What an amazing start to the offshore racing season on Lake Ontario. This year’s Susan Hood Trophy Race left everyone on the course exhausted from a continuous wind throughout the night and into the morning. With the first boat finishing at 05:18 (Spitfire- Jonathan Bamberger) and the last boat finishing at 12:59, this year’s race will go down as one of the fastest overall SHTR in history. This year’s race only saw 2 boats withdraw from the race, which is close to being a record as well.
From the start there was a mix of spinnakers and close reach sails going across the lake to the Niagara R2 mark with some of the lead boats topping over 14 knots boat speed. At Niagara there was a quick douse of the spinnaker and a close reach all the way to the Burlington Weather Mark where winds held, for the most part, over 13knts. The Burlington Hole seemed to be feared by all racers after rounding Niagara, because it has become a part of this race. The final leg from Burlington to Port Credit Yacht Club was dead into the wind and held steady throughout most of the day making for an unusual finish that didn’t involve drifting around the turning mark. Without any rain and cool but not cold temperatures, this year’s Susan Hood Trophy Race was one to remember. One memory may be the fast moving freighter heading south just inside the Niagara weather mark, sounding it’s horn and causing more than a few boats to detour from course. A second freighter came by a little later heading into the Canal.
Congratulations to this year’s Susan Hood Trophy Winner – Suspect, a Perry 58.8 Yacht, skippered by Bryan Sims from BHYC.
The J. J. Morch Rose Bowl for overall IRC Winner will be awarded to Spitfire, a Farr 45 skippered by Jonathan Bamberger, NYC. (also line honours)
With most boats riding the course at top speed and rail in the water, a special congratulations to all our Solo Division participants. This year’s winner of the Rigging Shoppe Trophy for overall Solo division is Live Wire, a J109 skippered by Kim Pillar from PCYC.
Congratulations to all other division winners who are posted on yachtscoring https://www.yachtscoring.com/event_results_detail.cfm?Race_Number=1&eID=4532
Please post your pictures and comments on our facebook page for all to enjoy.
Our Flag ceremony will be held on July 20th at the the Post Race party for the Lake Ontario 300 to be held at Lakeshore Yacht Club. Don’t miss out on the party!