This year the Garden Bay Sailing Club celebrated its 25th running of the Malaspina Regatta on Saturday, June 28.
This popular race is open to all classes of boats and is meant to be more of a family sailing race than anything else. There were 21 boats, ranging from 24 to 48 feet (eight to 15 metres) in length, entered in four divisions.
The race committee had a hard choice to make this year as the weather forecast the night before the race was calling for strong wind warnings of 15 to 25 knots, with the likelihood of thunderstorms. The final decision to hold the race was not made until 8 a.m. on Saturday morning, which broke cloudy but clear with a little blue sky to be seen and winds in the 10 to 15 knot range.
However, by the time the fleet assembled near the start line, the wind had increased to a steady 15 knots gusting 20 from the southeast. The sea was choppy with swells over a metre, and conditions were getting challenging for some of the smaller boats, five of which withdrew from the race. After a slightly confused start, the race went ahead.
The first leg of the 10 nautical mile race became a bit of a “chase the mark” as the buoy, which had been anchored at Hospital Reef, broke loose and was drifting northerly down the course. Some of the skippers continued a mile beyond the theoretical placing before turning onto the second leg.
The first three boats to reach this mark were Wings II skippered by Andy Paulus, Flattery with Dal Brynelsen at the helm, and Frendy skippered by Charlie Park.
The second leg often sees spinnakers being used, but the rolling waves and rough conditions resulted in none being deployed. Many boats were sailing well beyond their designed hull speed as they surfed the waves, which reached almost two metres at times. By the time the fleet reached the buoy northwest of Ackland Rock, the leaders had changed to Drifter skippered by Ron Badley, Flattery and Wings II.
The final leg back along the west side of Nelson Island to the finish at the mouth of Pender Harbour was a hard beat against the on-shore waves and current. The choice for the skippers was a difficult one — if they tacked out into the straits they were meeting the waves head on, while sailing down the coast meant they were being pushed towards the coast.
The first boat to cross the line was Flattery, followed one minute and 51 seconds later by Frendy, and close on her heels, a mere 21 seconds after, Wings II.
Of the 21 boats that set out, only eight finished, with six boats resorting to using their engines, which resulted in disqualification. Most of the skippers said it was an exhilarating but demanding race and that they thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
The club gathered after the race at Fisherman’s Resort where a fun dinghy race was held. The only difference was that the oarsmen were blindfolded and the passengers had to instruct them where to go. The winners were David Pritchard and Jennifer Love.
A barbecue and prizes followed, attended by 120 club members, their families and friends. The first across the line trophy was won by Brynelsen, the first overall trophy was given to Park and the divisional plaques were awarded Brynelsen in division AA, Paulus in division A and Park in division B.
Each year the race committee awards a special trophy to a skipper or club member of merit. Paulus was presented with this prize for his running of the race/cruises, his participation in races where he represented the club and his overall willingness to help with club activities.
