Conditions significantly improved after challenging start to LO300

by Lake Ontario 300 Committee on 19 Jul 2010 Lake Ontario 300 Race update.

After a great start followed by a very challenging six to eight hours of squalls and very unstable weather, a large percentage of the fleet is now past Cobourg heading towards Prince Edward County. This has been a fast and extremely tough race, with at 22:00 hrs. over 33 boats officially retired, and another seven unconfirmed.

Current reports however indicate that the weather has eased, and boats in the Cobourg area are seeing about 10 knots of wind on flattening seas. Some of the boats are now actually started to get concerned that they will run out of wind as night progresses.

Although there has been a lot of sail and rigging damage and one boat has capsized, communications received by the Race Committee indicate there have been no major injuries, and all boats and sailors are accounted for.

We must express our appreciation for the professionalism and timely response that the Canadian Coast Guard has shown in pulling 4 sailors out of the water, retrieving them from their capsized trimaran.

This, like most LO300 races, causes sailors to dig deep, and to really challenge themselves. Weather forecasts for Lake Ontario are showing improving weather, although it is expecetd to get fairly cool in the early hours of the morning.

We believe that the majority of the withdrawals are now behind us, and trust the fleet will be able to settle into a safe and fast routine as they close in on Scoth Bonnet Island and Main Duck.

We will provide additional information as it becomes available.