Race Day! And Send-Off Social #2

by Charlotte Gann, July 4th, 2022

This morning dawned droopy and foggy with little wind but nothing dampened the excitement at Victoria's Causeway Marina where the 9 boats in the first fleet were putting in last minute supplies, topping up water and, most importantly, kissing goodbye to loved ones. The Committee Boat, Adventure-Us, had all the flags and horns at the ready, the group of spectator boats had hot coffee and muffins for their many guests. The last photos were taken of crews assembled in cockpits, along the decks, or at the stern.

One by one, engines fired up, dock lines were slipped, coiled for the Lahaina landfall, and boats began to peel away from the docks. What had been chock-a-block boats on the docks became empty within 10 minutes as boats paraded out in orderly fashion, headed to the 10 AM PDT start off Brotchie Ledge. Peering through the harbour mouth, fog obscured the fleet until, wonder of wonders, a small breeze filled in, just enough to see all the boats, and sails were hoisted. While spectator boats moved around the race fleet, each race yacht sought their best position, figured out the current, backed down one final time to ensure no kelp, and tacked in and out until the 5-minute horn sounded. Jibs went up, final positioning played out until the start gun went off. Flow got off in clean air, and Xiomara pipped the fleet on the inside. The boats are now off to Hawaii. Within moments, several boats were treated to a humpback whale moving through the fleet! More are possible as the boats sail up Juan de Fuca Strait.

Conditions are expected to be light westerlies for the next couple of days. At last look, around 11 PM PDT, Outbreak and Amun-Ra, both in the Lahaina Class, were just beyond Duntze Rock, having used their engines to power up the Strait - though this class may use their engines, they must record they've done so and it will be built into their final result. Most of this fleet are in the Racing Class so no engines will be used for propulsion.

Later today, the second Send-Off Social was held for the crews of Phoenix and Lurline - they greatly enjoyed the blessing of the fleet, the custom crafted Mai Tais and macadamia nuts, and the camaraderie with each other. It was a fine event.

In case you missed the news, CHEK News did an interview with Jim Innes about the race - here's the Facebook post about the segment.

Follow the boats on the YB Tracker: https://www.vicmaui.org/tracker

Spectator Hosts Derek & Victoria Holmes              Gord Wylie, Skipper of Phoenix

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