Today is the start of the 2023 Swiftsure International Yacht Race and it looks like it will be a good one! The forecast is for a fresh breeze at the start, increasing to a full gale this afternoon setting the stage for a quick race.

The Swiftsure Race Tracker goes live at 07:00 so you can watch the boats proceeding to the start at 09:00. If you’re in Victoria, you can head down to Clover Point to watch the start in person. Be sure to come down early for the Central Saanich Lions Club Pancake Breakfast starting at 08:00

The Swiftsure Organizing Committee has posted an amendment to the NOR for the Swiftsure Inshore Classic. You can read the amendment on the Official Notice Board.

Hike Harder!

We are pleased to announce the issue with our systems have been resolved and registration for the 2022 Swiftsure International Yacht Race is now open!

If your registration was impacted by the bug when we first opened, the Registrar will contact you resolve any issues. If you have concerns about your registration please email the Registrar or Technical Support.

Due to some unexpected bugs in the Swiftsure Registration program not seen during system testing, the Registration system has been temporarily suspended. It will be re-opened once the issues are resolved. Registrations received to this point are being tracked and skippers will be notified if their registration has been received and it’s current status. Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience.

Sincerely, Andrew McBride, Co-Chair, Swiftsure International Yacht Race.

The Swiftsure Committee of the Royal Victoria Yacht Club is pleased to announce that the 2022 Notices of Race for the Four Long Courses and for the Inshore Classic have now been published on this website. While Covid-19 and the related public health restrictions continue to create a significant level of uncertainty the Committee is moving forward organizing the 2022 races and related events. Due to the caution required at this time some activities and dissemination of information have been delayed or postponed. Most significantly race registration will not commence until March 1 2022 when we will hopefully have a higher level of certainty that the event will go forward as planned. Please review the Notices of Race at you’re earliest convenience and check this website occasionally for more additional information. We’re hoping to see as many keen racers as possible for Swiftsure in it’s 77^th running in it’s 92^nd year!

Swiftsure, always a challenge!

Due to the uncertainty resulting from the high level of COVID 19 cases and the ongoing Public Health restrictions the Swiftsure committee has determined that a “Definitely Not Swiftsure” race and the related Silent Auction are not feasible for 2021. Thank you to all who worked to try to make them happen. We will now begin preparations for Swiftsure 2022 scheduled for May 28 – 30 2022. We hope to see you then. Please look for updates on this webpage beginning in late September 2021.

Swiftsure International Yacht Race                             
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 03/24/2020
3475 Ripon Rd.
info@swiftsure.org

Swiftsure 2020 International Yacht Race Cancelled

It is with the deepest regret that we have decided that, for the first time since 1946, the Swiftsure International Yacht Race will not be run this year.

After careful consideration by members of the Swiftsure Committee and the Board of the Royal Victoria Yacht Club, it was determined that it was in everyone’s best interest to cancel this year’s event due to the increasing threat of the COVID-19 virus. The risks associated with transmission of the virus to participants, to our many supporters, and to our volunteers is just too great, given the serious attention of our governments and health authorities. 

Thank you to all our supporters, sponsors and volunteers who have been working in preparation for the 2020 event. Your time will not go to waste as the RVYC Swiftsure Committee will now immediately turn its attention to the 77th running in 2021.

Swiftsure, always a challenge!

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It’s always a big decision to commit to a big race like Swiftsure each year. Alex Fox of The Sailing Shop at Trotac Marine is an amazing resource for information on how to have your boat race ready for Swiftsure Yacht Race. Join him in the next Swiftsure Speaker Series. More information can be found on our Facebook page by clicking here.

Presenting an Evening with Richard Clarke, the recent winner of the Fastnet Challenge Cup, the overall prize for the 2019 Rolex Fastnet Race. Everyone Welcome! More info on our Facebook page, by clicking here

Swiftsure 2019 certainly lived up to its tagline of ‘Always a Challenge’. With light and variable winds, pouring rain and lumpy seas beyond Race Passage, it was a test of sailors’ skill and perseverance. Though the challenges in 2019 were substantial for both sailors and organizers we consider the event a great accomplishment for the Club and an addition to the legacy that is Swiftsure. Swiftsure continues to be the largest sailing race on the west coast  of North America with over 1,000 sailors and a total of 164 entered the combined races in 2019; 131 in the 4 Long Courses and 33 in the Inshore Races. Of these there were 13 Royal Victoria YC boats registered in the 4 Long Courses. None of our boats finished the Long Course Races but 9 of the 10 registered in the Inshore Races finished successfully.

The Swiftsure Lightship Classic was won by David Raney’s Rage of Corinthian YC of Portland. Rage was the only boat of 14 starters to complete the course.

The Hein Bank Race was won by Marda Phelps of Seattle Yacht Club in Maverick. Eight boats started though only 4 finished.

The Cape Flattery Race for Monohulls (Heavy) was won by Alan Luber of Seattle Yacht Club in Maya who was also 1^st in Division 1. Joe Downing of Olympia Yacht Club won Division 2 in Balder 2. Of 24 boats entered only 2 finished.

The Cape Flattery Race for Monohulls (Light) was won by Chuck Stephens of Seattle Yacht Club in Panic who also won Division 3. Division 1 was won by Nathalie Criou of Richmond Yacht Club in Envolee and Division 2 was won by Kirk Fraser of Corinthian Yacht Club of Seattle in Eclipse. Of 37 boats entered in this race only 7 finished.
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