ORR to be the Cove Island rating in 2016

Okay, Mackinac sailors, if you’re sailing the Cove Island Course this year, you need to get an ORR certificate because that’s the rating to be used on the long course in 2016.

The Shore Course will still use PHRF ratings.

Why did race sponsors Bayview Yacht Club switch to ORR for Cove Island boats?

“We think that it provides for more competitive racing for boats in that division,” said 2016 Mackinac Race Chairman Kyle Burleson.

ORR uses a velocity prediction program to scientifically calculate the rating, using the boat’s dimensions to figure out how fast it should be in any different wind range or wind direction, Burleson said.

PHRF uses the boat’s dimensions, but it also takes into account racing results — like a golf handicap. If a boat is winning too much or never wins under PHRF, their rating could be adjusted.

ORR doesn’t take the win record into consideration, it just says how fast the boat should be.

Another, although far less important reason, is that ORR is used in the Chicago to Mackinac race. Switching to ORR for Cove Island boats may attract more Lake Michigan boats to the Bayview race, Burleson said.

ORR is more costly than PHRF — about $6 to $7 a foot.

“That’s one of the reasons why we only put it on Cove Island,” Burleson said. “Typically bigger boats have bigger budgets.”

“But we do think the cost is outweighed by better racing.

There are 77 boats already registered for the 2016 Bell’s Beer Bayview Mackinac race, which begins on July 16.