The 300-mile non-stop circumnavigation of Lake Ontario, which has attracted such local sailing legends as Mike Wolfs, Hans Fogh and Derek Hatfield in the past, starts Saturday at 10:30 a.m.
Billed as the greatest yacht race on the lakes, the event has been held for 18 consecutive years, making it the longest-running annual freshwater sailing race in the world.
The race is a formidable challenge for boat and crew, which depending on Mother Nature, will take between two and four days to complete.
And sailing enthusiasts will be able to track every move of every boat with real-time, online tracking. GPS transmitters will be aboard each vessel continuously broadcasting boat position, speed and weather conditions to the internet.
Last year, there were millions of hits as fans from around the world followed the race online.
And while Wolfs and Fogh, both former Olympic silver medalists, and Hatfield, who circumnavigated the world on his own, will not be competing, future Olympic stars likely will.
Proceeds from the event will go to the Broad Reach Foundation for Youth Leadership.
dwiner@mississauga.net
