Wow, what a great race!
The 32nd running of the Garden Bay Sailing Club’s annual Malaspina Regatta saw a record attendance of 39 boats. The race was held on Saturday, July 3, under clear skies and steady breeze.
The race committee boat, Canik Too, got us under way at 10:30 on windward beat. The racier boats were able to make the first mark at Hospital Reef in one tack. The more cruising oriented boats had to throw in a couple of tacks to get around the marker in the steady 15 knot wind.
That first leg was a little breezy and bumpy, which took its toll on a few boats. Lady Jayne broke a spreader, Nexus withdrew after three shrouds failed (and wrapped the spin sheet around the prop on the way in), Strider withdrew due to a shackle parting from the genoa halyard and Orion retired early.
The second leg to Acland Rock was again upwind but not such a tight beat. As the racers rounded the Acland marker, up went the spinnakers and away they went on a downwind sleigh ride back towards Pender Harbour. Even those that didn’t fly the chute had a great downwind run.
Once back near the entrance to the harbour it was around Pearson Island and back out to Hospital Reef. The boats in the middle of the fleet had a beautiful view of fellow competitors charging upwind and the faster boats on the way back to the finish under spinnaker. What a sight!
The finish was inside the harbour near Hospital Bay. Canik Too was positioned on the line and gave the competitors a good horn blast as they raced past.
Line Honours went to the amazing catamaran Cheekee Monkee. Corrected PHRF Results are: Division 1 – About Time, John Polglase. Division 2 – Pretender, Claus Sjogren. Division 3 – Peregrine, David Twentyman. Division 4 – Yippee-Ki-Yae, Diana Valiela. A hearty congratulation to everyone else that took part!
The club thanks RCM-SAR61 for setting and retrieving our race marks. And, well, just being there in case help was required. Thanks to Canik Too, with captain Bill and crew Lyn, Bob, Carol and Brian for once again doing a top job of being our race committee.
A special thanks to all the racers that came from afar to join in on our event. Cheekee Monkey from Deep Cove, Wraith and About Time from Vancouver, several boats from Gibsons, Capella from Secret Cove and a couple came over from Schooner Cove too. It all made for a wonderful day!
