Dmitry,

Every two years I enjoy a nice spurt of business thanks to Pacific Cup and people needing to comply ORC Cat 1. Quite honestly if I wanted to do Pac Cup or a similar event I'd crew for a customer. The ORC rules are pretensed on making lightly constructed race boats safe for ocean racing. The Amel's are light years ahead in terms of safety and seaworthiness. For instance rudder failures are not unheard of on spade ruddered race boats, thus the requirements for an elaborate replacement rudder. I've never even heard of an Amel losing steerage and with the skeg in place it's unlikely you could lose the rudder without something far more onerous to worry about than steerage. So you will spend an inordinate sum for a backup rudder that is highly unlikely to ever to be used. I'd rather spend that money on a second autopilot.

Cheers,
Dave