As the Royal Victoria Yacht Club prepares to welcome competitors for the 81st running of
the event, a recap of the 2025 edition is in order.

We hope competitors from last year will return to defend their victories, or claw their way
back onto the leaderboard in 2026. We also look forward to welcoming back past
competitors from prior years, and those new to Swiftsure.

Last years numbers (95 boats) were consistent with past trends; we hope to increase
these numbers in 2026.

• Swiftsure Lightship Classic 7 boats
• Cape Flatter
• ORC 37 boats
• PHRF 11 boats (6 J-105s)
• Juan de Fuca Monohulls 18 boats
• Juan de Fuca Multihulls 4 boats
• Inshore Racing 7 boats
• Inshore Cruising 11 boats

The Cape Flattery ORC class continues to grow, and with 37 boats spread across four
divisions, providing arguably the most competitive racing. The J 105 fleet may disagree.

Long-Course Results Recap
The SLC once again was a war of attrition. Sir Isaac and Hana Mari hung in for a close
finish on Sunday evening, with the Orcas Island Yacht Club based schooner Sir Isaac
finishing 10 minutes ahead, and correcting out by 26 minutes on the locals.

Cape Flattery ORC ranged from the Reichel Pugh 55 Scatteration to a Hobie 33. After a
light start and park-up at Race Rocks several of the fastest-rating boats called it a day.
The wind filled in shortly, thereafter, making for a classic Swiftsure in a nice moderate
westerly for most Neah Bay boats.

The top three boats were no strangers to the podium; with the always well-sailed Riptide
35 Teramoto on top; followed by the also well sailed J-111 65 Red Roses out of West
Van Yacht Club, and Maelstrom Dan Kaesler’s new Melges 30 from Point Madison in
third.

Cape Flattery PHRF was the J-105 show. Starring: Moose Unknown (1 st ), Panic (2 nd .),
and Jaded (3 rd .)

The Juan de Fuca monohulls saw Peter Dennis, with Star class world-champion Ross
MacDonald doing what he does on Setri, easily sail to victory. Mata Hari and Cherokee
rounded out the top three.

In the small multihull class, the new to the PNW Kelona took first.

For full results, including Inshore see.

Swiftsure International Yacht Race » Swiftsure 2025 Results

Dugald Smith
Swiftsure Principal Race Officer

Royal Victoria Yacht Club Commodore Heather Brazier, the RVYC Board, and the 2026 Swiftsure Committee, are excited to welcome all Competitors and Spectators to the 81^st Sailing of the Swiftsure International Yacht Race, May 23-24, 2026! A warm welcome is extended to our friends from British Columbia, Washington and Oregon.  

We wish all participants in the 50^th Sailing of the Pacific NW Offshore International Yacht Race a fantastic and safe race, and look forward to welcoming them to the Royal Victoria Yacht Club May 15-16

A year of great contrasts, from a pile of wind to pretty much breathless. Broken gear but no broken people. Spirits were up in the stratosphere – and sometimes that’s what keeps you going when others have run out of steam. Until the last moment on Sunday, inching toward midnight, four boats just kept going and going, ghosting right to the end. It paid off for North Star who crossed the finish line at 23:37:00 with moments to spare and, in doing so, took first place in Cape Flattery PHRF Division 1 while also officially being the Last to Finish! The three other boats that raced right to the end are worth noting; Jugo in Cape Flattery ORC, Moonglow in Cape Flattery PHRF, and Bardo in Juan de Fuca Race. They exhibited the spirit it takes to race Swiftsure – Bravo Zulu all.

Swiftsure Lightship Classic race has many stories of victories and challenges. This 2024 race was no different – seven yachts began in a big blow and finished in a whisper. By the time the clock was winding down it became apparent, as Adam Serediuk of Planet Express wrote, “the math is mathing” and finishing within the time limit wouldn’t happen. Two boats did finish in fine form. Mach 2, Dan Sinclair’s newly-acquired Andrews 77 came across the finish line at 13:16:20, taking Line Honours for 2024.  Will-O’-The Wisp, Jeff Eckard’s venerable Petersen 41, crossed at 18:07:36, correcting ahead and taking First Place Overall. Jeff, a 1992 Olympic competitor in the men’s two-person dinghy category, has a fine touch on the tiller of his modified-IOR racer. Will-O’-The Wisp crew included Ross Jespersen-navigator, Eric Jespersen-former Olympic medalist in the Star Class, Brent Jacobi, Matt Schinbein, Hugh Owen, Emma Maynard, and Stephanie Bacon – mighty deep talent here. Only the second time in the 79-year history of Swiftsure Lightship Classic that a Royal Victoria Yacht Club entry has been the Overall Winner!

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