Canadian Yachting — June 2017

10 Canadian Yachting JUNE 2017

By Bob Nicoll

or the last 49 years, the West Vancouver Yacht Club
has proudly hosted the Annual Southern Straits Race.
Known for offering challenging conditions, this
Pacific Northwest classic is a proud qualifying event for both the
VanIsle 360 and Vic-Maui Yacht Race.
This year, 82 boats competed on four different course offer-
ings that ranged from an Inshore day race to a Long Course cov-
ering 138 nautical miles. Race day dawned with cloudy skies

overhead, but this did not deter the crowd of several hundred

onlookers along the Dundarave shore. Mark and Kathy Sager’s

beautiful yacht ORIANA served as the Official Start Boat and

spectators were treated to another beautiful downwind spin-

naker start at 10:30 am.

Wind in the Straits remained favourable throughout most of

the race and the fleet was treated to spectacular vibrant

rainbows throughout the day on Friday. While the “hole” at the

PACIFIC NORTHWEST CLASSIC

F

Southern

Straits Race

Smoke, a TP 52, just after the start with its’ grey hull and

orange and grey spinnaker moving through long course fleet.

A parade of yachts passing by the official start boat “ORIANA”, just off the Dundarave Pier in West Vancouver before the start.