Offshore

Category 2 offshore racing requires a high degree of self-sufficiency. World Sailing defines Category 2 as racing of extended duration along, or not far removed from, shorelines, or in large, unprotected bays and lakes. The 2026–2027 Offshore Special Regulations were published on 5 December 2025. They are valid through 31 December 2027. Version 2 was published on 5 June 2026 and becomes effective on 1 January 2027.

Racers and cruisers are often placed in separate boxes. Max Shaw does not buy that split. In Salty Dips Episode 8, Chris Maier talks with Max about where cruising and racing meet. They cover boat choice, distance racing, offshore racing, racing preparation, safety, and the skills that transfer both ways. Meet Max Shaw Max Shaw is a yacht broker, ocean racer, sailing instructor, and world cruiser. He spent seven years cruising the South Pacific with his family in Fluenta, gi

High-performance sailing does not just happen. It begins with a clear goal, committed sailors, good coaching, and the willingness to keep learning. In Salty Dips Episode 7, Chris Maier speaks with Ben Mumford of Royal Vancouver Yacht Club about building serious Corinthian sailing programmes. Ben shares his path from Nanaimo dinghy sailing and instruction to Martin 242s, Stars, match racing, Mum 30s, One Design 35s, Six Metres, IC37s, and the Santa Cruz 70 All of It. He also t

Peter Salusbury does not guess his way offshore. He manages the details, runs the process, and wins races because of it. Fresh off the overall win in the 50th Pacific Northwest Offshore, the skipper of the Riptide 35 Longboard joins us with a resume that speaks for itself: 50-plus Southern Straits, multiple Vic-Mauis, and a long history with the Van Isle 360.

In a major distance race like Van Isle 360, the Technical Committee plays an important part in keeping the event fair. The Technical Committee helps make sure boats meet the standard, crews are prepared, and the event runs on equal terms across the fleet. We do not want boats cutting corners on the race course, and the Technical Committee makes sure that competitors do not feel that their safety preparations give others an unfair advantage. The Technical Committee is there t

He spent 265 days alone at sea. He didn’t use a GPS. He didn’t use a chart plotter. He used a sextant, paper charts, and his own iron will. In this episode of Salty Dips, we sit down with the man who shows exactly why hard things still matter. From the Southern Ocean to the Arctic routes of Canada, Bert’s story is a masterclass in discipline. He is a racer in the most fundamental sense. He is racing against the elements, against time, and against the limits of the human

. Navigating the sea of regulations can feel harder than a beat into 30 knots of breeze. We hear questions about Canadian law versus the Offshore Special Regulations (OSR) all the time. This post breaks down some of what you need to carry, what your youth crew should wear, and how to bridge the gap between "legal" and "safe." This post is a walk through some, hopefully logical reasoning. I must give credit to someone else who helped to convince us of this logic by pointing o

Southern Straits 2026 is almost here. We are ready for the 56th edition of this Easter classic. It is a race of endurance and skill. It is also a race of legendary frustrations. Every racer knows the story of Point Atkinson. You sail 100 miles only to stop dead. You see the lighthouse. You see the finish line. Then the wind vanishes. We call it the "Point Atkinson Drift." It is the moment the current takes hold. You watch your GPS as you move backward. The fleet bunches up.

If you've ever looked at a Notice of Race and wondered what "Category 3" actually means, you're not alone. World Sailing race categories can seem confusing at first, but they're really just a way to match safety requirements to the type of racing you're doing. Here in British Columbia and the Pacific North West, we're lucky. We have a huge diversity of locations where great racing can occur. We also have a wide variety of weather, and tide conditions that can gang up to creat

Sail Canada just released their prescriptions to the 2026–2027 Offshore Special Regulations (effective January 1, 2026). The following is a summary highlighting the prescription that Sail Canada has made to the Category 3 Monohull OSRs. For BC sailors, recent work by the BC Sailing OSR committee has brought local harmonisation to the major events reducing the number of event specific amendments. This means less work to get ready for your Long Distance Campaign in BC.

If you're planning to race offshore or participate in serious yacht racing events, you've probably encountered the term "stability screening" in race documentation. But what exactly does it mean, and why should you care? Let's dive deep into this critical aspect of sailing safety and racing compliance. What is Stability and Why Does It Matter? Stability screening verifies that your boat meets defined standards for resisting capsize and for recovery when pressed by wind and

BC Sailing has aligned Category 3 safety rules across BC for 2026-2027, harmonizing with World Sailing and minimizing differences between events. Why this matters: The harmonized approach keeps requirements consistent across Swiftsure, Southern Straits, and other BC Category 3 races. It is not a major change from last year, but it helps crews gear up early for forthcoming safety and equipment developments. Key changes: AIS transponders are now required (signaled in previous

World Sailing published the 2026-2027 Offshore Special Regulations on December 5, 2025. These new rules take effect January 1, 2026, and run through December 31, 2027. For Pacific Northwest yacht racers, particularly those competing in Categories 2 and 3 events, this latest OSR update brings important changes that affect everything from safety equipment to crew training requirements. Black Wolf Racing has analyzed the complete package to bring you the essential updates. Here'