Dana Point Harbor is home to the longest-running weekly sailboat race on the Pacific Coast. The tradition started 32 years ago with just a handful of local racers who wanted to race every week. They named it the "Farkle race." Now in its third decade, legend has it they've never missed a race. Rain or shine, there are always at least a dozen participants. If you own a sailboat, just show up at the green buoy on Thursday for a 2 p.m. start. Use channel 68 to hear the course and ask any questions. If you wish to crew on a boat, learn more about the rules or just find out how to get involved, fill out the form below with your name, email phone number and a message, and someone will contact you. There are occasional informational meetings to share this great weekly tradition.

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1. ​First step is to figure out your PHRF rating if you don't know it. Go to this website (PHRF Socal) and search for a boat same as yours, for instance if you have a Catalina 320, search a variety of ways, usually "C320" but not all of the models are entered the same way. Once you find a similar boat, look at the Area RLC rating, most of the time the different ratings are identical, if you're new to racing, use the highest number.
    

2. Next, you will need to calculate your time delay (or earlier start) based on this rating. The winner of the previous race will call out a course and distance, usually 15 minutes prior to the 2pm start on VHF 68. They will tell you the distance. Write down that distance on a piece of paper.
    

3. Next, you will need to calculate your time offset. The 2pm start is for any boat that has a rating of 192. Let's say your boat has a rating of 150. You would subtract your rating from the scratch rating (192 - 150) and you will see this is 42 seconds per mile you need to delay your start. So if it's a 5 mile course, you would start (42 secs x 5 miles) or 210 seconds after the 2pm start. If you have a rating higher than 192, say 200, you would start 8 seconds per mile before the 2pm start.
    

4. Now you know when you need to start, which always starting at the green bouy just outside the harbor, you will need to write down the course. Pay attention to the details though, if they call a mark to be taken starboard, write that down. If they don't indicate the type of rounding, then by default it will be to port. Also, if you don't have a handheld GPS, buy one, you will need it so you know where to go. Use the race chart at this link and print it out, we laminated ours. Here's the race chart showing the different marks from the DPYC website, (Race Chart).
    

5. So, that's the main details but other things to consider when you start to get serious is to make sure you have a folding prop and newer sails. It's not advised to buy anything until you race for a while and see if you like it. If you do have a fixed prop and not a folding prop, you should give yourself some extra time on your rating since it is much slower and most of us have a folding prop. We usually add 5 to 7 seconds per mile if you have a fixed prop.
    

6. This race is not sactioned by any organization, it's just a tradition and lots of fun. With that said, there are no written rules, trophies or anyone that is in charge. Our website was setup to just convey the tradition and how it works.
    

7. Lastly, if you're new, we recommend you start much earlier than your supposed to keep it fun and exciting, but if you do start early, be respectful to the other racers who are a bit more serious. If they are wanting to go above you during the race, just let them by and not try to push them up. Once you're using your actual rating, then by all means, don't let anyone go over you if you can, that's a great strategy to wins race.