The final leg of the 2026 California Offshore Race Week proved to be a test of patience, persistence, and tactical decision-making as 25 boats set out from Santa Barbara for the SoCal 300. The SoCal 300 currently spans approximately 234 nautical miles, carrying competitors from the waters off Santa Barbara, through the Channel Islands, and south to San Diego.

The race began Thursday, May 28, near Point Castillo and Santa Barbara Yacht Club, with competitors crossing the start line under light conditions. Boats were tasked with navigating across the commercial shipping lanes for LA and between Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz Islands before continuing south, leaving the ODAS 46047 weather buoy to port and ultimately finishing off San Diego. SDYC’s Waterfront Director Jeff Johnson reflects on the origins of the SoCal 300 course stating “The SoCal course was a bit of a resurrection of the older ‘Bishop Rock Race’ SDYC ran during the early 2000’s. It was added to the lineup of events for boats racing down the coast in the Spinnaker Cup and Coastal Cup. Adding the third event to connect sailors to San Diego as the final leg was a great way to provide an event for sailors to showcase the iconic California Coast.”

The 2016 California Offshore Race Week will feature the combined efforts of Encinal Yacht Club, San Francisco Yacht Club, Monterey Peninsula Yacht Club, Santa Barbara Yacht Club and San Diego Yacht Club to provide a week-long schedule of races in a tour from Northern California to Southern California. The race will combine three previously solo events starting May 27 with the Spinnaker Cup, then the Coastal Cup and concluding with the SoCal 300 finishing on June 4.

New for this year, the 2016 California Offshore Race Week will feature the combined efforts of Encinal Yacht Club, San Francisco Yacht Club, Monterey Peninsula Yacht Club, Santa Barbara Yacht Club and San Diego Yacht Club to produce a week-long schedule of races in a tour from Northern California to Southern California. The race will bring together three previously solo events: the Spinnaker Cup, the Coastal Cup and the SoCal 300 from May 27- June 4. In between races, the boats will have layover time along the coast to relax and meet up with friends and family.

The volunteer staff at CORW are proud to announce the posting of its NOR for the California Offshore Race Week. Offshore Race Week is the exciting grouping of three California coastal races, five yacht clubs and one in-port race under an overall trophy. We’d like to thank SD Boatworks, North Sails, Ullman Sails, Mount Gay Rum and The Pirates Lair for making this race come to life! Race one or race them all, definitely get in on this inaugural event. Please sail over to our website for complete information and printable NOR!

See what the SoCal 300 is all about!

It was the success of last year’s inaugural SoCal 300- which starts with a 35-mile reach from Santa Barbara across “Windy Lane,” before turning the corner at Santa Rosa Island and rocketing down to San Diego- that spurred the new circuit. California Offshore Race Week, which kicks off in late May, links two tried-and-true regattas with the SoCal 300 in an all-too-logical romp down California’s scenic and wild waters.

Offshore racers in California got a new race in 2015, the SoCal 300, which for 2016 has launched a new circuit – California Offshore Race Week. Scuttlebutt editor Craig Leweck checks in with David Servais, SoCal 300 event coordinator, for an update.