News / Articles

The Outlook Trophy race 90th edition took place in postcard SoCal perfect conditions. 27 boats gathered for a 13.5mi pursuit race in Santa Monica Bay consisting in a series of 2 mi windward leeward legs followed by 2 mi reaches.
The C15 dinghies started at 13:00 in a light 5kts breeze which built up to 12-14kts over the afternoon. The fastest Hobie Catamaran crossed the start line 44minutes later.

The third dinghy, a 5O5 skippered by Ole Eichhorn which started with a 16min handicap, caught up with the leader shortly after the first leeward mark rounding. Ole was able to plane upwind as the breeze built up. However, the fast keel boats chasing him were able to catch up near the last mark. The breeze on the reaches was not quite sufficient to allow steady planing to maintain the lead.

The reach from Q to IM had a decent breeze overpowered Obsidian who had to stop near IM to make adjustments.

Spirit of California crossed the finish line first winning the Outlook trophy.

The finishers crossed the line with a surprising stretch of time - nearly 30min - suggesting that the handicaps did not fit the conditions experienced that day. On previous years, we saw much closer finishes making the race quite exciting on the last leg. 

It was a beautiful day on the water for almost 3 hours for some of the participants.

The racers gathered at the club after racing to recount the events of the day and share some of the pictures taken on the race course.

Bruce Fleck, the PRO, was assisted on the race course to set the marks by the Pucketts and the Kitchens who were on position to take great pictures of mark roundings.

Here is a 2026 Outlook Trophy photo album which includes additional pictures taken by Joanne Custer from  Cuchulainn as well as a few shots of the after racing gathering.