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Small Fleet, Big Ocean for Vic-Maui Race |
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Written by Dale Miller
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 The Vic-Maui Yacht Race has been capturing the imagination of West
Coast sailors for more than 40 years. From Victoria’s Inner Harbour out
Juan de Fuca Strait, skirting the Pacific High and the final trade-wind
run to Maui, every mile of this classic race is a true offshore
adventure. By all accounts, the Vic-Maui 2008 Yacht Race is shaping up
to be no different.
 The Kinetic crew celebrates the halfway mark on their way to Hawaii during the 2004 race.
Final preparations are well under way for the 12 competing sailboats and the organizing team from the Royal Vancouver, Lahaina and Royal Victoria yacht clubs. Originally planned with separate racing and cruising divisions on two separate start dates, low turnout and lack of entries in the cruising division pared this year’s race down to one start for the racing class on June 22. Participation may be down for 2008, but the same 2,308 miles and roughly two weeks of open-ocean racing promises all the challenges and triumphs these racers can handle.
This year’s fleet is diverse in experience with a mix of veteran Vic-Maui racers, first timers, seasoned boats and brand new sleds. Racing from Vancouver is David Sutcliffe’s Beneteau 47.7, Kinetic; Dan Matthieu’s C&C 39, Black Watch; Warren Hale’s C&C 44, Turicum; Wink Vogel’s new Riptide 50, Strum; Al Bartlett’s Hunter HC50, Starlight Express; and John Gugin’s Olson 40, Red Heather. Hailing from Victoria is Findlay Gibbons on the Custom 42-1 Zulu and Kevin Reath on the Beneteau 40.7 Something Wicked. The American contingent is rounded out by Peter Shainin’s Stevens Custom 47, Passepartout; Kenneth Greff’s Pretorian 35, Seeker; Alex Wigley’s Tartan 10, Freedom X; and Steve Crary’s new ride, the Santa Cruz 52-1 Mystic.
A race banquet is planned for Friday, June 20 at the Royal Victoria Yacht Club, and all racers, sponsors, spectator boat skippers, volunteers and guests are welcome to attend. There will be a dock party in Victoria’s Inner Harbour on June 21 at 16:00–18:00 hours.
For more information on the race and racers, visit www.vicmaui.org.
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