The Toliva Shoal Race- Sat, Feb 14

Toliva Shoal Race Weekend- February 13-15, 2026

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About the Race

This special event, which coincides with Presidents’ Day weekend in February, is part of the Southern Sound Series. It is co-hosted by SSSS and the Olympia Yacht Club. 

Toliva Shoal is a full weekend of events, including the race itself. It is our best-attended race and the only one that attracts boats from throughout Puget Sound, commonly drawing 60-100 boats. Many locals who only do one race a year do this one. There is a party the night before that has a reputation in the Puget Sound sailing community as an event all by itself. This is your chance to sample “down Sound” racing without leaving Olympia.

Course:

Start between the Race Committee Boat and the east marker of the Olympia Shoal in a northerly direction. Proceed leaving Dofflemyer Point and Johnson Point to starboard; then the government mark #3 off Nisqually Delta, the Toliva Shoal buoy, Eagle Island, the government mark #1 at the west end of Balch Passage, Johnson Point, and Dofflemyer Point to port. Finish in a southerly direction between the race committee boat and the east marker of the Olympia Shoal. Approximate distance 38.4 nm

This race is not part of our regular SSSS race program. It is run by the Toliva Shoal Race Committee, which represents both SSSS and OYC. You must register in advance and pay an entry fee. It has its own Sailing Instructions, which are different then the instructions in this book.

This is the third race in the four-race Southern Sound Series. The Southern Sound Series Council organizes the series and represents Tacoma Yacht Club, Gig Harbor Yacht Club, Three Tree Point Yacht Club, and of course SSSS and the Olympia Yacht Club.
You are welcome to sail the entire series. Many SSSS boats do. More boats, and tighter classes make great winter racing. It is a good introduction to racing beyond Olympia.

This race may be shortened at any of the Race Course marks. Check the Sailing Instructions for current official information.

PHRF race boats not current with their PHRF membership will not be scored.

Non-PHRF Cruising boats will be scored on time alone, without handicap, in relationship to other boats in their class.

Race Fee:

Pre-registration – $35 if received by midnight PST Tuesday, February 11th.

Late registration – $40 for entries/payments received after Tuesday, February 12th. Registration closes at 8pm February 16. There is no registration on race day.

Preliminary results for each class are posted after every boat in the class is accounted for.

General Information:

Remember that the race can be shortened at any rounding mark.

In the event of finishing after dark, boats must provide illumination of sail numbers when approaching and crossing the finish line.

Committee Boats: Any Committee boat–the Start/Finish boat, a mark boat, or the chase boat–may be used to shorten the course.

Awards:

Toliva Shoal Race awards are for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in each class, subject to class participation, plus perpetual trophies for first-to-finish and overall corrected PHRF.

Communications:

All yachts must check in with the committee boat Saturday morning. The Race Committee Boats will monitor VHF channel 72 throughout the race. All yachts retiring from the race must notify the Race Committee, preferably by radio (VHF channel 72) or by telephone (360) 890-8450. Notification shall be as soon as possible after retiring. Radio and/or cell phone communications are for safety and race coordination use ONLY. Radio and/or phone calls to the Race Committee, other than withdrawals, race safety notifications or emergencies, will be terminated immediately.

Safety:

We encourage you and your crew to wear appropriate safety gear, such as personal flotation and harnesses, for heavy weather or night sailing. U.S. Sailing Equipment Requirements NEARSHORE.

Moorage:

A limited number of slips will be available at the Olympia Yacht Club for the race on a first come-first served basis and available slip size. A dockmaster will be available on Friday from 1200 through 1700 to direct skippers to open slips. Hail the OYC dockmaster on VHF Channel 72 once in the harbor for docking instructions. Please be prepared to provide your boat name, overall length, and beam.

Courtesy of the City of Olympia, moorage will also be available free of charge at Percival Landing in Olympia – D and E docks – on Friday and Saturday nights (first-come, first-served basis). Electrical power is available on E dock (no water due to seasonal shut-off). D dock will have no power.

 

Launching:

There is a good ramp at Swantown Marina. Swantown Boatyard, at the south end of the marina, has a marine lift. Call the Boatyard at (360) 528-8059 or VHF 65 to make an appointment for launch and lift.

Zittel’s Marina, on Johnson Point, has a sling; call (360) 459-1950 to make arrangements for launch and lift at Zittel’s.

Parking:

Parking is available in the southwest section of the parking lot fronting 4th Ave (closest to Bayview) during the Toliva race. No fees will charged on Friday or Saturday. Olympia also provides free street parking evenings, weekends and holidays. Do not park in the OYC member’s parking lot (unless you are a member) or the Oyster House section to the east.

Meals:

Toliva will once again have a Friday night dinner ($15) pulled pork, macaroni and cheese, cornbread, slaw and desserts, with a beer and wine bar, 7:00 Saturday breakfast ($5), and hot soups and beer (free) after the race. SSSS cannot accept credit or debit cards except for Internet registrations. Meals and Tee shirts are cash/check only. Exact change is greatly appreciated.

Note: The Double Tree Inn, 415 Capitol Way N, (360) 570-0555 is within walking distance for those folks who would rather sleep in a bed.

For more information, please contact:

Toliva Shoal Race Committee
P.O. Box 1102
Olympia, WA 98507

OR

Marvin Young, Toliva Race Chair
tolivarc@ssssclub.com
OR

Susan McRae, registrar
Email smcrae@earthlink.net, with the word Toliva in the subject line.

Bill Sheldon, PRO

Robert Hargreaves, Commodore, South Sound Sailing Society

Brennan Philips, Commodore, Olympia Yacht Club

Special Thanks To: City of Olympia, and all our local volunteers.

 

 

Photos by: Sean Trew (2024), Mike Gowrylow (2024), Jan Anderson (2022),

Hosted by the South Sound Sailing Society and the Olympia Yacht Club

 

 

 

 

2024 Race Results

Toliva Shoal Perpetual Trophies

Toliva Shoal Overall PHRF

Governor’s Trophy for First to Finish