World Sailing

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.

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

. 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.

The Racing Rules of Sailing Appendix TS, is all about safety, and keeping sailboats racing in and around commercial traffic areas.

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

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'