SUBMITTED BY SALTSPRING ISLAND SAILING CLUB
The May long weekend marked a special anniversary for the Saltspring Island Sailing Club as it hosted its 50th Round Saltspring Race.
A fleet of more than 100 boats registered for the traditional 42-mile race around the island, or the shorter day race. Round Saltspring is now one of the biggest — as well as oldest — regattas in the Salish Sea, drawing competitors from Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland and Washington State.
The celebrations began with a festive Friday night BBQ and dance party. Despite the rain, the upbeat sounds of Salt Spring’s Everyday People had the crowd rocking on the open-air dance floor in their wet gear. A highlight of the evening was the 50th anniversary cake-cutting, with thanks to local sponsor Country Grocer, who provided decorated sheet cakes to feed 400.
Saturday morning brought cloudy skies, showers and light winds for the starts in eight divisions. The forecast predicted more of the same, risking the possibility that some boats might not finish before the time limit of 9:30 on Sunday morning. But the winds began to build and the first boat to finish, 50-foot ocean racer Strum, crossed the line in a little over nine hours, with the last finisher getting back in time for a bit of a snooze before breakfast.
Our Sunday morning pancake breakfast, catered by the Salt Spring Lions Club, was followed by the traditional awards ceremony. The race uses the internationally recognized PHRF handicapping system to equalize the chances of all competitors to win on their seamanship and racing skills. Round Saltspring is well known as a tactical challenge due to the varying winds and currents encountered on the circular race course, and depending on conditions it truly is a race anyone can win.
Congratulations to all the winners in each division, and especially overall race winner, Amelie, from the Sidney-North Saanich YC (Marshall Sharp Trophy); line honours for first to finish, Strum, from Royal Vancouver Yacht Club (Lady Minto Hospital Foundation Trophy); and our own Vern Lhotzky on Invictus, who took the Steve Thomas Trophy for first Saltspring Island Sailing Club finisher.
The Round Saltspring Race owes its long success to the work of the dozens of volunteer members who spend months preparing for and hosting the race, and the support of many generous sponsors, including nearly 40 island businesses and artisans this year. Round Saltspring is famous in the racing community for the spectacular “prize bags” that go to all division winners, stuffed with delectable products made or featured here on the island.
The Round Saltspring Race is also a major fundraiser for the club’s junior sailing program, including a summer sailing school open to all island youth. This year’s silent auction brought in several thousand dollars from bids on items donated by sponsors to help fund the club’s juniors and train tomorrow’s sailors and racers.
Full race results are published on our roundsaltspring.ca race website.