Well, it's official.  We have registered for the 2020 Pacific Northwest Offshore International Yacht Race (what a mouthful).  The team has been doing very well in the Sailing on Sunday's series where we currently sit in 2nd place.  We'd certainly be in first if it weren't for a couple weeks when the boat was out of the water.

The offshore is a race from Ilwaco, WA USA to Victoria, BC Canada and is the highlight of our racing year.  Over this 200 mile race, we must first cross the Columbia River Bar just to get to the start line.  From there, it's about 130 miles up the coat of Washington in conditions only a sailor could love.  After that it's a right turn into the Strait of Juan De Fuca for a 70 mile run to Victoria where the winds will typically die just before the finish.  The strait can offer just about any conditions, but with a bit of luck it will be a long spinnaker run.

Offshore 2019We had great conditions 45 miles offshore in 2019.

You can get more information on the race here:

https://www.cycportland.org/pnwo-home
 

We are looking forward to the hot towels and bubbly that the race committee provides at the finish!  We are even more excited for our Defiant tradition of a shot of Talisker to celebrate completing the race.

S/V Defiant