51 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.