Since 1956, sailors on Lake Ontario have been bundling up on the first Friday of June to race in the Susan Hood Trophy Race at the Port Credit Yacht Club in Mississauga, ON.
The race is known as the “Coolest Race on the Lake” because of the extremely cold conditions on the lake in early June. Even though the forecast calls for a low of 12°C (54°F), the water in the middle of the lake is significantly colder. Racers also have to contend with pitch black darkness and extreme winds.
The race starts on Friday, June 3rd at 7:55 pm and goes continuously overnight for 78-miles, with some lucky boats returning in time for breakfast the next morning. Over 450 sailors on 100+ yachts will be participating in this year’s race, with the start and finish of the race seen from the head land park beside Port Credit Yacht Club.
This year’s expanded IRC racing fleet includes arguably four of the fastest boats on the lake:
• Darren Gornal (Mississauga, ON) – Afterburn a Soto40
• Gary Benner (Toronto, ON) – Shock Therapy a Shock40
• Travis Odenbach (Webster, NY) – Rampage a Farr47
• Jonathan Bamberger (Toronto, ON) – Spitfire a Farr45
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