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Victoria’s biggest yachting event is this weekend, taking place between May 27th and 28th with several categories allowing different types of vessels from all over the world to partake in the action. 

The Swiftsure lightship race is put on by the Royal Victoria Yacht Club and has been since 1930. Historically, Cadboro Bay has been the launchpoint with the ships racing westward down the Juan de Fuca Strait, to Swiftsure Bank, which is around 30 kilometres off Cape Flattery at the mouth of the Strait. 

At Swiftsure Bank, there would traditionally be a lightship stationed which sailors knew about and it gave them a decently long distance race to compete in from Victoria. Lightships were essentially mobile lighthouses that were positioned near shoals to warn large vessels which  may run aground in the shallows. 

Present day, the race begins at Clover Point and finishes at the Ogden Point’s breakwater with the mid-way point still being at Swiftsure Bank.

Typically, since the last Swiftsure vessel that used to be used is now moored at Seattle’s National Historic Landmark at Historic Ships Wharf in Lake Union Park, an off-duty Royal Canadian Navy vessel is utilized for the race as the mid-way point. 

This year, the Navy is unable to provide a ship, so the Western Canada Marine Response Corporation (WCMRC) will be supplying the Swiftsure ship. 

In 1930, just six ships participated in that first year. Now, the race attracts hundreds of yachts and enthusiasts from across the globe. This year, 120 vessels are signed up to race in five different classes based on the type of vessel — 22 of those ships are RVYC vessels. 

The first group of vessels will begin racing at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 27th from Clover Point with the other four groups launching in 10 minute intervals afterward, so the last batch will be off by 10 a.m.

Spectators will be able to watch the 120 yachts of all shapes and sizes sail from Clover Point all along Dallas Road and along Greater Victoria’s southwestern shores until they disappear into the distance. 

The ships should start to come back around midnight on Sunday, May 28th and they will continue to come in through the morning and afternoon. 

Those wishing to watch the yachts return can gather at Ogden Point which is the finish line for the Swiftsure event. 

For those wishing to follow the racers’ progress online, there is a ship tracker on the Swiftsure website which will have every ship’s location tagged along with their names.

• Swiftsure 2023
• Where: Clover Point, Ogden Point and online
• When: Saturday, May 27th at 9 a.m. to Sunday, May 28th at 11:59 p.m.

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With strong winds and big waves, it was one of the more exhilarating Swiftsures, sailors declare

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When the Swiftsure Lightship Classic race wound up on Sunday, Korina Korina — skippered by John Knudson of Washington state — had won. 

The crew was made up of Victoria and Washington state residents who came together to face strong winds and rough seas in a “fantastic” race, crew member Duane Pinkney of Victoria said Monday. 

In second place was Planet Express, based at the Royal Victoria Yacht Club, with skipper Adam Serediuk. 

Event chairperson Randy Diamond said sailors racing in this year’s event told him it was one of the better Swiftsures — “and some of them have done 30-35 Swiftsures.” 

It was a challenging race because of a strong, adverse current at the start, he said. “The wind was light, not non-existent, so they were always moving. Then it became quite windy through the night.” 

That, coupled with bigger waves, made it exhilarating for sailors, he said. 

The return of the Swiftsure International Yacht Race, now in its 77th year and presented by the Royal Victoria Yacht Club, follows two years of no races due to the pandemic.  

It took a little extra work to stage this year’s event because of the break, Diamond said. 

This year, an online charity auction was staged for the first time as part of the event, with proceeds going to the Make-A-Wish-Foundation and SALTS (Sail and Life Training Society). The auction, which ends at 9 p.m. Tuesday, is at hibid.ca/events/swiftsure-2022-charity-auction. 

About 120 yachts, including Victoria entries, took part in the races, with hundreds of spectators lining Clover Point and the Victoria waterfront to watch the boats, with their colourful spinnakers, heading out on Saturday morning. 

The first competitors in the shortest race returned that afternoon. 

Once yachts passed the finish point, they took their sails down and motored to Ship Point in Victoria Harbour to tie up at the inspection dock, some in the middle of the night. 

There, they were greeted with donated hot soup, which was “very well received,” Diamond said. 

Safety equipment was checked and a satellite tracking device was handed in at the inspection dock.  

Preliminary results for the Hein Bank race put Blue, with skipper Michael Schoendorf, in first place.  

In the Cape Flattery race for monohulls, Annapurna, with Iain Christennson as skipper, was first. 

The Juan de Fuca race ended with Setri of the Royal Victoria Yacht Club, with skipper Peter Dennis, in first place. 

Dragon, with skipper Duncan Gladman, placed first in the Juan de Fuca race for multi-hull boats. 

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WELCOME TO THE ROYAL VICTORIA YACHT CLUB

The Royal Victoria Yacht Club was founded in June 1892 and is the oldest yacht club in western Canada. Our main clubhouse and marina is located on the protected waters of Cadboro Bay while our Tsehum Haven marina is located near the town of Sidney.

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Our club promotes yachting, boating, navigation, seamanship and offers racing events, cruising excursions, moorage, kayak & stand up paddle boards rentals (free of charge), dining, themed events and much more. The Royal Victoria Yacht Club is fun for kids from two to one hundred and two. With more than just a clubhouse facility, we can offer members something to meet every need. For more information on the benefits of becoming a members, application information and frequently asked questions, please click here.

Our club promotes yachting, boating, navigation, seamanship and offers racing events, cruising excursions, moorage, kayaks & stand up paddle board rentals (free of charge), dining, themed events and much more.

The Royal Victoria Yacht Club offers a little something for everyone. More than just a Clubhouse facility, we are a group of like-minded individuals sharing a passion for “messing about in boats.”

For more information on the benefits of becoming a member and application information please  click here.

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Swiftsure International Yacht Race

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