July 9, 2018
Lake Ontario Offshore Racing
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LO300/600
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The 2018 LO300/600 Challenge is here!
This Friday, July 13th, the 2018 Lake Ontario 300/600 Challenge presented by DriveHG begins with registration opening at 10:00 AM.  Dinner, the skippers' meeting and party follow Friday evening, then it's off to the start line Saturday morning for the greatest race on the lakes!  

While most boats racing in the LO300 Challenge will be back Monday or Tuesday there are a number of hardy souls who have elected to take the LO600 Challenge, doubling their fun.  They will still be racing until later in the week but should be back well before the North Flag Presentation and LOOR Post-Race Party happening this year at Lakeshore Yacht Club on Friday, July 20.

Details below cover all of this and much, much more.  And be sure you review the Sailing Instructions before heading out to the start line.

We'll see you on the water!

Your LOOR Organizing Committee.

Lake Ontario 300/600 Challenge presented by DriveHG starts Friday, July 13, with check-in and the skipper's' meeting:
Important information for racers:
 
Mandatory Check-In:  Check-in is at PCYC between 1000 and 1745 ahead of the Skippers' meeting.

Mandatory Skippers' Meeting:  Begins at 1900 Friday, July 13, 2018.



Pre-race Party:  After the skippers' meeting Boom 97.3 DJ Jeff Chalmers will be providing music for the opening party at PCYC.  Dinner, both a BBQ or regular menu, will be available before the 1900 skippers' meeting.

Splits and Starting Sequences:  Posted by 1000 July 13th on the Official Notice Board. Preliminary versions may be posted before, at the Registration and Race Document Web Site.

Sailing Instructions:  On the Registration and Race Document Web Site

Team Challenge:  Check out who's competing from your club.  If there are at least three boats registered contact the registrar or info@loor.ca about the Team Challenge, sponsored by Sperry Shoes and Pat Sturgeon Yachts. You'll have a chance to win the Team Challenge honours and a donation to your Club's junior sailing program.

YB Tracking:  YB tracking devices will once again be mounted on each boat participating in the LO300 and LO600 Challenge in 2018. As returning racers know, the YB tracker technology provides both racers out on the course and their support crew on shore, with timely data for each boat related to the location, speed, position and much more.

If you have already submitted your boat's picture, thank you! If not, please submit one photo of your boat with or without crew to be posted on the YB site. Send your best photo to info@loor.ca .

Crew Bank:  Check out the list of highly qualified crew looking for an opportunity to race the LO300. See Crew/Boat Board: Crew Bank

Berthing at PCYC:  If you would like to have your boat at PCYC Friday night before the race please contact PCYC through the link below ASAP, but definitely before noon on Wednesday July 11, 2018.
 
https://pcyc.net/submaster.cfm?apage=ERS/event_registration.cfm&EventID=97  

Post-Race Chili: Rain or shine, dark of night or bright of day...whenever you finish, make sure you enjoy the post-race Chili compliments of Skipper's Plan, one of our many very important sponsors who ensure that this event happens and all racers have an memorable experience. 


Information for supporters and spectators:

If you're not a participant but want to see some of the excitement first hand, join the fans who will be camped out on the head lands next to PCYC and up on the balcony of the club house. Watch the parade of over 100 boats heading out on Saturday morning for the start. Then, check out the progress of all boats during the race through the YB Tracking Viewer
.  (Please note that the tracker is not yet active, but this is where you can follow the racing live online beginning with the warning gun).

Post Race Party and North  Flag Presentation for both the LO300/600 and Susan Hood Trophy Races:  


On Friday, July 20, the North Flag Presentation and post-race party will happen at Lakeshore Yacht Club.  At 6:00 a dinner will be available for those who wish to buy tickets in advance.  You can get dinner tickets here.  Tickets are not required for the North Flag Presentation.  That's come as you are.

At 7:30 the North Flag Presentation will be held for both the 2018 LO300/600 and SHTR.  Sam and the Sultans of Singh will be providing music from 8:00 until 10:30.  Beer, wine and highballs will be available, and there will also be beer tasting provided by Great Lakes Brewery.    Lakeshore Yacht Club is located at 76 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Dr, Etobicoke, ON. 

if you're planning on coming in by boat and wish to stay overnight please contact the club ahead of time so they can find a spot for you.
 
Sperry Gold Cup Trophy

After an absence from being awarded annually, the Sperry Gold Cup will be presented to the overall winner of the Lake Ontario 300 Challenge IRC Division.
 
The Sperry Gold Cup was deeded in a certain way that prevented it from being handed out if there were less than 12 boats in the fleet. With new management at Sperry Canada and a revived sponsorship arrangement, the Sperry Gold Cup will be the Overall IRC Championship trophy going forward. The championship boat will receive a customized championship flag similar to the one being presented to the Sperry Cup Champions (PHRF).
 
The Lake Ontario Offshore Racing committee value the competitive nature of IRC yachts and are hoping to see registration of IRC boats increase in the coming years.

North Sails Offers Post-Race Sail Repair Service :
Logo North Sails There is nothing worse than finishing a race and then having to deal with sail problems. After racing 300 nm the last thing you want to do is to have to drive your sails to the loft for some TLC.
 
North Sails Toronto has the solution. Once you're finished racing simply drop off your sails at the North Sails tent at PCYC. North will take them back to the loft and then a representative will contact you to discuss and organize any repairs you need.
 
For more information or to pre-arrange sail pick up post racing, please email  louisa.sonosky@northsails.com or call (647) 467.7231.
 
Sperry logo
WIN a Pair of Sperry's

A great testament to the comfort Sperry's are known for, everyone has an old pair of Sperry's that have been worn through many storms and put away wet more than once.   This year at the Skippers Meeting for the Lake Ontario 300 Challenge we will have a competition to determine the most tattered, torn and worn Sperry Topsiders.
 
Just wear your Sperry's to the Skippers Meeting on Friday July 13th and come up to the front when the contest is announced.

Esprit De Corps IV Returning to 2018 LO300 Challenge to Defend 2017 PHRF Line-Honours:
You can read all about Volvo Ocean Racer 60 Esprit De Corps IV here.
 
Mount Gay logo MOUNT GAY RUM  
Official Rum Sponsor for Lake Ontario 300 Challenge :
Mount Gay Rum has returned as a sponsor for the 2018 Lake Ontario 300 Challenge. As well as awarding the coveted red Mt. Gay hats to division winning skippers Mount Gay will be providing product and prizes during the LO300 Challenge and at the Post Race Party on Friday, July 20th, 2018 .
 
Volunteers Needed for the Onshore LO300 Challenge Finish Line:
We are looking for volunteers to help with the finish line - all training provided. Please contact Graham at racecommittee@loor.ca for details.
 
Need last moment gear?
Our sponsors Fogh Boat Supplies and The Rigging Shoppe carry everything from lines and electronics to foulies, life jackets and safety gear.  If you need it, they'll have it.

Registration
as of July 9

Race:
Entrants
Lake Ontario 300/600 Challenge
92 (9 of which are registered
 for the LO600)
 

Facebook: @LOOR300
Twitter: @LO300
 
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General:
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LO300 Specific: 
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#LO300Challenge 
 
LOSHRS Specific: 
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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.