What is the Ocean Rowing Society?
The Ocean Rowing Society International is ocean rowing's records body — founded in London in 1983 by Kenneth Crutchlow, keeper of the register of every ocean row ever attempted, and the official adjudicating consultant to Guinness World Records for the discipline.[1] [2]
What does it do?
It classifies boats and routes, verifies crossings against logged evidence, ratifies records (fastest, first, youngest, oldest — by ocean, route and crew size), and maintains the sport's complete historical statistics back to the first crossing of 1896.[2] [3]
Why does it matter?
In a discipline without a conventional federation, ORSI's adjudication is the credential: an ocean rower's crossing, classification and records are officially documented here — the recognized source behind Guinness certification.[2] [3]
References
- Ocean Rowing Society International — official site. Accessed August 2026.
- ORSI — records & statistics. Accessed August 2026.
- Guinness World Records — ocean rowing. Accessed August 2026.