Midget Ocean Racing Club

The Midget Ocean Racing Club (MORC) is an American association based in Severna Park, Maryland, that promotes and organizes ocean racing for small sailboats under a handicapping rule.[1][2]

The Midget Ocean Racing Club, Inc.
AbbreviationMORC
Formation1954
TypeMaryland domestic corporation
PurposeOrganization and promotion of sailboat racing
Location
Membership
2,500 (1978)
Registered agent
Martin Scholl
Websitewww.morcracing.org

History

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Founded in 1954, the club was formally organized as The Midget Ocean Racing Club, Inc., on 16 November 1972 as a Maryland domestic corporation. The club has a board of governors, comprising the commodores of each station (local MORC chapter), plus the national officers of the club.[1][3]

Started as an ocean racing class for boats too small for the existing off-shore racing classes, the MORC-class boats were initially 24 ft (7.3 m) or less in length, although this was expanded in 1958 to just under 30 ft (9.1 m) and in 1978 to 34 ft (10.4 m).[1][4]

In 1978 MORC moved to include one-design racing. The rule changes allowed separate starts for races when 20 or more boats of the same design are competing. The organization of one-design fleets was the jurisdiction of the local station. The Western Long Island Sound station was the lead chapter for this implementation.[2]

By 1978 the club had 68 local "stations" and 2,500 members.[2]

MORC measurement rule

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The club administers the measurement rule that establishes the handicapping for participating boats.[1]

Boats

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A Kirby 25 MORC racer
 
A C&C 25 Mk I MORC racer

Boats designed for MORC include:

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Midget Ocean Racing Club. "Background of the Midget Ocean Racing Club". morcracing.org. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Fishman, Joanne A. (19 March 1978). "M.O.R.C. Sets New Policy On One-Design Sailing". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  3. ^ "The Midget Ocean Racing Club, Inc. - Maryland Domestic Corporation". bizapedia.com. 19 December 2015. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  4. ^ Spurr, Dan (2 August 2017). "Boats We Sail Part 2: The 1970s". Sail magazine. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
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