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Page 36 <strong>Lake</strong> <strong>Ontario</strong> <strong>Offshore</strong> Racing Guide <strong>Lake</strong> <strong>Ontario</strong> <strong>Offshore</strong> Racing Guide Page 37<br />
racing. Unlike most offshore races, the LO<strong>300</strong> offers a shortened course for<br />
The Truth<br />
white sail boats, providing similar challenges to the long course, but with<br />
the benefit that you can still get home within a decent time frame if the<br />
About FLARES<br />
wind becomes fickle<br />
• Understand all the events safety and equipment requirements. It is most<br />
important to ensure your boat meets the minimum safety requirements<br />
posted for the various offshore races since safety is a prime consideration<br />
on any offshore distance race. The <strong>Lake</strong> <strong>Ontario</strong> <strong>300</strong> is a modified Category<br />
3 race with the most stringent safety requirements. It is recommended<br />
that you review the safety requirements well in advance in order to determine<br />
what your boat and crew require<br />
• Ensure your crew has the time commitment and mind set to compete and<br />
•<br />
•<br />
complete the race. Unlike most regattas you cannot change up crew half<br />
way through the event. Good crew interaction is extremely important<br />
Check your rigging. Ensure you have the right rigging, sails and tools to be<br />
able to compete. Inspect your boat early in the season and look for weak<br />
areas or items that could break under sustained heavy winds and repair or<br />
ensure you have adequate replacements on board for the race. Typically,<br />
rigging failures accounts for 40% of the boats not finishing the LO<strong>300</strong><br />
Training. If your crew has not done an offshore race make sure they go for<br />
a long sail and ensure all crew are familiar with all equipment on the boat,<br />
procedures and safety requirements<br />
• Nutrition is important on any offshore race and it is important to have the<br />
right combination of healthy snacks, fruits and planned meals. Meals should<br />
be a combination of easy to prepare meals for heavy weather and preplanned<br />
meals that can be prepared in normal conditions. It is important to<br />
ensure there is plenty of water and hydrating fluids to last the entire race<br />
• Commercial shipping lanes may have to be crossed and freighters are fast<br />
and unable to make sharp turns or stop quickly. Do not underestimate the<br />
speed at which freighters travel. Ensure that you have a high quality radar<br />
reflector and monitor Channel 16 on your VHF at all times<br />
Participation in the <strong>Lake</strong> <strong>Ontario</strong> <strong>300</strong> has increased at a rate of 25% per year<br />
over the last 4 years. Participation in the LOSHRS events has also increased<br />
dramatically over the last 4 years. These trends are evidently being observed in<br />
other offshore racing and have given birth to new long distance races, like the<br />
Whitby 50 miler.<br />
Participation from cruisers represents at least 40% of this new growth, primarily<br />
in white sail, but also spinnaker divisions. Many new participants in offshore<br />
racing are family members, fathers and sons looking for a shared experience.<br />
We urge you to participate in the <strong>Lake</strong> <strong>Ontario</strong> <strong>300</strong> (and LOSHRS) for the sheer<br />
fun of it. It is a real challenge, but it is also a fantastic way to enhance your<br />
skills and capabilities on the water.<br />
Lori Mason of “The Store”, has been running safety seminars for many<br />
years, and again this year she is helping out at the LO<strong>300</strong>. She has a<br />
wealth of experience with all boating related safety issues, but has a<br />
real concern that boaters do not fully understand the rules and regulations<br />
related to flares. She has provided this primer for all LO<strong>300</strong> and offshore<br />
racing participants.<br />
The Store, Mason’s Chandlery<br />
is the exclusive dealer<br />
for the complete line of Gill<br />
LO<strong>300</strong> regalia. Please drop<br />
by The Store and see Lori.<br />
Telephone: (905) 278-7005<br />
Toll Free: (800) 263-1506<br />
Email: info@thestoremasons.com