sailboat race san juan islands

BREAKING NEWS: The Salish 200 started as a seat-of-your-pants, officially unofficial adventure race. We are excited to partner with the CYC Yacht Club for the 2024 edition and evolve this epic event into a formal Pacific Northwest classic that showcases the beauty of the Salish Sea.

Notice of Race: CLICK HERE FOR NOR

Registration is now OPEN!!! CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

2024 race dates: June 21-23

Watch the 2021 Recap Video!

Rule Updates:

- No crew limits

- All boats will be scored in both ORC and PHRF

- Read the full NOR

The Salish 200 is a 204 mile course around the San Juan Islands in the Salish Sea and down through Puget Sound around Vashon Island. The race was created in 2020 as a short handed event (limit of 5 crew) and is the longest race and one of the most challenging courses in the Pacific Northwest.

August 12: 53rd Annual Shaw Island Classic Race

The 53 rd Annual Shaw Island Classic Sailboat Race, sponsored by the San Juan Island Yacht Club, will be held Saturday, August 12 , 2023. All eligible boats and crews are invited to participate.

2022 Shaw Island Classic Photo by Theresa Cole

The race starts and ends in Friday Harbor and allows racers to circumnavigate Shaw Island in either direction. A hearty lasagna dinner and awards presentation is held at the San Juan Island Yacht Club after the race.

The public can view the race from the shores of San Juan, Orcas, Lopez and Shaw Islands, as well as from ferries transiting the course.

Start of the 2022 Shaw Island Classic Photo by Jim Corenman

The race is open to multihulls, unballasted centerboards, registered PHRF sailboats and cruising sailboats of all sizes and rigs. Trophies will be awarded for the first three finishers in each division based on corrected time, adjusted for time-on-time based on PHRF or committee assigned ratings.

The Notice of Race and registration are available at the Club’s website at www.sjiyc.com For more information contact the SJIYC Race Committee via email: [email protected]

Comments are welcome as long as they are civil, do not include personal attacks, and pertain to the subject. In order to avoid being overrun by spam, comments are reviewed before they are posted.

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Round the county race – coming in November

The Orcas Island Yacht Club and the Friday Harbor Sailing Club are seeking participants for the 21st Annual Round the County Sailboat Race on Nov. 8 and 9. The race circles the San Juan Islands archipelago that comprises San Juan County Washington considered by many to be one of the more beautiful sailing venues on earth.

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Regional Sailboat Races in the USA

By: Zeke Quezada, ASA Destinations , Sailing Races

Let’s set sail into the thrilling world of regional sailboat races! These competitions offer a unique and exciting twist on the traditional sailing experience.

Regional races center around sailboats vying for supremacy in specific corners of the world, be it a coastal paradise or a cluster of enchanting islands. These events serve as a rallying point for local racers, as sailors hailing from nearby towns and yacht clubs come together to showcase their skills.

What’s particularly enticing about regional races is their inclusivity. Whether you’re piloting a nimble dinghy or commanding a majestic yacht, these races often welcome boats of all types and sailors of all levels. Whether you’re a seasoned sea veteran or a novice setting sail for the first time, there’s a class tailored to your needs at most of these local sailing races.

It’s not all about the competition! Regional races transform into grand sailing events, where communities burst to life for multiple days of festivities while showcasing their local flavor. Sailors gather, forge new friendships, and revel in their shared passion for this incredible sport.

Moreover, these races often offer affordable entry fees, ensuring accessibility to aspiring racers of all backgrounds. Some races may be shorter and less arduous than epic ocean crossings, making them ideal for sailors looking to refine their skills. Regional sailboat races are all about honoring the sport of sailing and the remarkable community it nurtures.

Website: Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race
Description: The Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race is an offshore yacht race that takes participants from Marblehead, Massachusetts, to Halifax, Nova Scotia. It’s a challenging long-distance race across the North Atlantic.
Website: Figawi Race Weekend
Description: Figawi Race Weekend is a popular sailing event that includes both a race and a weekend of festivities. It starts in Hyannis, Massachusetts, and ends on Nantucket Island.
Website: Block Island Race Week
Description: Block Island Race Week is a biennial event that takes place on Block Island, Rhode Island. It features a series of races over the course of a week and is known for its lively social scene.
Website: Vineyard Race
Description: The Vineyard Race is an offshore race that starts and finishes in Stamford, Connecticut, with a course that takes sailors around Martha’s Vineyard. It’s known for its scenic course and challenging conditions.
Website: Newport to Bermuda Race
Description: The Newport to Bermuda Race is a classic offshore race that starts in Newport, Rhode Island, and finishes in Bermuda. It’s one of the most prestigious ocean races on the East Coast.
Website: Ida Lewis Distance Race
Description: The Ida Lewis Distance Race is a coastal race that starts and finishes in Newport, Rhode Island. It offers a variety of courses, including offshore and overnight racing.
Website: Camden Classics Cup
Description: The Camden Classics Cup is a regatta held in Camden, Maine, that celebrates classic and vintage sailing yachts. It’s a showcase of timeless sailboat designs.
Website: Nantucket Race Week
Description: Nantucket Race Week is a week-long sailing event held on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts. It includes a variety of racing classes and social activities, making it a family-friendly event.
Website: Boothbay Harbor Regatta
Description: The Boothbay Harbor Regatta is an annual regatta held in Boothbay Harbor, Maine. It features a mix of sailboat racing, social events, and onshore activities.
Website: Annapolis to Newport Race
Description: The Annapolis to Newport Race is a classic offshore race that starts in Annapolis, Maryland, and finishes in Newport, Rhode Island. This classic race takes sailors between two of the USA’s sailing epicenters.
Website: Charleston Race Week
Description: Charleston Race Week is a premier sailing event held in Charleston, South Carolina. It’s one of the largest regattas in the United States, featuring a wide range of sailboat classes and competitive racing.
Website: Around Long Island Regatta
Description: The Around Long Island Regatta is an annual offshore race that circumnavigates Long Island, New York. It’s a challenging race known for its variety of conditions and scenic views along the course.
Website: Around Martha’s Vineyard Race
Description: The Around Martha’s Vineyard Race is a sailing race that circumnavigates Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.
Website: Conanicut Yacht Club
Description: The Around Jamestown Island Race is organized by the Conanicut Yacht Club and takes place in the waters around Jamestown Island, near Newport, Rhode Island. It’s a local race with stunning views of the Newport area.
Website: Atlantic Cup
Description: The Atlantic Cup is a premier Class 40 offshore racing series held along the East Coast of the United States. It features multiple legs and attracts international competitors. The race promotes sustainability and ocean health.

Website: Rolex Big Boat Series
Description: The Rolex Big Boat Series is a prestigious sailing event held in San Francisco, California. It’s known for attracting top sailors and a wide range of sailboat classes, making it a highlight of the West Coast racing calendar.
Website: Pacific Cup
Description: The Pacific Cup is a biennial offshore yacht race that takes participants from San Francisco, California to Kaneohe, Hawaii. It’s a challenging race known for its long-distance and unpredictable conditions.
Website: Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race
Description: This is one of the largest international yacht races, starting from Newport Beach, California, and finishing in Ensenada, Mexico. It features a wide range of sailboat classes and attracts sailors from around the world.
Website: Baja Ha-Ha
Description: The Baja Ha-Ha is an annual cruisers’ rally that starts in San Diego, California, and ends in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. While not a traditional race, it’s a popular event for sailors looking to cruise along the Baja California Peninsula.
Website: Swiftsure International Yacht Race
Description: The Swiftsure International Yacht Race is held in the waters off Victoria, British Columbia. It offers a variety of race courses, attracting both local and international sailors for a challenging competition.
Website: Round the County Race
Description: The Round the County Race is a sailing race that takes place in the beautiful San Juan Islands of Washington State. It offers a picturesque and challenging course for sailors.
Website: Santa Barbara to King Harbor Race
Description: This race starts in Santa Barbara, California, and finishes in Redondo Beach, California. It’s a popular offshore race along the Southern California coastline.
Website: Southern Straits Yacht Race
Description: The Southern Straits Yacht Race is a challenging overnight race that begins and ends in Vancouver, British Columbia. It’s known for its strategic and tactical sailing.
Website: Long Beach Race Week
Description: Long Beach Race Week is a multi-day regatta held in Long Beach, California. It features a variety of racing classes and attracts sailors of all levels.

Gulf of Mexico

Website: Harvest Moon Regatta
Description: The Harvest Moon Regatta is a popular offshore sailing race that takes participants from Galveston, Texas, to Port Aransas, Texas. It typically takes place in October and is known for its festive atmosphere.
Website: New Orleans Yacht Club
Description: The Race to the Coast is a sailing race that starts in New Orleans, Louisiana, and finishes in Gulfport, Mississippi. It’s organized by the New Orleans Yacht Club.
Website: GBCA Performance Cup Series
Description: The GBCA Performance Cup Series is a series of sailboat races organized by the Galveston Bay Cruising Association (GBCA) in Galveston, Texas. It includes various races and regattas throughout the year.
Website: St. Petersburg Yacht Club
Description: The St. Petersburg to Havana Race is an offshore race that starts in St. Petersburg, Florida, and finishes in Havana, Cuba. It’s organized by the St. Petersburg Yacht Club.
Website: Clearwater Yacht Club
Description: The Clearwater to Key Largo Race is an offshore sailing race that starts in Clearwater, Florida, and finishes in Key Largo, Florida. It’s organized by the Clearwater Yacht Club.

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54th Annual Shaw Island Classic Saturday, August 10, 2024

The 54th Annual Shaw Island Classic was another great race! Start from Friday Harbor, and round one mark: Shaw Island, either way. Finish where you started and come to the Club for party and dinner! What could be simpler?

2024 Race Documents:

2024 Shaw Photos !! 2024 Shaw Results Race Documents (click to download printable PDF) Notice of Race Sailing Instructions 2024 Shaw Entry List (with divisions assignments and ratings) Welcome to the 2024 Shaw Island Classic

So what happened to 51 and 52? Those were the Pandemic Races, timed start with no start/finish boat, no clubhouse event afterward. We designated those as the 49½ and 49¾ Un-Shaw races, and the blow-out 50th Shaw was 2022, which makes the 2023 event the 53rd Annual and this year the 54th. Makes perfect sense, no?

And why August 10th and not the first Saturday?

Because it is not the first Saturday, but rather the Saturday following the Cowachin Bay Regatta, which is always the long weekend of British Columbia Day, which is always the first Monday of August. So..... August 10th this year. And Aug 9th in 2025 , mark your calendar!

For more information contact the SJIYC Race Committee via email: [email protected] or by phone 360.317.6442 (PC Jim Corenman)

2023 Race Documents:

Photo Gallery Race Results Notice of Race Welcome Letter Sailing Instructions Entry List (including divisions, ratings and start times

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Captain and crew assemble; the ‘Big Race’ is coming

Round the County is a regional race with over 70 boats and 500 crew involved in past years.

Drifters fly at last year's Round the County Race.

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Fingers Crossed for the 33rd annual Round the County Race

Round the County organizers are hoping to run the 33rd annual race with modifications for Coronavirus

The Orcas Island Yacht Club and the Friday Harbor Sailing Club are aiming to get the 33rd annual Round the County sailboat race off on November 6-8, 2020 in the beautiful and challenging waters of San Juan County, Washington. Online registration will open on October 5 and an online skipper’s meeting will begin at 7 p.m. on Friday November 6.

Round the County is a two-day event that runs approximately 76 miles, circumnavigating the San Juan Islands (alternating directions—clockwise or counterclockwise—each year) with a mid-way overnight stop in Roche Harbor on San Juan Island on Saturday night. Due to the terrific venue, the often fantastic winds of November, and the overnight stop in Roche Harbor, Round the County has become one of the most popular sailing events in the Pacific Northwest. Without a doubt, this is one of our favorite races, too.

According to race organizers, here are the Coronavirus Considerations for this year’s race:

The race organizers are continuing to monitor the Coronavirus pandemic. At the time of publishing, the U.S. / Canadian border remains closed and San Juan County is in Washington’s Phase 2. Therefore, we are planning to delay opening registration until October 5, one month later than normal. We expect to eliminate all formal social activities before, during, and after the race; and crews will be expected to adhere to the Washington Safe Start guidelines in place at the time of the event, including potentially limiting participation to no more than five crew per boat. Should Roche Harbor Marina be required to close transient moorage or operate at reduced capacity, participants should be prepared to anchor Saturday night.

Here’s the latest announcement via the Round the County Facebook page :

With fingers crossed that we’ll be able to hold the 33rd annual Round the County (RTC) race this year, the Notice of Race has been posted. Registration will open a month later than usual this year on October 5. This will provide us with a better window into the status of the pandemic and hopefully help our Canadian friends better insight into whether the border might open in time to allow their participation. This years changes are expected to include NO social events (welcome, party at Roche, or awards at OIYC). The skippers meeting and awards will both be held virtually. The shortened courses will now be a longitude on each day with no limit on range and no shoreside reporting—to be scored for the halfway, a picture of your GPS showing longitude and time will be required. We hope you’ll be able to join us! Mark your calendars for October 5 when we expect to publish the SIs and open registration.

https://roundthecounty.com/RTC-documents/2020_docs/RTC_2020-Notice_of_Race.pdf

48° North Editors are committed to telling the best stories from the world of Pacific Northwest boating. We live and breathe this stuff, and share your passion for the boat life. Feel free to keep in touch with tips, stories, photos, and feedback at [email protected].

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Mako Sailing

2022 round the county race.

Round the County is an annual race around the San Juan islands that make up San Juan county. It's hosted by Orca Island Yacht Club and Friday Harbor Sailing Club. This was the 34th running of the race. This year the course was clockwise. It's a PNW favorite given the beautiful scenery, challenging currents and fickle and or strong winds. There were 120 boats and over 700 sailors competing in this years race. The race is about 76 miles with a stopover in picturesque Roche Harbor on Saturday night.

It sure felt great loading Mako up with all the overnight and cooking gear. It was easy to locate all the Hawaii gear and we even brought leftover food from the Hawaii trip. The delivery up to Anacortes was very calm and dry. We had a stopover in Kingston and went back to Sourdough Willy's excellent pizzeria at the top of the dock. You should check this place out if you're in Kingston, WA.

Delivery pics below. Once we made it to Cap Sante Marina in Anacortes we were assigned a slip at the end of a work dock next to a large fishing boat. We scored some meat pies from the food truck and Andy brought dinner for the whole crew! He made chile rellenos, steak fajitas and cornbread and we had a great time eating in the boat.

The forecast was for dry sunny and no wind. It was cold Saturday as we work up at 5:00 am and started preparing for the day. We were greeted with nice breeze on the starting line and hoisted spinnakers for the first leg from Lydia Shoal to Davidson Rock. We had a great spinnaker run and enjoyed gybing the boat in flat water. Puget Sound still seems oddly calm after all the time in the ocean this summer. We turned west to the half way mark at iceberg point. Spinnakers came down and we passed a few groups of boats as we reached the halfway mark. We were skeptical that the race would be a full course and started feeling pretty good about our halfway time. The wind was light and spotty and we made our way up Lopez Island. Then as we chased puffs we went farther away from the Islands. We found ourselves match racing Freja, an Aerodyne 43 that was in our class in the Pacific Cup race. We decided to stay in front of Freja to protect our lead. This was ultimately our downfall as boats near San Juan island had both breeze and current and boats on the outside had neither. We fired up the iron genoa once we determined that we would not finish before the time limit. We noticed some kelp on the rudder as soon as we quit as well. As we motored up to Mosquito Pass it became quite clear that we made the wrong call not hugging the island. There were a ton of boats ahead of us. We found the wind hole and parked in it.

First day Race pics including the party grills being maned by Josh and Tom. Josh got the whole crew brats. It was a great paring with the free beer!

Sunday was again better breeze than expected for the start. We had a good start that put us in a clear lane with all the fastest boats in the fleet. We showed really good upwind boat pace as we compared our speed and trim against some of the best sailed boats in the PNW. There was a massive current swirl at Turn Point that we just about sailed around but still got caught in. After rounding Stuart Island and heading to Patos we encountered more intense currents and spotty wind. Seeing much of the fleet sucked down toward Waldron Island we decided to stay north and favor the Canadian side of the course. Again we caught some kelp on the rudder but this time we were quick to back down to free the debris. This paid off as we were in the building breeze first and were able to crack off a bit as we aimed for the Patos Lighthouse. As we rounded spinnakers went up and we had a great spinnaker ride to the finish area hitting 10 knots many times. We worked on sailing a bit hotter angles and the boat responded well. We were feeling good about or position until we approached the finish line and noticed the first pack of boats with zero wind being swept over the line by the current. We jockeyed to get our boat into a position so that even without wind we would be swept over the finish line. Crossing the line was a huge relief and it really felt like a top 3 performance even though we placed 7th out of 15 boats in our class. One of these years we'll string together two good days for this race.

Sunday Pics: