this variety of boat sizes and types, the fleet will start and race together with ORC ratings and scoring applied.

For more information about teams, format and racing details at the 2015 ORC Sportboat European Championship, visit the event website at http://orcsportboateuropeans2015.bycold.digitalwave.hu.

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