LOPEZ CUP CLASSIC YACHT RACE

NOTICE OF RACE AND SAILING INSTRUCTIONS 14th Annual LOPEZ CUP CLASSIC YACHT RACE

Sponsored by the Lopez Island Yacht Club and the Lopez Islander Resort Saturday, September 13st, 2025

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 yachts will be divided into two classes based on their PHRF handicap. Class B will be the higher rating yachts. Class A the lower rated yachts. Final determination of classes will be assigned by e-mail notification prior to the race and based on number of entrants and handicaps. Yachts may sail with a spinnaker or without. Handicaps will be adjusted accordingly.

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 prior to 11:45 PM 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 11:55 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 1 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 (New! Note change from previous years): The starting line will be at the red day marker at the entrance of Fisherman’s Bay Channel. Boats must pass to port Reid Rock Shoal buoy (48°32.96’ N 122°59.38’W). Next, boats must pass to port a racing buoy set ¼ mile to ½ mile east of Halftide Rocks in Griffin Bay (near 48°28.8’ N 122°59.4’W, about 2 miles NW of Cattle Pass). Finally, boats return to the starting line at the red day marker at the entrance to Fisherman’s Bay channel. Finish between the red day marker to starboard and orange buoy to port (or the committee boat). The total distance of the course is 12.5 miles. All boats are warned to change course as soon as you finish to avoid the shallow water to the east of the starting line.

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: The finish line will be between the red day marker at the Fisherman’s Bay entrance channel to starboard and an orange float (or a committee boat) to port.

Time-Limit: The time limit for finishing the course will be 1800 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 or Brian Halaburka at (408) 335-8133. We will notify each entrant of their start time by e-mail prior to the race. Also, the race committee will publish the start times of the fleet.

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. BYOB or grilling items. We will provide hotdogs and chips if needed.

There will be an afterparty with (hopefully!) live music at the Tiki Bar in the Islander. Accommodations are available at the Islander (360-468.2233) or if you would like camp, the Race Committee has arranged the use of a one acre mowed grass waterfront yard located on the Fisherman’s Bay peninsula.

Email sailing.lopez@gmail.com if you are interested in the camping option. There will be trophies and prizes awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place for each class. 3 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.