The Swiftsure International Yacht Race is the premier long distance
sailing race in the
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest (sometimes Cascadia, or simply abbreviated as PNW) is a geographic region in western North America bounded by its coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains to the east. Though ...
and
British Columbia
British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...
area. Starting and ending in
Victoria, BC
Victoria is the capital city of the Canadian province of British Columbia, on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of 91,867, and the Greater Victoria area has a population of 397,237. Th ...
, Canada, the Swiftsure is international because the midpoint markers for the four long courses are in U.S. waters. Organized by the
Royal Victoria Yacht Club
The Royal Victoria Yacht Club is located along the shores of Cadboro Bay in The Uplands a neighborhood of Oak Bay, adjacent to the city of Victoria
Victoria most commonly refers to:
* Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Austr ...
, the race occurs during the Memorial Day weekend in May with staggered starts on Saturday morning. The race is most popular with sailors from British Columbia and Washington, but it has drawn boats from as far away as California, Hawaii, New Zealand, and even Russia.
Race courses
The nature of the course and the notoriously unpredictable winds and currents provide an exacting test of seamanship. Swiftsure consists of nine races over five courses (tabulated below) in the
Strait of Juan de Fuca
The Strait of Juan de Fuca (officially named Juan de Fuca Strait in Canada) is a body of water about long that is the Salish Sea's outlet to the Pacific Ocean. The international boundary between Canada and the United States runs down the centre ...
, including the Swiftsure Inshore Classic (formerly "Sookesure" then "Rosedale Rock") and "Classics" races. Therefore, it offers wide appeal to the professional and experienced amateur sailor who takes pride in his or her boat, big or small. In some years, light winds led to the race being dubbed the "Driftsure;" in other years, like 1971, 1979, and 2012, strong winds (up to 35 knots) led to boats dropping out or even being dismasted.
[Swiftsure: The First Fifty years]
History
The first Swiftsure Lightship Classic Race took place in 1930. Six vessels began in Cadboro Bay, raced out the Strait of Juan de Fuca to its mouth, rounded the lightship on Swiftsure Bank, and returned to Victoria. From 1948-1950, the race began in Port Townsend, WA, and ended in Victoria. Beginning in 1951, the current long courses have remained; yachts start in Victoria, race to their rounding mark in the United States, finishing back in Victoria.
See also
*
Vic-Maui Yacht Race
The Victoria to Maui International Yacht Race (Vic-Maui), the longest offshore sailing race off the west coast of North America, is the pinnacle of Pacific Northwest ocean racing. First contested in 1965, since 1968 the Vic-Maui has run in even-n ...
References
External links
Official Swiftsure website
Sailing competitions in Canada
Sports competitions in Victoria, British Columbia
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