For 20 years and running, the Malaspina Regatta remains the number one source of mariner bragging rights around Pender Harbour.
"I would classify it as one of our better regattas," said Tom Barker, organizer of the event.
Unfortunately the UV index proved much higher than wind speed on race day, July 4. Wind at the 11 a.m. sounding of the starting horn was little more than one knot. The 15 competing vessels began the race pointed in every which direction, jockeying for position with hopes of catching even the slightest breeze to get the race started.
"It was a schmozzle at the beginning. Everybody was just hitting everybody else and I saw three guys pushing themselves off each other with a pike pole," Barker said. "But then it got better and the wind just kept building up. It came out to be 15 knots northwest."
Barker said the slow start was actually a good chance for racers to joke and enjoy some camaraderie before the wind picked up, making it one of the most fun races in memory.
This year's race was soundly taken by the Cariad Bach, a trimaran, skippered by Dave Pritchard. This is the second year in a row for the Cariad Bach to take first place. Second place was taken by the Avanti skippered by Dave Zuest.
The 19-kilometre race runs from Irvines Landing across the Malaspina Strait to Texada Island, up the strait to Cape Cockburn and back.
Following the race, entrants met up for the traditional barbecue and bar at the Pender Harbour resort to revel in the fierce though slow competition, enjoy a dark rum and "lie," according to Barker.
