Lake Ontario 
Offshore Racing 

June  2013
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New Course
LOSHRS News
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Archived Newsletters

Only 3 weeks left!!!

 

Less than 3 weeks until the start gun and the excitement is building. 
 
Last minute preparations are underway as we get set for the festivities on and off the water.  If you have questions or need help with the Safety Regulations please do not hesitate to reach out to us.  We can be reached at info@loor.ca. If you have not registered now is the time!

We are still looking for sponsors. If you or your company can help we would like to speak with you. Please contact me at darrengornall@gmail.com.

Have fun and be safe on the water.
 
Sincerely,
Darren Gornall
Chair, Lake Ontario Offshore Racing 
New Course ... New Challenges 

  

The Revised Lake Ontario 300 Course Provides New Challenges

 

The Lake Ontario Offshore Racing Committee has finalized the new course for this year's Lake Ontario 300 Challenge, which promises to provide new excitement and new challenges to this great race.

As indicated on the attached map the new course for the Lake Ontario 300 Challenge will be:

PCYC (Start) --> Gibraltar Buoy (1st Mark to Starboard) --> Ford Shoal Buoy Mark to Port (Oswego) --> Yorkshire and Main Duck Islands (including MM2 and M9 to port) --> Niagara (R2 to Starboard) --> PCYC Turning Mark  --> PCYC Finish Line.

The length of the course remains approximately 300 nautical miles.   

 

The Lake Ontario Offshore Racing Group heard feedback over the winter that the current course had limitations that might be improved upon.

In particular, rhumblines running along the south shore of Lake Ontario in a circumnavigation style reduced many possible options for racers and in some cases, locked in the positions of the fleet for large distances, which is no fun.  This is especially true on the leg between Oswego and Niagara, where the rhumb line bends around the curve of the shore and makes it overwhelmingly favorable to hug the shore for a majority of the leg.

The objective of the Lake Ontario 300 Challenge has always been to provide the ultimate challenge in offshore racing on the great lakes.  By hitting all four corners of Lake Ontario the challenge in this race has always been the varied wind conditions, directions and currents that are encountered in a single circumnavigation. This new course provides an added navigational challenge by crossing the lake on a diagonal basis on the way to and from Main Duck Islands.

After Gibraltor Mark competitors are now forced to decide where the best winds will be and navigate accordingly. The options change from deciding whether to go out in the lake or follow the north shoreline to: following the rhumb line, follow the wind lines, head to the south shore and take advantage of local micro-climates and currents or stay on the north shore where familiar wind conditions may be favoured.  

Typically the short run from Main Duck Island to Ford Shoal is close hauled with the highest winds on the course. Doing this leg the opposite direction with the same wind could set some speed records.

Participants who've raced in the LO 300 for many years know that conditions can change significantly between out in the middle and close to shore.  

Returning from Main Duck to Niagara will be wide open just like it was in the early days of this race and will be exciting to watch on YellowBrick Tracking system to see what routing worked best as the boats round Niagara for the last sprint home.

 

Check out the Lake Ontario 300 website to see the course  and make your comments on our Facebook page.

 

2013 Lake Ontario Challenge will be even more exciting with a few new features to the race that include the "new look" Mount Gay Hats, the Old Crusty Challenge that will provide the sailor wearing the most tattered Mount Gay Hat at our Friday Night Pre Race Party an exciting prize from Mount Gay. We have a cash prize for Line Honors for our first time entries from Gord Honor Realty. Our new date will ensure only one activity at the club and will reduce the traffic at the popular Sperry Top-Sider Pre Race Breakfast.

With over 100 entries mid June is a great sign that this year will be another exciting challenge.

 
  
LOSHRS News 
  
The Results are in on Youngstown, and what a great weekend it was.
 

 

A weekend of sailing to Youngstown is never dull and this year's edition of the LOSHRS double race weekend was no exception. Even the weather cooperated, well for most of the time anyway.

Saturday's race was bathed in sunshine with decent winds. The racing gods threw in a few twists and turns at the fleet with many competitors tearing their hair out at the crazy wind shifts towards the end but that's part of the attraction of yacht racing, right? 

Youngstown Yacht Club were gracious hosts and once the dock party had concluded it was on for a great dinner, so hats off the staff of YYC. Results were announced after dinner which were available immediately now that we have the Yacht Scoring program in place. A few ventured up the hill to "the Jug" for a night cap or two which rounded out a great day on Lake Ontario. You can see the results here .

  

Sunday morning was a little grey to say the least. What a change from Saturday. But after a brief period of rain which helped wipe away the evidence of Saturday night, the fleet was back on the race course hurtling towards the PCYC finish. Unfortunately there was no opportunity for the spinnaker boats to really stretch their legs but at least we had wind for the entire trip. There was not much in the way of tactical decisions to be made during the first 20 miles of the race but there sure was towards the end. I certainly did not see the big wind shift until it was too late. All those who stayed to the west of the rhumb line cashed in handsomely, the rest of the fleet faced a bit of an uphill slog in increasing winds to the finish line. See the results here.

 

 

Once again, I would like to extend my thanks to YYC and all those who volunteered on the race committee, you are very much appreciated.

One thing is for sure, we have had a great start to the LOSHRS season with good winds and reasonable weather. Next up is the 100 mile race in August. Remember that you need to participate in this race in order to be considered for overall division results.

 

Fair Winds,

Joe Doris

LOSHRS Committee  

 

 

Like us on Facebook and Share your Race Photos

 

 

Are you on Facebook? If so like us today here. Any share some of your great pictures with us of the race.
  
  
  

 

About Us
The Lake Ontario Offshore Racing Group is responsible for the planning of the Lake Ontario 300 Challenge, the Susan Hood Trophy Race and the Lake Ontario Short Handed Racing Series under the organizing authority of the Port Credit Yacht Club.
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