Offshore Racing Returns to California

The California Offshore Race Week will return for its second year to provide a week-long schedule of races from Northern California to Southern California with stops in Monterey and Santa Barbara.

From May 27 to June 3, the 2017 California Offshore Race Week will bring together the established Spinnaker Cup and Coastal Cup along with the third running of the SoCal 300.

California Offshore Race Week is organized through the combined efforts of Encinal Yacht Club, San Francisco Yacht Club, Monterey Peninsula Yacht Club, Santa Barbara Yacht Club, and San Diego Yacht Club.

Competitors will have the option of completing the entire week or they can choose to participate in singular races. There are currently seven boats registered for all three legs of the race week, with additional boats doing individual segments.

Back to compete in the full California Offshore Race Week is Simon Phillips on his Farr 40, Astra. Phillips, from Santa Cruz Yacht Club, competed in last year’s inaugural race week and was a previous Coastal Cup racer in 2015.

“To me, it’s the perfect series of races to kick off summer. Condensed into a tight window to accommodate our busy schedules – we get the chance to experience all of the challenges of too much and too little wind while racing along the picturesque California coast. We are all looking forward to the exhilarating downwind conditions and finishing in the San Diego sun. We’re packing the sunscreen!”

There are a number of new boats planning to participate in this event, including Mark Surber on his J/125 Derivative from Coronado Yacht Club. Surber has raced in many offshore races in Southern California, but this will be his first time racing the SoCal 300.

“Southern California has some of the best sailing, with the greatest conditions being offshore on a South longitude from Point Conception. The SoCal 300 is one of few events that takes us there. We can’t wait for the fantastic Santa Barbara hospitality and challenging offshore racing!”

The week-long schedule provides participants with time along the coast to relax and meet up with friends and family. Also for the second year, the SoCal 300 will partner with SailOnline, offering online participants the chance to navigate a virtualized course with start times and waypoints that imitate the real race.

Details: www.offshoreraceweek.com

May 27-29 – Spinnaker Cup – San Francisco to Monterey (mileage TBD)
May 29-30 – Coastal Cup – Monterey to Santa Barbara (204 nm)
May 31 – Santa Barbara in Port Race
June 1-3 – SOCAL 300 – Santa Barbara to San Diego (245 nm)

Source: Emily Willhoft, SDYC