# Ocean Racing Club of Victoria

The Ocean Racing Club of Victoria Inc. (ORCV) conducts ocean/offshore and bay yacht races and events in Victoria, Australia.

## History

The Ocean Racing Club of Victoria Inc. was formed as the Cruising Yacht Club of Victoria by founding members Bill Wakefield, Fred Cook and Frank Bennell in 1949, so that ocean races in Victorian waters could be efficiently developed and run by an organisation focused exclusively on the needs of ocean racers. It was renamed the Ocean Racing Club of Victoria Inc. in 1972 and incorporated in 1986. The ORCV is an Organising Authority of Category 1, 2 and 3 ocean races and a Yachting Australia Training Centre (YATC) with five Yachting Australia accredited Yachtmaster Offshore and Safety & Sea Survival Course Instructors.
In 2018, the ORCV introduced the "Four + Autohelm" format to its nautic races.

## Description

The Ocean Racing Club of Victoria is a member club of the Australian Sailing (formally Yachting Australia) and the International Sailing Federation (ISAF). Membership is drawn from all of the major keel boat yacht clubs in Victoria, but does not compete with other yacht clubs by operating a clubhouse or marina facility.
All ORCV training activities specifically relate to ocean sailing and racing, particularly where there may be barriers to entering this domain. They are designed to provide supplementary training, which complements other available sailing training from commercial training organisations.

## Annual events

The ORCV conduct the following Ocean and Bay yacht races and events:
| Name | Type | When | Race Category | Distance nautical miles | Year first conducted |
| Melbourne to Stanley or Melbourne to Portland | Ocean Yacht Race | November | 2 | 152 or 163 | |
| Latitude Ocean | Ocean Yacht Race or Cruising event | November | 3 | Handicap dependent | |
| Latitude Pursuit | Bay Yacht Race or Cruising event | November | 6 | 34 | |
| Cock of the Bay (previously known as Boxing Day Dash) | Bay Yacht Race | December | 6 | 34 | |
| Melbourne to Hobart Westcoaster blue-water classic | Ocean Yacht Race | December | 2 | 435 | 1972 |
| Melbourne to Hobart Eastcoaster blue-water classic | Ocean Yacht Race | December | 2 | 455 | 2007 |
| Rudder Cup Melbourne to Launceston blue-water classic or Rudder Cup Melbourne to Devonport blue-water classic | Ocean Yacht Race | December | 2 | 198 or 195 | 1907 |
| Melbourne to Grassy, King Island | Ocean Yacht Race | March | 2 | 115 | 1972 |
| Melbourne to Port Fairy | Ocean Yacht Race | March | 2 | 135 | |
| Double-Handed | Bay Yacht Race | May | 6 | 24 | |
| Melbourne to Apollo Bay | Ocean Yacht Race | May | 6 | 52 | |
| Winter Series | Bay Yacht Races Series | June to August | 6 | | |
| Melbourne to Geelong | Bay Yacht Race | September | 6 | 34 to 58 | |
| Women Skipper & Navigators | Bay Yacht Race | September | 6 | 33 | 2008 |
International events
| Name | Type | When | Race Category | Distance nautical miles | Year first conducted |
| Melbourne to Vanuatu | International Ocean Yacht Race | Every 4 years | 1 | 1,885 | 2006 |
| Osaka Cup Melbourne to Osaka Double-Handed | International Ocean Yacht Race | Every 4 years | 1 | 5,500 | 1987 |