The 2021 Summer Offshore Series continues this weekend with the 100-nautical-mile Virtual Mark Race.

Set over a triangular course starting in Sydney Harbour, competitors race either north or south first depending on the wind direction. The northernmost point of the course is approximately 13 nautical miles off Terrigal, the southernmost approximately 29 nautical miles off Cronulla and the finish line sits at Watsons Bay.

The race will be unique as it is the first time in history the CYCA has conducted a ‘virtual mark’ course.

Virtual marks are pre-set at a fixed latitude and longitude and competitors are required to sail within a small distance of the mark, known as a ’rounding quadrant’, to be deemed to have ’rounded’ the mark and able to continue on the next leg of the course. The rounding quadrant is defined as the area enclosed between two bearing lines true to the virtual mark.

All teams must then provide the Race Committee with a valid GPS fix inside the rounding quadrant to be eligible to score in the race.

Race 1 of the Summer Offshore Series earlier in the month saw 21 teams take on tricky conditions to race around Flinders Islet and return. This weekend’s race should see a strong fleet of approximately 25 boats head offshore with many hoping to build on their previous performance and climb the pointscore table. Click here for Race 1 results.

Once again, two-handed teams are set to feature in the lineup with Rupert Henry’s Lombard 34 Mistral looking to double-down on their Race 1 handicap success. Chasing them down though are Shane Connelly’s Rustler 37 Reprieve, Mark Ayto’s BH 36 Local Hero and Denis Doyle’s Cigale 16 Ariki Tai.

Stay locked right here or on CYCA’s Facebook page for the latest updates. Good luck to all competitors!

Learn more about the Summer Offshore Series.