LOOR Racing: LOSHRS Races 2 and 3 Recap
July 10, 2025
Over 30 yachts lined up on June 21 to participate in LOSHRS Race 2 from PCYC to Bluffers Park (re-routed from Youngstown NY), including a fine turnout of solo sailors.
Conditions were interesting to say the least. Heavy fog and mist (see the photo above of the PCYC Clubhouse from K Dock) greeted the racers and the Race Committee Saturday morning and the start sequence was postponed until the RC could see the pin at the other end of the line. Despite the fog, which never disappeared entirely, there was good breeze to get the boats off the line and heading on a reach down to the Fogh mark. Rounding Fogh to head to Bluffers also began as a reach.
Things got weird around the Leslie Street Spit and Ashbridges Bay with major shifts, lulls and very narrow wind lanes. Many of us found ourselves turned around and going the wrong way on multiple occasions. Or watching in dismay as yachts 100 metres to either side swanned by!
With the persisting fog, the RC relayed the coordinates of the RC vessel so yachts would be able to find the finish line. RO Graham Dougall relayed later that the racers were not the only ones doing donuts out there. At one point, the RC vessel did a complete 360 on her anchor! Challenging conditions for all!
After finishing, racers were warmly welcomed at Highland Yacht Club where we enjoyed live music, the friendly bar service, the varied and tasty offerings of the Food Truck brought in for the occasion, not to mention a spectacular fireworks display put on by the good neighbours at Cathedral Bluffs Yacht Club! A most enjoyable evening for which we thank the good folks at Highland Yacht Club and, of course, our LOSHRS organizers!
Race 3 on Sunday brought on summer in earnest. We had an on time start in sunshine and headed upwind along the north shore at maximum hull speed, almost laying the finish line except for the pesky Spit and Toronto Islands in the way! Suddenly, the lead boats found themselves entering a cold and clammy rolling fog bank which resulted in an immediate 90 degree shift to the left. After that, it was breeze on – breeze off and lots of shifts and tacks to get to the finish at PCYC. There were big gains (and losses) to be made. Once out of the fog bank, it was glorious sunshine and some seriously hot gusts from onshore to give us a hint of what the next few days would bring!
While we all miss our friends in Youngstown it was, all in all, a wonderful weekend! Our thanks to the LOSHSRS committee, the Race Committee, ably run as always by Graham Dougall, and our hosts at Highland Yacht Club!
Full Results here
Lake Ontario 300/600 Pre- and Post-Race Events:
Ahead of the race PCYC welcomes all participants and club members to a BBQ on Friday July 11/25
