07/10/2025
Upcoming OMR Review
As most would be aware the Multihull Yacht Club of Queensland (MYCQ) is the owner and administrator of the Offshore Multihull Rating system (OMR). The OMR is a developmental rule, and therefore periodic reviews are necessary to ensure that the ratings remain current and relevant, taking into account advances and innovations in multihull design and racing and the changing nature of the multihull racing fleets. Reviews generally occur every few years - trying to avoid moving the goalposts too frequently but trying to stay on top of changes.
It is intended to commence the next review in October 2025. This review will follow other similar reviews that have been undertaken since the inception of the rule (the most recent reviews have been in 2016, 2021 and 2023), all of which have been progressively working to keep the rule up to date and as fair as possible for all who utilise it.
The OMR is about providing the opportunity for serious and fair racing for a diverse fleet of multihulls in an environment where the progressive development of multihulls can still take place. The OMR is used extensively in Australia and internationally and has more active multihulls racing under it than any other multihull rating system worldwide.
The basic premise of the rule is that the optimisation of a vessel, its rig and crew to the rule, coupled with superior team work and sailing skills, should offer the greatest opportunity for success in OMR events. It follows that there will also be a group of vessels that are less optimised, either by virtue of older, less efficient design, inefficient rigs and sails, less effective crew work, or crew numbers or skills that may be incompatible with the size and efficient operation of the vessel to its rating, such that these vessels have a reduced opportunity to do well under OMR.
Reviews of the rating system are based on recent racing data as well as feedback from interested sailors to fine tune the underlying formulae and the factors that form the basis of the rule.
Key areas which are intended to be addressed during the upcoming review are:
• Upwind Screachers. Tuning of the parameters used for the rating of upwind screachers (introduced in 2023) on the basis of race results and sail designs since then.
• Foiling. Using available data to determine if the use of foiling has progressed to the point within typical club racing mixed fleets where it is now consistently providing an advantage, and if so then adjusting the foil factors already in the rule to appropriately account for this.
• Sail Configurations. Clarification as to what defines different sails and different sail configurations and what configurations are permissible. One area of attention under this topic will be to remove any rating advantage that might be gained by altering a rig design to remove a genoa or jib. Such rig changes are not considered to be in the best interests of the sport as they reduce the speed potential of boats and give rise to significant loads that introduce engineering and safety implications. A jib or genoa should be part of the sail configuration for any racing mutlihull.
• Procedural Updates. Updates to the procedures around measurements and the use of official measurers, the method and timing of providing information on boat or sail changes and crew weights and the way that ratings will be provided to and used by race committees.
The review will take some time to complete effectively, test, document and rollout. It is intended that all changes will be in place ready for key sailing events in 2026. When the review is complete, any changes made and the effective date for the changes will be communicated.
If there are any other aspects of the current system which you feel should be reviewed, please provide specific details, examples and recommendations and address these to [email protected] Any submissions received by the end of October 2025 will be considered for possible inclusion into the review.
A reminder that the OMR system is administered entirely by volunteers in the interests of improving the collective enjoyment of multihull sailing and racing. the best ways to assist are through active involvement and club membership. If you wish to assist further and contribute your time we would like to hear from you also at the email above.
Thank you and all the best in multihull sailing! Please pass this message on to anyone who may be interested.
The OMR Review Committee.
(Alasdair Noble, Geoff Cruse, Ben Kelly, Richard Jenkins & Adrian Relf)
