70 replies to this topic

[Mike K.]

I’m sure the restaurants and bars downtown were thrilled with the business.

Good to see some old-time activity return to the city, and an event that really does promote the region.

[Victoria Watcher]

Victoria Classic Boat Festival returns to Inner Harbour

The festival, organized since 2017 by the Maritime Museum of B.C., is expected to attract about 10,000 people this year, following two years of COVID-related cancellations.

 

https://www.timescol...harbour-5771642

[todd]

I can already smell the varnish!

[grantpalin]

Was down at the harbour yesterday morning. There were a small number of classic craft  already docked. Passing by again some hours later, the lower causeway docks were starting to fill up. Imagine it will be full up today.

[Victoria Watcher]

Just a few days away.

[Victoria Watcher]

I’m sure the restaurants and bars downtown were thrilled with the business.

Good to see some old-time activity return to the city, and an event that really does promote the region.

And brings people with large wallets.

[Victoria Watcher]

Spectators will be lining Dallas Road Saturday morning for the 78th Swiftsure Lightship ­Classic race, hoping to see brightly coloured spinnakers filled out by a brisk westerly wind sending boats on their way.

 

Every year — except 2020 and 2021 during the pandemic — locals and visitors flock to Clover Point, the official starting location, and line up along Dallas Road for five races, beginning with the Lightship Classic at 9 a.m. Saturday. Other races ­follow in 10-minute increments.

 

Race chair Randy Diamond said organizers are hoping for clear weather with a 15 to 20 knot wind coming from the west.

 

Last year, spectators huddled along the waterfront under cloudy skies and a light drizzle.

 

 

https://www.timescol...th-year-7048082

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 26 May 2023 - 05:21 AM.

[todd]

[sebberry]

Click through for more photos!

 

 

Swiftsure 2023 by SebblesVic, on Flickr

[Victoria Watcher]

“It was sunny, warm and fast race, with medium to strong winds,” said Randy Diamond, Swiftsure’s race event chair. “It broke course records in some races and close to records on others.”

 

There were the same number of boats competing this year, about 120, as in 2022, Diamond said.

 

Dragon, a multi-hull skippered by Duncan Gladman and racing for the Northwest Multihull Association-Canada, crossed the finish line in a record time of seven hours, 37 minutes and 58 seconds in the Juan de Fuca Race for Multihulls on Saturday afternoon.

 

 

 

https://www.timescol...23-race-7063550

 

 

Dragon broke its own 2022 course record by three hours, five minutes, but results are calculated using a handicap system, and the eventual winner was the Cheekee Monkee, skippered by Kim Alfreds of the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club. The Cheekee Monkee crossed the finish line about 14 minutes behind Dragon.

 

The same winds of up to 40 knots (74 kilometres an hour) broke the mast of the Hamachi, out of Seattle, in the Cape Flattery Race. A number of boats put their own races in abeyance to come to its rescue.

 

The eventual winner of the race, the Terramoto, also had its mast broken during the race, but the crew was able to finish despite the damage.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 28 May 2023 - 11:19 PM.

[Mike K.]

Awesome shot, Sebberry!

[todd]

Such an environmentally friendly event.

[Victoria Watcher]

Registration for Swiftsure 2024 is now complete and preliminary division splits are available in ‘Registered Yachts’. With 131 boats registered, the Swiftsure Lightship Classic has 7 boats competing as of today, the new Cape Flattery ORC currently has 41 (2023 had 9), PHRF Cape Flattery has 24, Juan de Fuca Monohulls has 34 while the Multihulls have 7. In the Inshore Division, 18 boats are registered. Compared to 2023, the big growth is in Swifture Lightship Classic and Cape Flattery ORC boats. A little over 1/2 of the boats are from the USA, typical of most years, this being the Memorial Day weekend.

 

 

 

On Saturday, May 25th, if you can’t make it to Clover Point to experience the race start in person, watch the CHEKPLUS.ca live broadcast starting at 9:55 AM hosted by CHEK anchor Tess van Straaten and Swiftsure commentator Dale Gann from the race host Royal Victoria Yacht Club. Enjoy the CHEK promo of Swiftsure 2024 here.

 

CHEK promo:  https://www.swiftsur...ure-chek-promo/

 

 

 

https://www.swiftsure.org/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 23 May 2024 - 05:05 AM.

[max.bravo]

Racing sailboats is exciting, fast paced, and feels dangerously fun if you're on board. But it's boring for spectators. What could they do to drive more engagement with spectators?

 

Livestream on youtube from some boats? 

[Sparky]

^ YES!!

An armada of drones, live streams from participant vessels, live streams from escort vessels, a news crew that have done their homework on each competitor and sell sponsorships and advertising on a YouTube stream.

Priceless.

[Victoria Watcher]

Embed journalists on the boats.

[Matt R.]

^ YES!!

An armada of drones, live streams from participant vessels, live streams from escort vessels, a news crew that have done their homework on each competitor and sell sponsorships and advertising on a YouTube stream.

Priceless.

Sounds like the America’s Cup.

[JimV]

Watching Swiftsure is a lot more fun than watching paint dry.  

[sebberry]

Is the race tracker broken for everyone? https://kwindoo.com/...e?race_id=44440

[Sparky]

I get bad gateway error.