Pacific Northwest Offshore 2026 Race - Preview
by Charlotte Gann 1 Dec 14:18 EST
14-17 May 2026
In 2026, host Portland Yacht Club is preparing for year 50 of the Pacific Northwest Offshore Race. It all began in 1976 from Astoria as the 'Oregon Offshore' with a vision of racing an offshore course along the rugged Pacific coastline.
Within a few years, the focus changed to give keelboats and multihulls a 193 nautical mile course of shoaling ocean, sailing by the barren and remote Tatoosh Island then down the Juan de Fuca Strait, through (or around) Race Rocks, to the calm harbour entrance of Victoria, Canada's southernmost Pacific city, host of the Swiftsure race's 126 nautical mile 'long' course. The Oregon Offshore continues to maintain its popularity through five decades as its reputation grows, becoming a qualifying race for the Pacific Cup to Hawaii, the circumnavigation Van Isle 360 race, as well as the 2,308 nautical mile Vic-Maui International Yacht Race. This will be your best PNW opportunity to experience a challenging offshore competition in 2026 - a half century in the making.
The race was renamed 'Pacific Northwest Offshore' in 2020 and the host city moved to Ilwaco, WA from Astoria, OR so deeper draft boats could make harbor plus gain the advantage of being closer to the race's start. The town of Ilwaco turns into an incredible festival in the lead-up days to the race - not quite Burning Man but great fun.
Spring weather on the West Coast can be almost anything but with good foulies with woolies underneath, you'll be prepared. The race begins the morning of May 14 at a virtual start near Buoy 2 (V-AIS2) off the Columbia Bar which, if you've ever seen footage, can have North Pacific conditions as intense as you'll ever encounter. You climb south to north up the coast past Umatilla Reef, leaving Duntze Rock to starboard, punch into the Strait of Juan de Fuca with your chute, peel around the corner at Race Passage, and blast toward Victoria. This year's virtual finish line is near the Brotchie Ledge marker, where you drop sails, slide past massive cruise ships at anchor, then nestle into the docks directly in front of Victoria's Empress Hotel where you're greeted with champagne and HOT face towels - a magic experience after a couple of days of being smacked by salt water.
Portland Yacht Club hosted an event last month to introduce racers from USA and Canada to the upcoming race and celebrations. With this ORC Category 3 World Sailing race, boats will need to be measured.
There's a friendly competition afoot for the most PNWO overall race wins between Time Bandit and Rage; the 'new Rage' (Dave Raney's keeping the name close to his chest) will aim to hold off the venerable (grizzled?) Bob Brunius. Now they may have their own fight going on, but the competition for first overall is wide-open.
As of today, the race is nearly 1/2 way to 50 boats with 5 months before registration closes. That old saying "It's always easier not to do something." - well, if you've ever said "someday I'd like to" then May 2026 is the year to take up the charge. Whether a Cruising or Racing or Multihull, if your boat is over 24' there's a class for you. Be one of 50 boats to make history.
Reach out to the with questions, and keep informed here: pacificnwoffshore.org. An information session online is planned for January 11. Racing class is ORC, Cruising class is PHRF - to qualify for the Overall win, you'll need to be ORC certified. There's a whole team ready to help you get organized and prepare to be among the 50 for the 50th., where memories will be created.