Offshore - Lake Ontario 300

Page 36 Lake Ontario Offshore Racing Guide Lake Ontario Offshore Racing Guide Page 37
racing. Unlike most offshore races, the LO300 offers a shortened course for
The Truth
white sail boats, providing similar challenges to the long course, but with
the benefit that you can still get home within a decent time frame if the
About FLARES
wind becomes fickle
• Understand all the events safety and equipment requirements. It is most
important to ensure your boat meets the minimum safety requirements
posted for the various offshore races since safety is a prime consideration
on any offshore distance race. The Lake Ontario 300 is a modified Category
3 race with the most stringent safety requirements. It is recommended
that you review the safety requirements well in advance in order to determine
what your boat and crew require
• Ensure your crew has the time commitment and mind set to compete and
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complete the race. Unlike most regattas you cannot change up crew half
way through the event. Good crew interaction is extremely important
Check your rigging. Ensure you have the right rigging, sails and tools to be
able to compete. Inspect your boat early in the season and look for weak
areas or items that could break under sustained heavy winds and repair or
ensure you have adequate replacements on board for the race. Typically,
rigging failures accounts for 40% of the boats not finishing the LO300
Training. If your crew has not done an offshore race make sure they go for
a long sail and ensure all crew are familiar with all equipment on the boat,
procedures and safety requirements
• Nutrition is important on any offshore race and it is important to have the
right combination of healthy snacks, fruits and planned meals. Meals should
be a combination of easy to prepare meals for heavy weather and preplanned
meals that can be prepared in normal conditions. It is important to
ensure there is plenty of water and hydrating fluids to last the entire race
• Commercial shipping lanes may have to be crossed and freighters are fast
and unable to make sharp turns or stop quickly. Do not underestimate the
speed at which freighters travel. Ensure that you have a high quality radar
reflector and monitor Channel 16 on your VHF at all times
Participation in the Lake Ontario 300 has increased at a rate of 25% per year
over the last 4 years. Participation in the LOSHRS events has also increased
dramatically over the last 4 years. These trends are evidently being observed in
other offshore racing and have given birth to new long distance races, like the
Whitby 50 miler.
Participation from cruisers represents at least 40% of this new growth, primarily
in white sail, but also spinnaker divisions. Many new participants in offshore
racing are family members, fathers and sons looking for a shared experience.
We urge you to participate in the Lake Ontario 300 (and LOSHRS) for the sheer
fun of it. It is a real challenge, but it is also a fantastic way to enhance your
skills and capabilities on the water.
Lori Mason of “The Store”, has been running safety seminars for many
years, and again this year she is helping out at the LO300. She has a
wealth of experience with all boating related safety issues, but has a
real concern that boaters do not fully understand the rules and regulations
related to flares. She has provided this primer for all LO300 and offshore
racing participants.
The Store, Mason’s Chandlery
is the exclusive dealer
for the complete line of Gill
LO300 regalia. Please drop
by The Store and see Lori.
Telephone: (905) 278-7005
Toll Free: (800) 263-1506
Email: info@thestoremasons.com