According to rule 3 of racing: “The responsibility for a boat’s decision to participate in a race or to continue to race is hers alone.”
The impact of this statement is amplified when racing in a short handed regatta where each boat is sailed either solo or double. And so it was for the 51st Royal Naval Sailing Association regatta, held May 31st and June 1st, hosted by the West Vancouver Yacht Club and Nanaimo Yacht Club, when a strong wind advisory was issued days before the event calling for 20 to 30 knots of sustained wind.
Race management quickly amended the course for the first day of racing in response to the forecast. The course was set from the Point Grey bell buoy and, for the first time in the event’s history, removed the turn mark at Cape Roger Curtis at Bowen Island so racers could have a direct route across the Strait of Georgia to the finish line at Snake Island near Nanaimo.
Full speed ahead during the 2023 RNSA regatta.This year’s regatta emphasized safety compared to previous years. Race trackers were given to each entrant, there were hazard awareness checklists and three teams of Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue supporting the Delta Lifeboat where the Race committee conducted the regatta. By start time, eight boats had already withdrew—mostly single hand registrants.
Race day one started with a faint breeze under dark, ominous skies. Some boats had already thrown a reef in their sails. With a building northwest breeze, it became a tactical march across the Strait of Georgia. How strong would the wind get? As the day developed to 15 and 18 knots, the conditions were ideal and the race was on!
That night held a scrumptious dinner and drinks at the Nanaimo Yacht Club in celebration of the diversity of the sailing community. The special recognition categories to mark this regatta were novice skippers, female skippers, Old Salts (65 to 74 years) and Ancient Mariners (75+ years), with the range of participants from 17 to 86 years young.
Bernie Yau, contributor and chair of the regatta, standing at the 2024 awards ceremony.A highlight of the evening was the presentation an exquisite and beautiful painting by RNSA regatta founder, Delta Lifeboat skipper, celebrated marine artist and Order of BC recipient, Captain John Horton. The painting was awarded to the racer with the closest predicted elapsed time crossing of the day. Racers hailed from Vancouver Island and the BC lower mainland, and all participants received plaques to commemorate the event.
Race day two offered sunny skies and a moderate breeze to bring the racers back to Vancouver, with many enjoying a sustained spinnaker run. Indeed, Mother Nature had delivered enviable conditions.
Congratulations to single hand winner, John Polglase of the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club on J/109 Double Time, and to the double hand team, Mark Gyton and former Canadian Olympic sailor Hunter Lowden of the West Vancouver Yacht Club on J/88 Javelin!
The RNSA trophies are stored at HMCS Discovery on Deadman’s Island in Stanley Park and protected under the Department of National Defence. They will be on display at the West Vancouver Yacht Club for the awards ceremony on the evening of Tuesday, October 28, where the participants can see their names engraved on the trophies. One such award is the Pacific Yachting Magazine trophy for 3rd place overall corrected.
Full results from the race can be found here.