(Oakville, Ontario, Canada)- The 23rd running of the Lake Ontario 300
Challenge promises to be an exciting 300 mile race with plenty of good
winds forecast that should shift around the clock, challenging teams to
make the most of the fast moving frontal systems that will traverse the
west to east axis of the racing. The teams will see a lot of reaching,
running and beating and should play to the all-around strengths of the
various J/Teams competing in the event on either the long "Main Duck"
300nm course or the shorter "Scotch Bonnet" course.'We have some very tight divisions in the competitive, sport boat divisions, which always makes a race like this very tense,' stated Darren Gornall, chairman of this year’s race and past Sperry Cup Winner. Currently, there are over 135 sailboats coming from as far away as Chester, Nova Scotia and Erie, Pennsylvania, as well as from all points within Lake Ontario including Kingston, Cobourg, Rochester, and Youngstown. There are over 25 yacht clubs represented in this race with yachts ranging from 27’ to 44’ in length. They are competing in a variety of divisions that include, fully crewed, double handed, single handed, and a multihull division.
17
boats have registered in the Double Handed Division, which in the early
days of this competition was the only division possible. Sailing PHRF
Double-Handed is a J/27 sailed by Andre Beese from Oakville Yacht
Squadron.Approximately 65 yachts will compete fully crewed with flying sails on the Main Duck Course with three IRC divisions totaling 24 yachts and five PRHF Divisions totaling 41 yachts.
PHRF FC1 Class has the new J/111 LAKE EFFECT sailed by Bob Hesse from Youngstown YC and the J/35 SHORTHANDED sailed by Mike Pietz from Brampton YC. PHRF FC2 Class has two J/105s sailing, including Geoff Clarkes' CASUAL ELEGANCE from Boulvard Sailing Club and Bjug Borgundvaag's VOODOO MAGIC from Mimico Cruising Club in Toronto.
IRC FC1 Class has the J/145 SPITFIRE sailed by Jon Bamberger from National YC sailing. IRC FC2 class has three J/109s racing, including Sheila Smith's PHOENIX from Royal Canadian YC, past winner Bob Eckersley's BLUE STREAK from QCYC and Murray Gainer's LIVELY from ABYC.
For the first time this year, the Lake Ontario 300 will be presenting a trophy to the overall PHRF as well as IRC handicap winner. This may be why we have seen an increase in the number of IRC rated yachts that are competing this year. The creation of two overall winners this year, with the Sperry Cup PRHF and The Gold Cup IRC, has provided a solution to have more teams participating. For more Lake Ontario 300 sailing information Lake Ontario 300 Yellowbrick tracking
