LOOR Header
Lake Ontario Offshore Racing - Newsletter
April 17, 2023
Chair's Message:

Preparing for Racing!
 
It's April and just around the corner - beginning on Friday June 2nd - is the 2023 Susan Hood Trophy Race (SHTR). Running since 1955 and fondly referred to as the 'Coolest Race on the Lake', the Susan Hood is a 75 nautical mile overnight race that kicks off the racing season. The event is open to fully crewed, short-handed and solo sailors and is followed on Sunday, June 4th with the Lake Ontario Short Handed Racing Series (LOSHRS) Race #1 – a 16 nautical mile Course Race.
 
Registration for all Lake Ontario Offshore Racing events are open. The Early Bird Deadline for the SHTR and LOSHRS Race #1 is Sunday, April 30, 2023.

To encourage all Racers to register early there are Early bird registration prizes:

$100.00 CAD credit card, one per each of SHTR, LO300/LO600, and LOSHRS Full Season

To be eligible, payment in full must have been received by last day of reduced fees.

Random draw to occur online on Tuesday, June 27, 2023

Use the links on the LOOR website to sign yourself up for one or ALL the races. And please remember, if you are new to offshore racing and have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to us at info@LOOR.ca or contact your club LOOR Ambassador. We'll help get you to the start line.

The LO600 is on again this season so time to think about whether you and your crew are ready for that extra challenge. Even if you don’t race the LO600, all racers of the Susan Hood TR, LO300 and LO600 are welcome to join us at our post race party after the LO300/600. We have already booked the post race party on July 21 to give out flags and party with our crews. Special thanks goes to Chris Bobyk from Mimico Cruising Club for hosting this year!
LOSHRS Celebration Dinner & Flag Pickup will take place on Saturday, April 22nd @ PCYC.
Cost is $45 per person which includes taxes and service charge. Please see menu information below and register before April 09th.

Stay safe and warm,

Monica Doedens & Terry Kuehn
Co-Chairs, Lake Ontario Offshore Racing Organizing Authority
Racing Dates for the 2023 Season:
 
For all those long-long distance racers, the LO600 returns in 2023. The Lake Ontario 600 Challenge occurs every other year and 2023 will mark the FIFTH opportunity for you to circumnavigate the lake twice – giving your fly swatter a really good work out! 

Also check out the Calendar on www.loor.ca


Susan Hood Trophy Race presented by driveHG (SHTR)

Fri. June 2nd into Sat. June 3rd    

A 75 NM overnight race on western Lake Ontario from Port Credit Yacht Club (PCYC) and finishing at PCYC. This race is open to single handed, double handed and fully crewed keelboat and multihull sailboats. A component of Ontario Sailing’s Offshore Championship for PHRF


Lake Ontario 300/600 Challenge Race presented by driveHG (LO300/LO600)

Fri., July 14th with start on Sat. July 15th and onwards

Two Courses:
  • 180 NM
  • 300 NM with the follow-on 600 NM race 

On Lake Ontario from PCYC and finishing at PCYC. This race is open to single handed, double handed and fully crewed keelboat and multihull sailboats. A component of Ontario Sailing’s Offshore Championship for PHRF.


Lake Ontario Short Handed Racing Series presented by driveHG (LOSHRS)

LOSHRS is a series of races for single and double handed keelboat and multihull sailboats on western Lake Ontario.

Race 1 Sunday June 4th, 2023    
A course race between PCYC and Toronto Islands via Clarkson.

Race 2 Sat. June 17th, 2023  
A coastal race from PCYC. 

Race 3 Sun. June 18th, 2023  
A coastal Race from PCYC.

Race 4 Sat. Aug. 19th into Sun. Aug. 20th, 2023 
A 100 statute mile race starting at PCYC and ending at PCYC. This is a qualifier for Great Lakes Singlehanded Society (GLSS)’s series of solo races on the Great Lakes.

Race 5 Sat. Sep. 16th, 2023 
A race from PCYC to DYC.

Race 6 Sun. Sep. 17th, 2023 
A race back to PCYC from DYC.

2023 Offshore Racing Dates! 

Registration is now open! Click on the links above.

The Early Bird registration rates end:
  • Susan Hood Trophy Race and LOSHRS full season is Sunday, April 30th 
  • LO300 is Wednesday, May 31st 

For all dates and details, go to Lake Ontario Offshore Racing


A Reminder: Governmental Laws, Regulations, and Rules Do Apply While Racing.

Not all items that an owner/Person-in-Charge (PiC) needs to adhere to are in the rules. The Racing Rules of Sailing defines a rule to include the Notice of Race, Sailing Instructions, or other documents governing the event that have been made to rank as rules. The determination whether a breach of a rule has occurred is solely determined by the Protest Committee appointed by the event for the duration of the event. If a breach is decided by anyone other than the Protest Committee (ie: Government Authorities), then it should not be included as a rule.

As the laws and regulations change over time, it is the responsibility of the owner/PiC to determine what applies to them and what they need to do to comply. Common beliefs may or may not be valid.

Some items that would fall into this grouping include:

  • Right of Way Rules involving vessels not racing (Canada Shipping Act, etc.)
  • Carriage equipment requirements and crew certification/licensing for the boat and status for which it is being sailed. (Canada Shipping Act, etc.)
  • Environmental statues and regulations
  • Ontario.
  • US and New York State Statues and regulations
  • Immigration and Customs
  • Entering or cruising in US waters, even if never touching land, i.e.,LO300/LO600, Susan Hood Trophy Race, and LOSHRS Race 4 (Long Distance).
  • Entering Canadian waters
  • Leaving and re-entering Canadian waters, especially exemptions to the need to report in.

Racing boats can be stopped by government enforcement agencies for inspection, etc. This has happened in the past. A Request for Redress by the boat for the time lost by the stoppage was not upheld as the situation did not meet the criteria for granting redress.

Marine Insurance Underwriting Practices Changing.

In response to the property and casualty market in Canada, marine insurance underwriters are changing their practices. Having adequate liability insurance is a rule as the requirement is in the Notices of Races for LOOR events. With the changing underwriting practices, owners/PiCs need to confirm that their insurance provides the necessary liability coverage while racing.

Those who use their household insurance package to meet the rule requirement need to verify that their package actually covers their boat. Often there are caps on the size of the boat and motor covered and racing exclusions.

PHRF-LO Point-to-Point

While PHRF-LO is well into its development of their Point-to-Point rating, LOOR has taken the position that it will start using these ratings once they are on the PHRF-LO certificate available to the certificate holder. LOOR is looking forward to being able to use the PHRF-LO Point-to-Point once fully available and would like to thank all the individuals at PHRF-LO involved in this effort.

As an interim step, LOOR is amending its Notices of Race to use the PHRF-LO Endorsed Alternative Formula for Time on Distance (TOD) to Time on Time TOT conversions. This formula forms part of the basis for the Point-to-Point Rating concept.
Virtual Racing Returns for the Third Year Running

Once Again LOOR is teaming up with SailOnline to offer virtual racing coinciding with the on-water events for both the Susan Hood Trophy Race and the Lake Ontario 300 Challenge. If you can't get on the water you can still participate using the same course, the same time and real world weather conditions simulated with SailOnline's courses. You can sign up and control your own virtual Beneteau 36.7 at sailonline.org or through their app.

If you can't join us on-water... join us from the comfort of your armchair!

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.
Race Registration:

Susan Hood Trophy Race presented by driveHG
Lake Ontario 300/600 Challenge presented by driveHG
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

More Info:


Admiral Sponsor
Commodore Sponsor


First Mate Sponsor
Crew
Shoreline Partners
Media