Race Rhumble: Get Ready to Go Ocean Racing!
Jim Snair


Maybe somewhere deep inside of every sailor is the itch to compete. And not just race along side another sailboat in the bay. Even day races can get a bit ho-hum after a bit. The need to go further afi eld, hunt down a new adventure lurks within almost every sailor.
Offshore sailing and offshore racing is a constantly changing
landscape for every sailor.




I’ve been lucky to compete in three Bermuda races and numerous Marblehead to Halifax races, after I had sailed more than 7,000 nautical miles offshore. My transition from dinghy sailor to day racer to ocean racer was seamless as I look back over it, but for many sailors it can initially be a big, awkward step into the unknown.




In your get-ready-to-go-ocean-racing kit I’m going to assume your boat is at least 30 feet long. That’s the minimum length that is allowed in the Marblehead race, so if you’ve got the first piece
we’ll move forward.




Marblehead and other ocean races of similar length usually
have an “ocean race” pre-requisite. In short, they want you to
be semi qualifi ed before you enter their “bigger race.” Locally,
the Premier Class Association usually helps organize a “100-miler” overnight race that can help acquaint you and your crew with some of the necessary safety and sailing issues that surround offshore racing.




Another item that helps get you into an offshore race is previously experienced crewmembers. Ask around, there are usually a few “Marbleheaders” that are looking for a ride. Even at this late date, it’s still possible to fi nd a few crew that have done some offshore racing. With experienced crew, they can walk you through the experience and give you a sense of what to expect both on the delivery and throughout the race.




So you’ve got a boat and found some prior experience. That’s
the big part of the puzzle, but a bit more work is needed. About one-third of your crew need to participate in a safety at sea course, which will give you some great information and background in managing situations that can occur offshore.




You’ll need to buy or rent a liferaft. Pay close attention to the sailing instructions as there may be some storage issues depending on the year of your boat. Newer boats, for example, must have rafts
on deck whereas boats that are more than 10 years old can stow rafts below deck.




Check your fi rst-aid kit and assign a medical person, maybe two. Both of these crew members should have current first-aid courses and they should have a full medical history of each crewmember onboard.




Don’t forget to talk to your sailmaker. In many cases, they’ve completed a few offshore races. Sailmakers can be vast information sources in addition to being able to help make your boat go faster
(new sails always do that!). They’ll be able to review your sail inventory and make suggestions depending on your budget. And what of your budget? Well, your first ocean race can be expensive – with the purchase of safety gear and flares, updating sails, delivery and race food, moving crew, entry fees and more. A modest budget for Marblehead might be as low as $3,500. Realistically, an ocean race can easily run $800-$1,200/crewmember or more. Ask around; most
owners who have done a race or two can tell you what to expect.




Don’t forget to look after your boat – while delivering her and racing her. We always put bubblewrap and tape on the woodwork to minimize the dings of swinging harness hooks.




This is only a quick review of what it takes to go racing offshore. If you’ve never been – GO! It’s exhilarating to see the sun
come up over an endless ocean horizon. Start out simply by doing a delivery, but remember to go! It’s occasionally an endurance test, but the smiles are large once landfall is reached on the other end!




Jim Snair is the Managing Broker of Sunnybrook Yachts and a Past President of Atlantic Marine Trades Association.