Pacific Yachting

The Sidney North Saanich Yacht Club will be hosting its 32nd annual Patos Island Classic Race March 23–24, 2013. This regatta is a designated Vancouver Island Racing Series (VIRS) event and results will count towards the 2013 Vancouver Island Racing Series.  

There will be a long course of 67 miles, a short course of 43 miles and a day course of 15–20 miles. The long course is open to yachts with PHRF ratings of 175 or less; the short course is open to all PHRF-rated yachts and the day course is open to yachts with PHRF ratings of 150–300. Division splits will be established at the close of registration on March 22.

The Patos Island Classic is the start of the Triple Crown competition, which also includes the 40th Round Saltspring Race (at the time of publication the dates had yet to be released) and the Swiftsure International Yacht Race, which runs from May 25 to May 27.

Complimentary moorage will be arranged at the marinas close to the club and arrangements are being finalized for berths at Port Sidney. A large parking area at the club is available for visiting cars and RV's, plus special rates are being negotiated at nearby Sidney hotels.

For more information on the race visit www.SNSYC.ca.  

Applications to participate in the 2013 Van Isle 360 are now closed and for the 42 boats registered for this year’s race the countdown to one of the greatest tests in Canadian racing is on. The boats in this years field range in length from 32’ to 70’. The 360 is a biennial race which, as the name suggests, circumnavigates Vancouver Island.  The race combines inshore, offshore and overnight sailing over the course of ten legs through some of the most beautiful, yet treacherous waters on the planet. This year’s race starts in Nanaimo on Saturday, June 8 and finishes in the same city on Saturday, June 22.