2020 Lake Ontario Short-Handed Racing Series fields strong fleet for Race 4, the Substitute Race
by LOOR 14 Aug 2020 08:18 PDT
15 August 2020
Keep your eyes offshore between Mississauga and Burlington this weekend if you happen to be near western Lake Ontario.
Taking place since 1975, Race #4 of the 2020 Lake Ontario Short-Handed Racing Series (LOSHRS) is scheduled to start Saturday, August 15 at 10:25. The race will allow single- or double-handed keelboat crews to compete for awards and accolades (and likely to create a few interesting sailing stories along the way).
"The Substitute Race" is a Category 4 Event under the World Sailing Offshore Special Regulations and open to monohull and multihull sailboats that meet the eligibility and entrance requirements for the given race and are 20 feet LOA or greater.
This year's course consists of 35 nautical miles and comprises a racing fleet of 50+ sailboats from over 15 Canadian clubs. To meet Public Health Guidelines the race will be solely in Canadian waters and the total number of crew on all sailboats is limited to 96 persons for each race. All souls on board count as crew (in "sailor speak").
"It is truly great to see so many racers out to compete. Due to current public health conditions this year's race is shorter than our usual "100 Miler" and the fleet only includes Canadian clubs and racers," stated Monica Doedens, Chair of the Lake Ontario Offshore Racing (LOOR).
"With a time limit set to 21:30 Saturday evening to help support our First Responders and course contingencies in place for light winds, LOOR believes things are in-place for an exciting race on Saturday. The winds are currently forecasted to be blowing from the east at 15-20 knots, making for ideal sailing conditions."
Due to the short-handed nature of LOSHRS, crews will either have one or two sailors with all forms of outside communication help allowed. Each sailboat may communicate with any person, competitor, sailboat, or outside source for information available using any means available throughout the race.
Race First Warning is at 10:25 Saturday, August 15 at the LOOR Start Area (43º 33.41' N 079º 32.90 W) just south of Port Credit Yacht Club (PCYC) and the Race itself will be along western Lake Ontario towards the Burlington Weather Tower (43º 16.22' N 079º 45.56' W) with the Finish at the PCYC Finish Mark (43º33.62' N 079º33.22' W) with the time limit set to 21:30.
Lake Ontario Offshore Racing (LOOR) of the Port Credit Yacht Club (PCYC), is dedicated to bringing the offshore sailboat racing experience to Lake Ontario. This is accomplished with its running of the Lake Ontario 300/600 Challenge Races (LO300/LO600), including the Solo Challenge, the Susan Hood Trophy Race (SHTR) and the Lake Ontario Short Handed Racing Series (LOSHRS) offshore sailboat races. This is augmented by LOOR's educational series throughout the Lake Ontario basin and promotion of other activities related to offshore racing. A key focus of LOOR is the safety of offshore racing.
For more information visit www.loor.ca