LopezRocks - News and Views

The waters off Lopez Island will fill with racing sailboats starting at 10:30am on Saturday, August 29, as the Lopez Island Yacht Club hosts the 15th annual Lopez Cup Classic Yacht Race.

Sponsored by the Lopez Island Yacht Club and the Lopez Islander Resort, the Lopez Cup has become an annual late-summer tradition, bringing together sailors from Lopez and around the region for a friendly but competitive race through the waters west of the island.

Come Watch the Race You don't need to be on a boat to enjoy the Lopez Cup. There are two great places on Lopez to watch the action.

The beach at Fisherman Bay Preserve offers an excellent view of the starting and finishing area at the entrance to Fisherman’s Bay. Because of the pursuit format, boats will start individually over a period of time before possibly converging again as they race toward the finish.

The Fisherman Bay Tombolo beach provides a broader view of the fleet while the race is in progress as boats make their way south and then race back toward Fisherman’s Bay.

Binoculars are recommended for following the action farther out on the course.

And everyone is invited to join the racers afterward. The post-race festivities on the Islander Dock are open to all - racers, friends, families, spectators and anyone else who wants to join the fun.

The Race
The 12.5-mile course begins at the entrance to Fisherman’s Bay. From there, racers head south, passing Reid Rock Shoal before continuing into Griffin Bay and rounding a race buoy near Halftide Rocks, northwest of Cattle Pass. The fleet then races back to Fisherman’s Bay for the finish.

One of the distinctive features of the Lopez Cup is its pursuit-style start. Instead of every boat crossing the starting line at once, each boat receives an individual starting time based on its handicap. Slower boats leave first and progressively faster boats follow.

In theory, if everyone sails exactly to their handicap, the entire fleet should arrive at the finish at about the same time.

The Lopez Cup is designed to welcome a wide range of boats and sailors, from serious racing boats to cruisers whose crews may rarely, if ever, enter a sailboat race. Boats do not need a current PHRF racing certificate to participate; the race committee can establish a handicap for boats that don't already have one.

This year the fleet will compete in four divisions:

1. Racing & Racer/Cruisers - Racing boats and race/cruisers sailing with spinnakers or other flying sails.

2. Cruising boats - Larger boats, based on registrations received, racing with non-flying sails.

3. Small Boats - Smaller boats, based on registrations received, racing with non-flying sails.

4. The People’s Choice - Because winning isn't everything. This award goes to the boat and crew showing the most spunk, style and spirit on the water.

The exact split between the Bigger Boats and Smaller Boats divisions will be determined once registrations are in.

The overall winner will earn a special distinction: their name will be engraved on the perpetual Lopez Island Cup, which resides in the LIYC room at the Lopez Islander Resort.

Join Us at the Islander
Racing is only part of the Lopez Cup tradition, and you don’t have to race - or even own a boat - to join the post-race celebration.

Following the finish, LIYC will host a barbecue on the Islander Dock, and the whole community is welcome. We’ll provide hot dogs, chips and some first-come-first-served libations. Feel free to bring your own grilling items and BYOB. There are various after-party activities being discussed.

Visiting racers are particularly encouraged to stay on Lopez for the evening. The Islander is offering Lopez Cup competitors special $25 moorage for Saturday night.

Want to Race?
Sailors interested in entering should email crist.barry@gmail.com with the name and make of
their boat and their PHRF rating, if they have one. The entry fee is $20. If you have experience sailing and would like to crew, also send an email and we'll try to find a boat for you to sail on.

Registration is open until 10:00am at the Committee Boat on Saturday but advance notice is greatly appreciated. As always, fees can be paid into the fishing net on the committee boat. Cash or checks made out to LIYC are accepted.