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Lake Ontario Offshore Racing - Newsletter
August 16, 2022
Chair's Message:

2022 Racing Continues!

Lake Ontario Short Handed Racing Series – three races remaining!
 
The 2022 Lake Ontario 300 Challenge presented by driveHG is in the history books. It was a fantastic race with the variety of weather for which Lake Ontario is famous. Racers experienced everything on the course from no wind to 25 knots; hot sun to pouring rain; calm seas to 3m waves.
 
We are now over halfway through the 2022 schedule with three short handed races remaining over the coming four weeks.
 
Over 250 racers participated in the 2022 Lake Ontario 300 Challenge. With a steel band playing in the afternoon to set the pre-race mood, the Race Committee hosted a delicious Race BBQ at PCYC the evening before the race prior to the Skipper’s Meeting. It was a great event with some automotive eye candy on the lawn from our Presenting Sponsor, driveHG, and the opportunity to peruse other sponsor offerings in their tents on the lawn. We again thank all of our sponsors, with extra special thanks to our Saturday morning pre-race breakfast sponsor, Access Abilities.
 
New this year, we posted and streamed all pictures and videos sent to info@loor.ca during the race. We received a large number of submissions of beautiful sunsets and sunrises, crazy crew antics, or exciting action videos. There will be a bottle of Rum to the most popular post! We’re still working on the details on that!  
 
Lake Ontario Offshore Racing continues this weekend with Race #4 of the Lake Ontario Short Handed Racing Series (LOSHRS). The “100 Miler” Long Distance race will start at PCYC the morning of Saturday, August 20th. This year’s race will have participants head west to round the driveHG Mark off the shores of Clarkson, returning eastward to round the Gibraltar Point Buoy off the Toronto Islands, heading back westwards to round the Burlington Weather Tower, and finish at the PCYC Finish Mark. This year’s race has over 50 boats participating – all either single- or double-handed crews.
 
Safety at Sea!
Please be sure to have a look at the article on Safety / Personal Survival in the Newsletter below. Sail Canada is changing its requirement for offshore racing safety.
 
Monica Doedens
Chair, Lake Ontario Offshore Racing Organizing Authority
Lake Ontario 300

The 2022 results are in:

Congratulations to Hydromec, a Farr 40 OD from CRYC in Quebec skipped by Dave Savard, on achieving Line Honours on the Main Duck Island Course

Congratulations also to Hip Hip, a C&C 35-3 from Dalhousie Yacht Club skippered by Thomas Lynam, on Line Honours on the Scotch Bonnet Course.

And Congratulations to the winner of the Sperry Cup, Neptune's Car, a Beneteau First 36.7 from Nepean Sailing Club, co-skippered by Martin and Brian Rutter who raced in the FS Double handed. It's always a pleasure to have a double handed crew win (as those are the LO300's roots) but even more wonderful to see a son / father team win this prestigious cup.  

Here is a race update from Martin and Brian Rutter:  

"What an incredible race! The LO300 with its many ups and downs and constantly changing wind conditions, continued to deliver this year an amazing racing experience! The level of competition and constant pressure from all of the great sailors around us, just kept us pushing harder and harder to try and not make many mistakes.  

We exchanged places with our competitors multiple times over the course of the race, a mini victory each in its own when we gained our ground back.  
After the long brutal leg from Oswego in the heavy rain and 20 knot winds we found ourselves particularly exhausted after 55 hours of racing and arrived in the Toronto area to some very light and fluky conditions. After sitting in a wind hole for a while thinking we had lost our class lead, we just kept reminding ourselves that this is the LO300 and it’s not over until it’s over and kept our eyes out on the water looking for each puff of wind to help bring us home.  

While we are very fortunate to have sailed 1000’s of team races together over many decades, to win the LO300 double handed as a father and son team has such special meaning and will forever be a highlight of our sailing careers.  

A huge thank you goes out to all of the race organizers, volunteers and sponsors for providing this opportunity to all of us racers and to our family and friends who have supported us and cheered us on to keep pushing hard to the end!"
Lake Ontario Offshore Racing – 2022 Racing Schedule:
 
Mark Your Calendars – Coming Racing Dates for the Remaining LOOR 2022 Season. 

Lake Ontario Short-Handed Racing Series Presented by driveHG
(LOSHRS)

Race #4 – Long Distance         Saturday, August 20, 2022 (81 NM)
Race #5 – PCYC to DYC         Saturday, September 17, 2022 (25 NM)
Race #6 – DYC to PCYC         Sunday, September 18, 2022 (25 NM)

Register here:

LOOR RACE RATE HST TOTAL

LOSHRS -
6 Race Series $190.00 $24.70 $214.70

Single Race $63.50 $8.26 $71.76
Event Guide:

This year LOOR has created Guides for each event to provide supplementary information over the Notice of Race (NoR) and help explain details for the new or potential participant.
 
We would appreciate your feedback on any errors or omissions, for suggestions for improvements for the 2023 edition by EMAIL.
 

LOSHRS Race #4 - “100-Miler” – Saturday, August 20th 

PCYC Berthing Assistance
For those who require Berthing Assistance either before or after the races please use the below link to make the request to Port Credit Yacht Club (PCYC).  
http://www.pcyc.net/submaster.cfm?apage=ERS/event_registration.cfm&EventID=1830


LOSHRS Race #5 and #6 – Saturday, September 17th & Sunday, September 18th

Winner of the $5000 sail prize will be announced!

The Dalhousie Yacht Club Race weekend comprises two days of racing: Saturday from
PCYC to DYC and then Sunday, the return race, from DYC to PCYC. We are excited to
be drawing the winner of the $5000 sail credit sponsored by Access Abilities and North
Sails after dinner at DYC.

To qualify, a boat must have completed a number of races according to the table here: www.loor.ca/loshrssaildraw

Remember, the skipper or representative must be present* to receive the $5000 sail credit.

Finally, if the yacht drawn has only completed one race less than needed to qualify, alternates will be drawn in case that yacht is DNF in the last race.

Slips at DYC

Rafting and slips will be available at the wall and the club. When we know the number of boat and boat info, we will be able to provide more information.
Alternatively, you are welcome to book a slip at the Port Dalhousie Marina - https://www.portdalhousiemarina.com/slip-reservation. Please note booking a slip at the marina is the responsibility of the racer.  
 
We are planning to have an action packed weekend, as it will be our last of the season.

Saturday Night 5pm - Racers Social – racers meet up at the Clubhouse for a social event. Bar will be open.  
 
Muskoka Brewery will be providing beer just outside the patio. Limit 2 beers per racer.

Saturday Night 7pm Dinner
 
You can register for dinner by emailing reservations@dalhousieyachtclub.com. Deadline for dinner reservations will be Sunday September 11 at midnight. Invoices will be sent to all individuals who reserve & must be paid in advance.
 
Caesar salad
BBQ Grilled Chicken
BBQ Ribs
Corn on the Cob
Baked Potato
Chocolate Truffle Cake
 
All dinners will be individually plated. Cost: $32 + HST + 18% Gratuity
 
Saturday Night 10pm+
Racers wrap up. Racers are encouraged to bring their guitars and any other instruments and join in for a sing-a-long session.

Sunday Morning 8:15am Dockside
Coffee and light breakfast will be served.
Safety
 
Offshore Personal Survival Courses
 
LOOR to Phase-in Sail Canada’s Prescription to Offshore Special Regulations (OSR) For Category 3 Requiring Crew Training in Offshore Personal Survival 

LOOR is phasing in the following prescription from Sail Canada:

6.01.2   Sail Canada prescribes that, starting January 1, 2023, at least 30% but not fewer than two crewmembers, including the Person in Charge, shall have undertaken a one-day Sail Canada accredited (or equivalent) coastal personal survival course within the five years before the start of the race.

6.01.3   When there are only two crewmembers, at least one shall have undertaken training within the five years before the start of the race in OSR 6.02 Training Topics

Sail Canada prescribes that undertaking a one-day Sail Canada accredited (or equivalent) coastal personal survival training course will meet the requirements of OSR 6.01.3 above

The next Coastal Personal Survival course is Wednesday, September 14, 2022, at the Ashbridge’s Bay Yacht Club. 

To register:

Go to Ontario Sailing Course Registration Page CLICK HERE

In the box “Please select the category,” select “All Other Registrations”

Scroll down to find any Survival Courses currently being offered and select the one desired

While LOOR is phasing in the requirement, LOOR highly recommends sailors meet or exceed both the LOOR requirement of the year, and that of the Sail Canada Prescription, sooner than later to increase your ability to handle situations on the water. Don’t put off until it becomes a requirement to participate. 

This personal survival training is applicable to all types of sailing not just offshore racing, or when included as a requirement in the OSR applicable for an event. If you are cruising, you may need to be more self sufficient that in an organized race in the same waters. A significant portion of students of each course are only cruising without intent to race. The feedback from these sailors and the racers have been positive about the value of the course material for their sailing. 

In this year’s LO300, nearly 10% of the crew have met the prescription, where the count of crew includes the Person-in-Charge (PiC), the skipper.

Every year there are individuals looking to crew on boats in LOOR events and add their availability to the particular race’s crew bank. One way for these individuals to increase their value as crew is to have taken the required course in the past five years.

As there are two courses, you need to understand which one meets your needs to comply with the Sail Canada Prescription. 

Course: COASTAL PERSONAL SURVIVAL COURSE
Duration: 1 Day
Type: Theory & Practical
Meets Sail Canada Prescription for: CAT 3 

Course: OFFSHORE PERSONAL SURVIVAL COURSE
Duration: 2 Day
Type: Theory & Practical including in-water (pool) life raft training 
Meets Sail canada Prescription for: CAT 0, 1, 2, & 3

If you plan to participate in offshore races in the next five years that are OSR Category 0, 1, or 2, most likely a percentage of the crew will require the two-day course and one-day course will not meet the requirements. If you have taken the one-day course, you will need to take the two-day course to be included in the applicable crew percentage. If you have taken the two-day course, you meet the Category 3 requirements for LOOR. 

The LOOR Plan for Full Implementation of the OSR CAT 3 requirements including incentives:

YEAR
INCENTIVE
REQUIREMENT
2023
Draw for $200 gift certificate for each Cat 3 event from boats that meet 50% of mandated number of crew rounded up to nearest whole number of crew.

LOOR amends to remove Sail Prescription for this year.


2024
Draw for $200 gift certificate for each Cat 3 event from boats that meet 100% of mandated number of crew rounded up to nearest whole number of crew.

LOOR amends Sail Canada prescription so that boats need to meet 50% of mandated number of crew rounded up to nearest whole number of crew

2025 & beyond
None
Full compliance of Sail Canada’s Prescription on training 

While LOOR is not immediately requiring full compliance with the Sail Canada Prescription, LOOR encourages everyone to take the course as soon as possible as:

Better prepares you for the situations that arise while sailing, whether racing or cruising. Lake Ontario can be an angry body of water. Just ask some of these year’s LO300 participants, who were near the eastern south shore at the wrong time, in what seemed to be a light wind race.

Other Category 3 events may require full compliance in 2023.

The two-day course may be required for Category 0, 1, or 2 races you wish to enter, and this two-day course meets the Category 3 mandate.

If you wait to the last minute, spaces in courses may not be available putting your participation in the LO300 in jeopardy. 

If you have questions, please contact us at racecommittee@loor.ca. 

Other information sources:


 


 
Crew Bank: Need Crew or Interested in Crewing?

If you are a sailor and interested in participating in one of the Lake Ontario Offshore Races, or a skipper who needs crew, use the Crew/Boats Boards on the Yacht Scoring Registration and Official Document page.
 
Go to the Crew Bank page on the LOOR site.

Registering sooner is better so you can get together and see or exhibit strengths or determine any gaps in experience. LOOR strongly recommends getting to know your new crew or skipper before going offshore or overnight races.

Stay Connected with Offshore Racing!
Facebook: @LOOR300
Twitter: @LO300
Instagram: @LOOR300

Join the conversation. We want to hear from you! Hashtags you can use include:
General: #LOOR 
LO300 Specific: #LO300 or #LO300Challenge 
LOSHRS Specific: #LOSHRS

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