Feature

Record setting Oregon Offshore International Yacht Race

Published on May 9th, 2014

Twenty-nine yachts started the thirty-eighth annual Oregon Offshore International Yacht Race on Thursday, May 8, 2014. This 193-mile race began at 8:10 am in confused seas and heavy chop, with winds at the start of the race from the south, gusting to 20 knots. Rain went from drizzle to pelting as the southerly front enveloped the fleet, air temperature was 51 degrees for the start of the race.

The race begins off the coast of Astoria, Oregon, starting off the mouth of the Columbia River, with the fleet heading north along the coast, then turning east into the Strait of Juan de Fuca and finishing in the harbor at Victoria, British Columbia.

Kevin Welch’s 65′ Custom Bob Perry carbon fiber sled Icon crossed the finished line at 23:06:20 on Thursday, giving her an unofficial elapsed time of 14:56:20 – beating the 2000 record by 4:50:21. Also beating the record were the Santa Cruz 70 Neptune’s Car, which crossed at 23:13:20, and the Fox 40 Ocelot which crossed at 23:29:32.

Icon’s boat manager, Ian Sloan, reported to Pressure Drop that the wind gradually built to 25-30 with gusts to 35 later on the course. Swells maxed out in the 12-15′ range and the boat averaged 15 knots all the way up the course. “We were well ahead of our routing,” said Sloan. “With SE winds and confused seas all the way to Cape Flattery, we pushed the boat as hard as we have ever pushed it, sending 6 inches of green water into the cockpit at times. It was the wettest ride any of us have ever had, with rain at the start and rain, heavy at times all the way up. With only 9 people on board, everyone was working all the time, so we never really got cold!”

Division winners
PHRF Overall: Blade Runner, Santa Cruz 27, Ward Naviaux
PHRF A: Time Bandit, J/120, Robert Brunius
PHRF B: Free Bowl of Soup, J/105, Eric Hopper, Doug Schenk, and Matt Davis
PHRF C: California Girl, Cal 40, Timm and Victoria Lessley
PHRF D: Wy’East, Cascade 36, Frank Colistro
Santa Cruz 27: Blade Runner, Ward Naviaux
IRC: Ocelot, Fox 44, Kevin Flanigan
Cruising: Souffle, Cal 34, Phil Lewis

Results – Race website