Photo: Tommy Allore
The Southern Ocean Racing Conference (SORC) and Storm Trysail Club (STC) are thrilled to announce that they will co-host the 2027 ORC North American Championship in Fort Lauderdale, November 14–20, 2027 — a standout week featuring a dynamic mix of offshore, coastal, and buoy racing.
This major championship unites two premier offshore race managers: the Storm Trysail Club, with over 90 years of leadership in ocean racing, regatta management, and safety-at-sea education, and SORC, organizing more than 50 years of legendary offshore racing in South Florida’s warm, fast, and tactically rich waters.
“After hosting the inaugural ORC North Americans at Block Island Race Week in 2025, the Storm Trysail Club is thrilled to join SORC in bringing the ORC North Americans to a venue that so perfectly blends reliable breeze, navigational challenge, and exceptional shoreside support,” said Andrew Weiss, Commodore of the Storm Trysail Club. “The partnership with SORC, an organization whose legacy mirrors our own commitment to top-tier offshore sailing, ensures this championship will offer the highest standard of race management and competition.”
Championship Racing Designed to Test Every Skill
The 2027 ORC North Americans will feature a diverse race format blending offshore endurance and inshore precision:
- One Long Offshore Race (18–24 hours) testing navigation, sail handling, and seamanship
- Inshore Windward/Leeward Races over two days highlighting speed and tactical skill
- A Short Coastal Race (6–10 hours) focused on strategy and boat handling
“This will be offshore racing at its finest,” said Race Chair Chris Lewis, an experienced SORC offshore competitor and race organizer. “The combination of inshore, coastal, and long offshore courses will challenge everyone. Adding the Storm Trysail Club’s expertise to Fort Lauderdale’s waters will provide ideal support for a true yet fun North American championship that harps back to the original SORC days.”
A Combined Legacy of Offshore Excellence
Founded in 1938, the Storm Trysail Club has long been recognized for running major offshore and inshore events, including Block Island Race Week, the Block Island Race, the Intercollegiate Offshore Regatta, and dozens of Safety-at-Sea seminars nationwide. STC also partners on notable events such as the Annapolis–Newport Race and the Transatlantic Race.
For more than half a century, SORC has been a driving force behind winter offshore competition in South Florida, influencing yacht design, safety standards, and race formats across the sport. Its roster of iconic events includes the Lauderdale–Key West Race, the Miami–Nassau Race, the Wirth Munroe Race, and the St. Pete–Ft. Lauderdale Race.
“South Florida has always been a centerpiece of offshore racing, drawing sailors looking for warm water, steady breeze, and the test of the Gulf Stream,” said Carol Ewing of SORC and PRO for the event. “For SORC, partnering with the Storm Trysail Club to host this championship is a natural extension of our shared mission to elevate offshore competition in the United States.”
A World-Class Venue in the Heart of Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale offers unmatched accessibility and infrastructure for a major championship:
- Multiple commissioning, launching, and storage facilities
- Deep-draft marina options, including Bahia Mar, Pier 66, and Lauderdale Marine Center
- North Sails and West Marine service centers
- International airports at FLL and MIA
- Thousands of nearby lodging options
Regatta headquarters will be based at the Pier 66 Superyacht Pavilion, with Lauderdale Yacht Club providing a full calendar of social events.
In November, sailors can expect 10–20 knots of predominantly NE–SE breeze, warm temperatures, and the unique offshore challenge of navigating the Gulf Stream—conditions that have cemented South Florida as a bucket-list racing destination for decades.
Registration will open in Late Summer/Early Fall 2026. Interested participants may pre-enter and ask questions at https://forms.gle/LaBMvgrftgrVrg2V8
MEDIA CONTACT
Kate Somers