1961 Swiftsure; A Fine Year

In 1961, Winsome III from Royal Vancouver Yacht Club became the first Canadian boat to win the Swiftsure Lightship Race since 1931. Bonar Davis was skipper as owner Ches Rickard was away. In this year, 62 race yachts were registered for the Swiftsure Lightship Classic, and this was the last year Jack Gann was the Swiftsure Race Chair. The following year saw the creation of the Juan de Fuca Race but in 1961 there was only the single course – to the Swiftsure Lightship.

In the spring of 2017, from the annals of Swiftsure history, a reel of 16 mm film was discovered by Charlotte Gann. The retrieved canister of cellulose film, marked ‘1961 Swiftsure’ had survived well and, after consulting with Swiftsure Chair Vern Burkhardt, a skillful studio was sought to take on conversion of the 16 mm film reel; the film was reviewed, quality confirmed and conversion completed.

What follows is the result of this discovery.

Just in time to celebrate the 75th running of the Swiftsure International Yacht Race, a piece of history is presented.