And... they're off?

It looks like everyone is in the mix at the start of the 2016 Oregon offshore International Yacht Race. Light winds may hamper the early going. It looks like there might be a slight postponement of the start.

Breeze is forecasted to gust up to 15 knots from the north later today, with light and variable winds this morning.

Pre-Race Update

The Oregon Offshore fleet is now on or across the Columbia River Bar and approaching the starting area. With nearly 13 miles of what can be some of the roughest seas on the planet to cover BEFORE the race even begins, today's wind & sea conditions for the start are relatively calm and mild... but, as everyone who follows this race knows, ANYTHING can happen! We'll follow the first few hours of the race closely as the fleet pushes North, past Cape Disappointment.

Voodoo Child

Voodoo doll seen on the radar mast of the Mumm 36 Panama Red at the start of the Oregon Offshore International Yacht Race... Looks like they made need to pray to the wind gods today!


Boat Parade!

The Oregon Offshore International Yacht Race fleet is headed towards the start line for an early 7 am start just outside the mouth of the Columbia River.

Conditions at the bar this morning are good, with light winds and temps in the low 50's. The projected start time of 7 am is just an hour away! Best of luck to all of the boats, skippers and crews competing in the 2016 CYC Oregon Offshore International Yacht Race... Looks like light air, upwind at the start.

Time Limit Amendment

We have one amendment to the sailing instructions you received in your skippers' packets.

Paragraph 10 is changed to eliminate the 72 hour limit. Instead, all yachts must finish by 1000 hours on May 15, 2016 in time to get to RVYC for the BBQ.

Have fun and sail safe!

Re-Post: Crossing The Columbia River Bar

c_legs posted this on  4/29/16, we are re-posting for information purposes, great article about crossing the Columbia River Bar:

Columbia Bar Crossing

New to the Oregon Offshore? Never crossed a river bar?

Well, the Columbia River Bar is no joke. Read this:
Bar Hopping - Tips for making a safe bar crossing

Your race committee will soon announce the start time for the race, and will time it so that you can cross the bar (outbound at least) at slack tide. Check back for updates.

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It's going to be hot, hot, hot!

The fleets are set, the start time is set, and the boats are in Astoria... It's time for another Oregon Offshore International Yacht Race!

We'll be following the race tracker from the start of the race, so check back often for position and fleet updates from this year's race. It's going to be a hot one out there! Better load up on sunscreen for this one!

With a 7 am start time for this year's race, it's going to be an early night for skipper's and crew tonight in Astoria! Like us and check out our Oregon Offshore 2016 Facebook page often too! https://www.facebook.com/oregonoffshore2016

Brew Your Coffee Strong; Start is Early!

Official start will be 0700hrs.

Skippers stay tuned for more details on weather, and currents at the Skippers meeting hosted at Rogue Brewery at 1800hrs.  See you then!

We updated the Sailing Instructions!

Make sure you have the most recent version posted here. (These will be in your skipper packets, too.)

We will confirm the start time at the Skippers' Meeting tomorrow, but we are tentatively planning for 1230 hours this Thursday, May 12.

Remember, skipper or a representative must be present at the Skippers' Meeting, which will be held at Rogue Public House, 100 39th Street, Astoria, Oregon, at 1800 hours tomorrow May 11. After the meeting, your whole crew is invited to join us for food, drinks, t-shirts, and raffle tickets for sale.

See you there!

Shuttle to RVYC from Victoria Harbor

Post race BBQ to be held at the Royal Victoria Yacht Club Sunday, May 15th. Come join us for food, fun, and awards. We plan to get those of you catching the 4pm ferry back to the states to the ferry terminal on time.

Shuttle schedule to and from Royal Victoria Yacht Club is:

10:30 & 11:10 pick up at Victoria-Inner Harbour (Ship Point near Harbour Air) 47 people transfer to RVYC 

Bus to hold at RVYC 13:00 & 13:45 RVYC to Ship Point (Road down by the Harbour Air)

Bus will shuttle twice each way from Ship Point to Royal Victoria Yacht Club and return

Game On!

The Fleets are set! But the question is who will take home First Overall?



           PHRF A1
Rage
Wylie 70
-63
Kinetic V
TP-52
-84

           PHRF A2
Anam Cara
J-122
42
Panama Red
Mumm 36
51
Time Bandit
J-120
54
Hana Mari
Wylie 43
66
Night Runner
Perry 42
78
Abstract
J-105
93
Free Bowl of Soup
J-105
93

           PHRF B
Turnagain
Beneteau Oceanis 50
99
Passepartout
Stevens 47
115
Canard
Jeanneau 36i
132
Rain Drop
Cascade 36
138
Thirsty
C&C 35 MK III
132
Blue Martini
Valiant 50
135
Cool Change
C&C 38
144
Cantata
Erickson 38
147
Aja
Ericson 35-II
150
Blade Runner
Santa Cruz 27
156

           PHRF C
Wy’East
Cascade 36
153
Bum’s Rush
Cascade 36
177
Makai
Ericson 32-2
207
Lady Eileen
Baba 30
249

           CRUISING CLASS
Edge of Moonlight
Island Packet 380
Soufflé
Cal 34 Mk1
Yahtzee
Grand Soleil 39


Schedule of Events

Hey, skippers,

Check out the schedule of events for Astoria for Wednesday, May 11th:

1500-1700hrs Boat check in at Astoria Yacht Club  (Each boat must be checked in during this time!)
1715hrs Trolley leaves West Basin to Rogue (Skipper & navigator only)
1800hrs Skippers Meeting at Rogue Brewery
1815hrs Trolley leaves West Basin for crew member rides
1845hrs Crew can join for Pre-Race Party at Rogue
1930hrs Race announcements & raffle
2045hrs Trolley leaves Rogue back to West Basin

Check back for confirmed start time for the race!

More older footage....

This one comes from Rage back in 2011. Previous owner/skipper Steve Rander has literally been in almost every Oregon Offshore race since it started! Those are some big seaboots to fill. I'm sure the new Rage skipper, Dave Raney, is up for the challenge!



A Week to go!

Alright all you anxious skippers and sailors out there, we are working our you-know-whats off to get you all the important details of the race as soon as we can. In the meantime, why not enjoy some footage of past races?!

This gem comes to you from the cockpit of Panama Red, Mumm 36, during the record breaking 2014 race. Things get interesting around 2min 30 secs....



Columbia Bar Crossing

New to the Oregon Offshore? Never crossed a river bar?

Well, the Columbia River Bar is no joke. Read this:
Bar Hopping - Tips for making a safe bar crossing

Your race committee will soon announce the start time for the race, and will time it so that you can cross the bar (outbound at least) at slack tide. Check back for updates.

It's a Family Affair....

We had one in-person entry at the Kick Off party, Monday. Yahtzee, a Grand Soleil 39, skippered by Seattle's Andy Cross, will race in the Cruising Class. This will be Yahtzee's first Oregon Offshore race. For those of you who aren't already following this cruising family, you can follow their family boating adventures via http://threesheetsnw.com/yahtzee/ or https://www.facebook.com/SV-Yahtzee-772387889519352/?fref=ts.

Around Portland for Cinco de Mayo?! We hear our friend's Andy and Jill will be hosting a talk about their sailing adventures at Portland Yacht Club.



And Makai makes 25 participants!!

We are pleased to announce our own Jack Coulter, 2016 CYC Portland Treasurer and skipper of Makai, will be racing his very first Oregon Offshore this year! Makai is an Ericson 32-2 and rates 207. Good luck Jack, we are all rooting for ya!



It's just not Offshore with Cool Change!

Welcome back, Cool Change! Long time participant of Oregon Offshore, Frank Noragon will skipper this C&C 38 along with his intrepid crew. Cool Change's PHRF rating is 144. They always get a big ole wave from me as my Uncle, Steve Thompson, is one of the many able bodied crew aboard.



What are we gonna do with all these Cascade 36s?!

Third Cascade 36, Bums Rush, enters the race. Portland based and skippered by Mark McCuddy, Bums Rush is ready to give the others a run for their money! PHRF rating 177


Entry #21 overall and #2 Cruising Class: Edge Of Moonlight, Island Packet 380

Edge of Moonlight, hailing all the way from Comox, BC, will grace us with her first Oregon Offshore. Owned and skippered by Keith James, this Island Packet 380 boasts a PHRF rating of 216 and will be racing in the Cruising Class. Looking to charter a boat up north?! Click here to learn about what opportunities Edge of Moonlight offers. Welcome!

Vic Maui