Lake Ontario 300 Offshore Race - Scotch Bonnet Course

Our GPS Track for the Race

This would be my 2nd long distance offshore race on Lake Ontario. A 190 nm race expected to be over the next 3 days and 2 nights, and again on the Ron Ander boat ALCHEMIST. 

Day 1 - PCYC to Scotch Bonnet Island

 

On a Spinnaker Run Just South of Toronto

Saturday was a clear and sunny day with a good start from PCYC and a long spinnaker run off the North shore of Lake Ontario. Into the evening and the night, it became a challenge to find some wind to keep us moving.

Some of Our Competition to Starboard

A number of boats were seen during the night - all trying to find the right course.

Day 2 - Scotch Bonnet Island to Mid Lake Ontario

In the morning we found some wind that finally took as to the mark at Scotch Bonnet for the rounding Westward. The decision on which tack to take was difficult with neither being an obvious choice to be favourable. The one chosen was felt to provide us with better wind in the middle of the lake but it seemed that we would be returning on the same leg that we had just completed.

After a wind shift which soon died we were now going in the direction we wanted to be going - to the Niagara buoy.

Shipping Traffic

Winds died again through the night and seemed that besides keeping our eyes open for shipping traffic - we were admiring how slow we were going to our destination.

Sunset in the Middle of Lake Ontario

Day 3 - Mid Lake Ontario to PCYC

 

Coming Up to the Niagara Buoy

The morning brought us another beautiful day with the breeze firming up a bit and finally taking us to the mark. After the rounding, the breeze freshened some more and soon enough our boat speed under spinnaker on a close reach (Yes!) was soon 7 Knots.

Using Spinnaker on a Close Reach

It was a quick crossing to PCYC, and with a rousing finish in dousing the spinnaker, making a tack towards the Finish Line we ended up with Line Honours in our Division, but coming in 2nd on PHRF.

See you next year.