Pacific Yachting

For the second consecutive year, Lady Van, skippered by Don Martin, won the Alexandra Cup, this time by just three feet in an exciting photo finish on October 30, 2011. In a series that saw Ace’s skipper Bob Cadranell win two of the first three races in windier conditions that suited her, Lady Van took the next three. After five races, the wind shut down and the nine-race series ended.

On July 2, 21 boats showed up for the start of the 22nd Annual Malaspina Regatta, hosted by the Garden Bay Sailing Club. The ten mile race began between Martin and Pearson Islands at the entrance to Pender Harbour. The conditions “seemed perfect”, with a light five-knot breeze from the northwest, under a sunny sky.  However, as so often happens in sailing, the start proved to be one of the more tricky that skippers have had to face for some years. The tidal flow in the start area produced very confused seas, which resulted in a few boats going over the line early, and many being caught between tide and wind until well after the gun was fired.