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PARTICIPATION GUIDE

Step-By-Step Guide For Newcomers
  • Are you eligible to race?
    1. Review the Notice of Race for each event for eligibility. The NOR’s are posted on the individual event’s registration page at Yacht Scoring. 2. Ensure you are a member of a yacht club associated with a national authority (Sail Canada, formerly the Canadian Yachting Association, or US Sailing) a. Contact us if you are not sure 3. Ensure you have a valid handicap rating for your yacht (IRC, PHRF, GLMRA, etc.). a.Obtaining a certificate can take time, do not leave it until the last minute 4. Ensure your yacht has appropriate sail numbers. 5. Review our Introduction to Stability Screening page 6. Check out our “Around the Cans to Around the Lake” presentation from the 2013 Toronto International Boat Show.
  • Select which Course, Fleet and Division are suitable for you and your yacht, in the case of the Lake Ontario 300 Challenge:"
    1. Scotch Bonnet Island Course a) Open to White Sail yachts (no spinnaker) b) Open to Spinnaker yachts with a PHRF rating of 183 or morec) c) Double-handed or Fully Crewed 2. Main Duck Island Course a) Open to Multi hull yachts b) Open to Monohulls Spinnaker with a maximum PHRF rating of 180 c) Double-handed or Fully Crewed d) Solo racers under GLSS rules (contact us for more details) e) 2016 see teh return of the LO 600, a 600 mile race that consists of a completed and scored LO300, followed by a second time around the course. Check the NOR for eligibility
  • Review the safety requirements for each event:
    The Lake Ontario Offshore Special Regulations are based on the World Sailing Offshore Special Regulations (OSR) which govern offshore racing for monohulls and multihulls, structural features, yacht equipment, personal equipment and training. The LOOR specific documents are posted on each event’s Registration and Official Document page at YachtScoring under “Other Event Documents”. a) In simple terms, the LOSHRS daytime races are classified as Offshore Special Regulations (OSR) Category 4 events; all other races that include an overnight passage are classified as OSR Category 3 events. b) Ensure your yacht and crew can comply with the safety requirements of the race c) Ensure the person-in-charge completes the self-inspection included in the Lake Ontario Offshore Special Regulations before the race and the document is submitted to the Race Committee at race check-in prior to the start. d) Perform your Crew Overboard Recovery drill and sign the certificate before the race; you will need to present the certificate at race check-in
  • Register online at Yacht Scoring
    a) The earlier the better, it provides the race organizers with the information for adequate b) planning ahead of time c) Registration and payment deadline are provided in the NOR for each event d) Ensure that all required information is provided before check-in
  • Select your partners for the Team Challenge
    a) Encourage fellow racers from your home club to be on your winning team b) Prizes awarded for your home club Junior Sail program
  • Get all the details about the race
    a) Review the Sailing Instructions, it’s all in there b) Ensure you have the latest version including all Amendments; changes can be issued until the very last minute c) Review Main Duck Island and d) Scotch Bonnet Island history e) Review the FAQ’s f) Check out the trophies! g) Support the sponsors!
  • Plan your navigation
    a) Confirm your GPS waypoints; LOOR uses degrees-decimal minutes annotation, i.e. 43°36.32′N, 79°23.50′W in all documents B) Review the safety resources
  • Find your crew
    Use the Crew and Boat Board on the Yacht Scoring registration pages to find a skipper looking for crew or crew looking for a ride
  • Share your photos & videos on social media
    Facebook: @LOOR300 Twitter: @LO300 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-fsUocxlVM9m0By2vWjISw Hashtags you can use include: General: #LOOR LO300 Specific: #LO300 #LO300Challenge LOSHRS Specific: #LOSHRS
  • Plan your provisions
    1. Lots of water 2. Plan for food that is easy to prepare in inclement weather
  • PCYC arrival planning
    1. Review Customs requirements: for USA yachts traveling to PCYC for Canadian yachts racing in US waters (i.e. bring your passport) 2. Complete the PCYC docking form for visiting yachts 3.Given the number of competing yachts, plan to be rafted against other boats at the PCYC docks 4. No access to pump out at PCYC; pump out at your home club before leaving 5. Fuel available at the Lakeshore Marina next door from PCYC
  • Skippers Meeting
    1. Attendance is mandatory, SI's will be discussed 2. Weather briefing 3. Draws, prizes, etc... 4. Live music
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