QCYC Racing News
Racing at QCYC
It has been said that if there are two boats in sight
of each other, they're racing. Whether the maxim is true in general,
it has been for generations of Queen City racers on Wednesday nights
when the club's weekly races take place.
Over the summer, the club races consist of three separate series. QCYC's mixed
fleet is divided into separate starts, according to ratings following
the Lake Ontario PHRF handicapping system. With the emphasis on participation
and fun, skippers routinely invite aboard newcomers to racing, many of
whom quickly become converts. Queen City's club racing is also open to
all members and guests of reciprocal clubs.
QCYC members are also eligible to participate in the Lake
Ontario Racing Conference and the more avid racing members compete in LORC
events throughout the summer. One of the high points of the LORC series,
as much for the party afterwards as for the racing, is the season-ending
QCYC/NYC Open Regatta, co-hosted annually by QCYC.
Many QCYC members are also successful participants in single-, double-handed and fully crewed long-distance races held on Lake Ontario. And QCYC is typically well represented at events such as the annual Youngstown Level Regatta.
In addition to the formal racing, special events have become a tradition at Queen City. The annual Women Skipper's Race, now in its 30th year, typically attracts more than 30 boats that race over a course that begins in the harbour and includes some tight tacking and rounding of a buoy in the lake before finishing back in front of the club.
During the season, competitors can acquire points towards eligibility to compete in the day-long Champion of Champions Regatta in September to determine the club champion. The Last Chance Cup, open to all QCYC boats, is held the afternoon of the annual Awards Night in October when flags and trophies for performance over the season are given out.