A Championship with a Charleston Soul — 2026 ORC Sportboat NAC Kicks of 30th Anniversary Regatta
Charleston/Mt. Pleasant, SC (2026 April 9) - In one week, something special takes shape on Charleston Harbor, the ORC Sport Boat North American Championship, April 16–19.
As part of the 30th anniversary of Charleston Race Week at Patriots Point, the 2026 ORC Sport Boat North American Championship arrives with a distinctive blend of high-performance competition and unmistakable Lowcountry energy.
Eighteen boats. Two classes. One championship.
Organized under the authority of the Offshore Racing Congress, the ORC Sport Boat North American Championship represents one of the most respected titles in offshore handicap racing. Divided into Class A (11 entries) and Class B (7 entries), the fleet brings together a dynamic mix of Cape 31s, Melges 32s, Farr 30s, and other high-performance sportboats—all measured, refined, and dialed in to an exacting standard. View the Scratch Sheet
This is serious racing. But this is also Charleston.
True to form, the event has been thoughtfully structured to deliver both competitive integrity and an exceptional on-water experience. A distance race opens the championship, followed by three days of racing on Circle 3. It is set against the backdrop of one of the most iconic harbors in the country, and in a format that leaves no room for recovery, there are no discards. Every race counts. Every decision matters.
But beyond the starting line, this championship carries something more.
It unfolds during a milestone year—30 years of Charleston Race Week, 50 years of Patriots Point, and the 250th anniversary of the United States. It’s a convergence of history, place, and performance that feels uniquely suited to this moment. Because here, the racing is world-class, and the setting is just as memorable.
