Lake Ontario Offshore Racing

Race Dates for 2024!  Mark your Calendars.

Date: Event

June 1: SHTR

July 13 - 16: LO300/600

June 2: LOSHRS Race 1

Youngstown Weekend:

June 15: LOSHRS Race 2

June 16: LOSHRS Race 3

August 17: LOSHRS Race 4 - The 100-miler

Dalhousie Weekend:

September 14: LOSHRS Race 5

September 15: LOSHRS Race 6

Registration for all events is live.

LOOR Webinar Series for 2024.

LOOR continues with its free webinar series in 2024. These sessions are:

LOOR Webinar 1 2024 - Considerations for registering and preparing for LOOR OSR Category 3 event.

March 19, 2024, 19:00 EDT

This session will help a potential participant prepare for a LOOR OSR Category 3 event, such as the L0300, SHTR, and LOSHRS Long Distance. This includes discussion of the new requirements around specific percentage of the crew having completed a Sail Canada Personal Survival Course or equivalent.

REGISTER HERE.

LOOR Webinar 2 2024 - Emergency Communications, when SH*T happens!

April 16, 2024, 19:00 EDT

Effective communications in a timely manner is crucial in an emergency. Learn about what methods are available to you during a LOOR event.

REGISTER HERE.

All webinars will be recorded and posted on LOOR’s YouTube Channel.

www.youtube.com/@LOORRacing

Checkout LOOR’s YouTube Channel as there are recordings from several years of webinars, many of which address your questions and concerns such as:

Stability Screening Alphabet Soup

I need a PHRF-LO certificate for my sailboat, what do I need to do?

LOOR Cat 3 Safety Training Requirements:

You can race in 2024, even if you are unable to find space in an accepted safety course to reach the necessary crew with training. Just request an exemption for 2024, as outlined CLICK HERE.

Along with other similar distance races in North America, e.g., The Race to Kingston, BC’s Swiftsure, Bayview Mackinac Race, CYC Race to Mackinac, etc., LOOR is instituting safety training requirements for its Offshore Special Regulations (OSR) Category 3 events, the Susan Hood Trophy Race, the LO300/LO600, and LOSHRS Race 4 (AKA Overnight, Long Distance, 100 miler). The requirement is based on the Sail Canada Prescriptions to the World Sailing’s OSR for Category 3. LOOR is phasing in this requirement over a number of years to minimize impact.

CLICK HERE for full details on 2024 requirements, how to request an exemption if unable to enroll in a course, how to request a review for possible equivalencies, and the evolution of LOOR’s requirements over the next several years.

LOSHRS Sail Contest!

Yes, it's true. For 2024 North Sails and Access Abilities have returned with the sail draw for qualifying LOSHRS participants. That's $5,000 towards a new sail. Is there a better prize? Details are here. They support us, let's support them - links are through their logos above.

LO300 Crew Shirts:

LOOR aims to provided a Skipper's shirt for each boat, but perhaps you would like your crew to sport matching togs. They are available and can be found here.

LOOR Returns to Youngstown Yacht Club (YYC) - June 15-16, 2024:

LOOR is returning to YYC for its weekend in June. This is after an absence of some years because of high water and a pandemic of some sort. With the length of time, many may have forgotten the details of crossing the border. The US Government has made major improvements. The following links will help jog our memories and cover any changes.

Note: A US Customs Cruising Decal is required if your boat is 30 feet or longer.

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)

   CBSA Web Site

   CBSA - Reporting requirements for private boat operators

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

   CBP Web Site

   CBP - Pleasure Boats

   CBP - Decal and Transponder Online Procurement Systems

   CBP - Video "BORDER CROSSING"

Remember that there are lead times in obtaining some items such as the cruising decal.

The LOSHRS Mentored Class: What is it?

Do you know of sailors who are intimidated to race because of lack of experience or knowledge? Especially cruising couples. Then the LOSHRS Mentored class is a great way for them to gain experience and learn.

The concept is to allow single and double-handed racers to have an additional person onboard to act as a mentor. Though the mentor can’t take part in activities of sailing while racing, they can provide information or advice. Emergencies are excepted, such as coming to the aid of vessels or individuals in distress.

Key aspects of the LOSHRS Mentor Class:

·     Will have their own dedicated start.

·   Only for LOSHRS Day Races (1, 2, 4, 5, & 6) so only the lower LOOR Offshore Special Regulations (OSR) Category 4 apply.

·     Only for No Flying Sails (NFS), at least for 2024.

·     Single and Double-handed will race together to ensure competition. Unless enough register to split.

Select a mentor to complement where you would like to improve, e.g., the start, the rules, selecting the best course for the race, etc.

CLICK HERE for full details.

Want to learn more about racing in LOSHRS generally, and specifically in the Mentored Class? Join LOOR Webinar at 19:00 EDT, Tuesday, April 23, 2024: Register HERE. 

PLEASE PASS ALONG DETAILS ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY TO START RACING TO ANYONE YOU THINK MIGHT BE INTERESTED!

Contacts:

LOOR Chair Monica Doedens and Terry Kuehn

Contact LOOR

Contact Great Lakes Singlehanded Society liaison