Attention Race to the Coast Competitors!

We have been carefully watching the weather and forecasts.  Unfortunately, we are stuck in a pattern of sub-5-knot morning breezes.  Because of this, we have decided to delay the start of the race and to move the start down the course about 11 miles, to the west entrance to the Rigolets.

By making this change, we hope that we can avoid the worst of the morning doldrums without delaying the expected finish time too much.  It will be an experiment!

The new course distance will be 39.0 nm and the pursuit starting sequence will begin at 1200.  The starting area will be just outside of the west entrance to the Rigolets, near the SE end of the North Shore Channel.

The distance from SYC to the starting area is about 23 nm.

The ALTERNATE SAILING INSTRUCTIONS – "WEST RIGOLETS START" has been posted on the event web site.  There is also a new APPENDIX B 39/1200 — 39-MILE PURSUIT STARTING TIMES which specifies the new starting times.  They are linked here.

Thanks for your patience while we considered this decision.

Fair Winds,
Kett Cummins, Regatta Chair

Greetings Race to the Coast Competitors!

The Sailing Instructions have been posted on the Regatta Network event site.

In the only notable change from last year, boats that are running late to their start may now legally motor after their Prep Signal time has passed to get out to the starting line.  In the past, the applicable rules were not consistently enforced in this regard and this is a fairer arrangement.

There are currently 22 entries, which is almost exactly the average number in recent years.  Hopefully we'll get a few more this week, so please tell your friends!

As usual, we will hold an optional Skippers Meeting on Friday evening at 1900 in the SYC bar.

At this time, there are no known issues with the race course.  If any returning Mexico racers have updates on the marks and buoys in the Rigolets and Northshore Channel, please let us know!

Finally, it's time to brush-off your SPOT device or Kattack cell phone app and register it in accordance with the Race Tracking Specification.  Several boats have already registered and are listed here.  Please make our job easier by registering your tracking device earlier rather than later.

Thanks for entering the 2018 Race to the Coast!

Fair Winds,
Kett Cummins, Regatta Chair