NOTICE OF RACE AND SAILING INSTRUCTIONS

15th Annual LOPEZ CUP CLASSIC YACHT RACE 

Sponsored by the Lopez Island Yacht Club and the Lopez Islander Resort 

Saturday, August 29st, 2026 

UPDATE:
There is a special rate moorage at The Islander (normally $95-$115) for Saturday
night $25. In addition, a special racers rate of $25 is available Friday night. To
book either night you must either call or email The Islander at
desk@lopezfun.com or (360)468-2233 and share that you are part of the LIYC
event (and guest of LIYC).
Rules:
The race will be governed by these sailing instructions and the International
Navigation Rules of the Road applicable to the San Juan Islands.
Divisions:
All sailboats will be divided into three classes:

  1. Racing Division — Racing boats and race/cruisers sailing with flying sails.
  2. Cruising Division — Larger boats, based on registrations received, racing with
    non-flying sails (no spinnakers).
  3. Small Boat Division — Smaller boats, based on registrations received, racing
    with non-flying sails (no spinnakers).

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In addition there will be an award for “The People’s Choice.” This award goes to
the boat and crew showing the most spunk, style and spirit on the water.
NOTE: An active PHRF rating is NOT required. If you have not raced your boat in
this race before and have not been assigned a PHRF rating, please email
lopez.sailing@gmail.com so we may calculate your start time.
Communication and Check-in:
The race committee boat will monitor channel 72 VHF prior to and during the
race. All entrants must check in as follows:
(1) If you have registered and been assigned a start time based on your handicap,
you must check-in at least 15 minutes prior to your start time.
(2) If you haven’t registered you must check-in by 10:10; the first boat starts at
10:30. You will be assigned a start time at this time if you haven’t previously
registered.
Check-in with boat name, make of boat, and sail number, either via radio on
channel 72 or by sailing past the committee boat and hailing. Any changes to
these Sailing Instructions will be announced on VHF channel 72 and repeated at
11:45.
Time Check: At 10:25 PM Race Committee will announce on Channel 72 that a
time check will be at 12 PM. At precisely 12 PM a horn will be sounded by the
committee boat to co-ordinate times for all boats. Each entrant should start their
stop watch at this time. A horn will be blown for the start of each successive start
thereafter. All horn signals for a start will be preceded by an announcement on
Channel 72 vhf.
The Course (Note this changed in 2025):
Change from previous years.
(1) The starting line will be a set orange buoy and the committee boat which will
be set west of the red day marker at the entrance of Fisherman’s Bay Channel.
(2) Boats must then pass to port Reid Rock Shoal buoy (48°32.96’ N 122°59.38’W).
(3) Next, boats must pass to port a racing buoy set 1⁄4 mile to 1⁄2 mile east of

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Halftide Rocks in Griffin Bay (near 48°28.8’ N 122°59.4’W, about 2 miles NW of
Cattle Pass).
(4) Finally, boats return to the starting line at the red day marker at the entrance
to Fisherman’s Bay channel.
(5) The finish is the same as the start line. If the committee boat is not present
please note your time when you pass the finish buoy (same as the start line) with
a virtual line extending north of the buoy. All boats are advised to note shallow
water in the proximity of the start/finish line.

The total distance of the course is approximately 12 – 13 miles miles. The Start:
Similar to previous years, the race will utilize a Pursuit Style start. Each boat has
an allotted start time based on how fast or slow their boat is determined by their
PHRF handicap (or otherwise handicapped by the Race Committee). The highest
PHRF handicapped boats (the slowest ones) will start first and the lowest handicap
boat (the fastest boat) starts last. The start will be between the channel entrance
day marker to Fisherman’s Bay and a committee boat (an orange buoy).
The Finish:
Time-Limit:
The time limit for finishing the course will be 1700 hrs.
Protests: There will be no format for a formal protest or a protest committee. We
are operating on the honor system (just like golf or ultimate frisbee). If you foul
another yacht, take your 360 penalty turn and continue racing.
Skippers Meeting:
There will be no skippers meeting for this event. You must notify the LIYC Sailing
Committee of your intent to race along with the name of your boat, the make, and
phrf rating by emailing lopez.sailing@gmail.com. Any questions you might have
please call either Barry Crist at (206) 225-1068. We will notify each entrant of
their start time by e-mail prior to the race.

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Entry Fee: There will be a $20 entry fee for all boats. Please send your entry fees
by mail (check only please by mail) to Barry Crist at 1564 Bayshore Road, Lopez
Island 98261. You may make payment (check or cash) to the committee boat prior
to the start. The committee boat will have a fish net to snag your checks or
money. Checks should be made out to LIYC.

After race BBQ, accommodations (including free camping), the Party, and
Awards:
We want to encourage all racers to attend the BBQ, the Party, and if possible
spend Saturday night on Lopez Island!

LIYC will host a BBQ on the Islander Dock starting after the race. We will provide
hotdogs, chips, and some first-come-first serve libations. Feel free to BYOB your
own grilling items. And hopefully a musical guest.
There will be an afterparty with music at the Tiki Bar in the Islander.
Accommodations are also available at the Islander (360-468.2233).
There will be trophies and prizes awarded for 1
st and 2
nd place for each class.
Additionally the overall winner will have his name engraved on the Lopez Island
Cup, a perpetual trophy that will reside in the LIYC room at the Lopez Islander
Resort.

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