The Lake Ontario 300 – Always a ‘Challenge’
Aug 22, 2019
Whether it’s stable flies, thunderstorms, zero winds or over 20 knot blows, the Lake Ontario 300 Challenge is always just that – a challenge.
The first starting gun for the 30th annual LO300 Challenge sounded mid-morning on Saturday, July 13th and the competitors charged over the line in 12-15 knots of wind from the SW. Following a short upwind leg to round the DriveHG.ca mark, all 84 racers set sails for a broad reach and enjoyed the ride east for the next 10-12 hours.
Beginning just offshore of Port Credit Yacht Club (host of the LO300), the challenge consists of two separate races. The longer route, the ‘Main Duck course’, is 300 nautical miles from PCYC around the Ford Shoal Buoy, which is just west of Oswego, N.Y., north to the Main Duck and Yorkshire Islands, then back west to the Niagara Bar Light #2, near the Niagara River. The finish is back at PCYC. The shorter course, referred to as the ‘Scotch Bonnet course’, is about 190 nautical miles and is for non-flying sails racers. After rounding the DriveHG.ca mark, they also head east setting a course for Scotch Bonnet island, close to Sandbanks Provincial Park. Once safely around this abandoned lighthouse, they point their bow towards the Niagara Bar Light #2 and finish at PCYC.
Monica Doedens, the Chair of the Lake Ontario Offshore Racing Committee cutting the cake celebrating the 30th running of the LO300 race.
With the fast start on Saturday but diminishing winds into Monday, finishing times for the 2019 Challenge ranged between 46 hours for the quicker yachts to just over three days for some others. Flags for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishes were presented on Friday July 19th at Lake Shore Yacht Club along with a celebratory cake for the 30th running of the LO300 and delicious BBQ for all competitors.
Along with LO300 Challenge, Lake Ontario Offshore Racing are responsible for the Susan Hood Trophy race, which is held in early June, and the LOSHRS events. The Lake Ontario Short handed Racing Series consists of six races during the summer open to solo and double-handed crews.
At the banquet celebration in November, trophies for the LO300 and Susan Hood will be awarded, and all participants recognized. The LOSHRS banquet will be held in early 2020.
