Ron Mackenzie
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Coastal Characters There are few, if any, skippers with more Swiftsures and Southern Straits under their keel than Ron MacKenzie. he arrived in Victoria from overnight Southern Straits Vancouver to participate in race in 1970. “I was pretty Ron his 43rd Swiftsure Interna- naïve,” he says. “I’d gotten tional Yacht Race, he told me into my pyjamas at one point MacKenzie he hadn’t even set foot on during the night. Talk about a sailboat until he was well a wardrobe malfunction! It A Swiftsure stalwart into his 20s. “In 1967, a friend, got so rough only a quarter of By Marianne Scott Mike Howard, invited me the fleet finished. We didn’t aboard his 23-foot, wooden either. When a sailboat was centreboard sailboat,” Ron rescued after hitting Alden recalls. “I’d been on a couple Reef, the race became known of powerboats but had no as the gear buster.” experience with sailboats. We Ron felt he hadn’t really met cruised in the Gulf Islands but the challenge during this first when the boat heeled, I was big race—and that feeling cratch the surface of most really scared.” changed his life. “It made me sailboat racers and you findS characters who started sailing on He decided once was determined to do it again so I the family boat, signed up for Sea Cadets or caught the bug enough and sailing wasn’t managed to get a ride on the when a forward-looking parent sent them to sailing school. They for him. But quickly, second top boat in those days, Bonar started young and racing permeated their lives. thoughts prevailed and he be- Davis’ Hyak, a Discovery 32. That’s not the track that Ron MacKenzie followed. When gan gaining experience during Fortunately for me, there was the weekly races. Not wanting to be a wimp, he crewed on Doran, an Alberg 37, in his first 26 DECEMBER 2017 an opening. We were first “We’ve had excellent offshore of good leadership. For me an the San Diego Yacht Club, and overall—nothing new for races,” says David. “In sailing, important thing is that even in the following year, he bought Bonar and crew, but exciting there’s no substitute for expe- the heat of the moment, Ron a J-37, “the only one on the for me.” rience. You can read books and remembers that racing should West Coast,” he says proudly. He soon realized he wanted take courses, but the proof be fun. If it isn’t fun, why “She’s called Future Primitive. to race his own boat. So he is in the actual sailing. Ron bother?” My son, Bill, named her after bought a C&C 35 MKII, has tremendous experience Having enjoyed offshore a skateboard video.” It’s the and with her and his two and he keys in on building racing, Ron next signed up boat he’s kept and continues later boats, he’s completed 47 a team. His team crews with for the 1987, 1,000-mile Puerto to race. consecutive Southern Straits, him for many years, a mark Vallarta Race, sponsored by Another test came in 2006 holding the record for most races entered. He also entered his C&C in his first Swiftsure in 1974. Since then, he has entered every Swiftsure for a total of 43 contests—few people have en- tered more. He built a depend- able crew, people who raced with him week after week. Having moved up to a C&C 37, he expanded his local and RepoweR SpecialS regional experience by sailing for a limited time on two of our the Vic-Maui offshore race in 1984. Once in Hawaii, he joined most popular westerbeke products the Canadian team in the Pan Am Clipper Cup, a 775-mile race from Oahu round the Hawaiian Island chain. In the meantime, when not racing, Ron was building his career as a chartered accoun- $8,649 tant, articling, then building his expertise, eventually spe- cializing in serving dentists in accounting, management and providing know-how when buying and selling practices. He writes and lectures widely on dental practice manage- ment and has provided exper- tise in legal trials. - 2.5:1 transmission - fresh water cooling 30c ThRee - 5 year limited warranty - self-bleeding fuel system Building a teaM To - electric stop system - three cylinder engine compete in all those races, propulsion engine Ron’s been fortunate to have consistent crew over the years, an essential ingredient for success. His partner, Joan, has 5.0 McG joined him in several Swift- low-co gas generator sures and Southern Straits. - 1,800 RPM “And my right hand, night - fuel injected and day, is Werner Kurz,” says - 5 year limited warranty Ron. “Big winds, big seas; he’s - fresh water cooling $11,995 there for me and us. He’s a - three cylinder engine rock, with great judgement.” Another team member is participating dealers Marine David Sutcliffe, who’s also (GeNeratorS oNLy) Parts anchorage maple marine north shore south island viking marine merrick electrical Supply crewed for Ron for decades, marine services ltd marine ltd marine 1520 Stewart service of Canada 2350 Dorman 105-20693 1331 McKeen 2280 Harbour Nanaimo, BC Vancouver, BC 2350 Dorman Road Nanaimo, BC Langley Bypass North Vancouver, BC Sidney, BC 250-714-1937 604-562-8192 Nanaimo, BC mostly as the foredeck guy. V9S 5G2 250-754-5585 Langley, BC 604-612-4734 250-656-1405 Ph: 800-661-5353 604-533-1301 www.MarinePartsSupply.com Fax: 250-754-9471 DECEMBER 2017 27 nanaimo Yacht Services @ Stones Boatyard aboard Kinetic IV, a Beneteau Marine Store now open! 47.7 that David Sutcliffe had authorized YanMar dealer and Service centre raced to Hawaii and then • Haulout facility with friendly, customer focused, knowledgeable staff brought to Sydney, Austra- • “Do-it-Yourself”, hire our technicians or bring a contractor lia in stages. The goal? To • Our own staff perform a vast range of mechanical, electrical & fibreglass repairs & services join the (in)famous 630-mile Sydney-Hobart Race. Ron Central Vancouver Island’s Largest Boatyard flew in for the contest, which, for boats up to 83 tons & 85' length afterwards, the Australians termed a “medium” strength event. Sutcliffe described it as “lots of drama:” one boat sank and several were dismasted. “The winds come in from the Southern Ocean and the shal- 1690 Stewart ave., NaNaimo BC | 250-716-9065 low Bass Strait funnels those winds,” he says. “Tricky cur- [email protected] | www.nanaimoboatyard.ca rents can run several knots making it among the most challenging race courses in the world.” “We were able to put to- BRACEWELL means BUILT WELL gether a great crew and had NoW sUppLyINg ALL of yoUR shAfTINg & BEARINg NEEds an exciting race,” adds Ron. “We made it to Tasmania and back without mishaps.” Never daunted, Ron raced in the 2011 Antigua Sailing Week, a series of day races. “I put together crew,” he says, “and chartered a Beneteau Prop shafts in 316, Aqualoy 17, 19 and 22 – any size & length as needed up to 6” diameter and 24’ long. 40.7. Five years later, we We have 316 shafting for Rudders or other needs. repeated a Caribbean contest by sailing the RORC Carib- bean, a tortuous, 11-island, 600-mile race from Antigua to Guadeloupe.” Ron is fit, with a well- Cutlass Bearings in assorted sizes in metallic, non-metallic and flanged. trimmed white beard, a shiny T: 604-821-1890 | [email protected] | www.bracewellmarinegroup.com head and looks like a guy always in control. He’s now passed the three-quarter century mark, but is defi- nitely not ready to swallow the anchor. At the Scott Point Royal Van outstation on Salt WE WANT YOUR OLD SAILS Spring Island, he sails Lasers competitively with the “old guys sailing club.” “I still go FOR QUALITY SAILCLOTH into the office, consulting now, several days a week and I bike 45 minutes each way,” PRODUCTS he says. “Keeps me in shape.” Although always the skipper, he relies on his crew to share RFD RECYCLING PROGRAM the load. “We didn’t have the best T 604 681 0531 / E [email protected] results,” says Ron, reflecting on the 2017 Swiftsure race. PICK UP OR DROP OFF AVAILABLE “But we gave it our all. Of 318 INDUSTRIAL AVE, VANCOUVER / REDFLAGDESIGN.CA my 43 Swiftsures, this is the only one with fog and wind 28 DECEMBER 2017 all night all the way back. We respond instantly to any ob- gybed in the dark fog through ject that might emerge out of Race Passage in 25 knots, the fog. And having to cross never seeing Race Rocks or the outbound shipping lane land on the left, with David added further motivation.” Lloyd calling the minutes for each gybe. And then, as has Why did ron take happened many times before, to racing and continue on we spent almost three hours that same path when many completing the last one-half septuagenarians have long mile from the finish line. A abandoned the demanding Driftsure at the end.” sport? He has many reasons. Werner Kurz, Ron’s right “Not many people engage hand for decades adds, in racing,” he says, “and that “This was the most fog we’ve means you’re among those seen in a Swiftsure. It was a who challenge themselves.” race in which old-fashioned He sees racing as a healthy seamanship and the desire to sport, a passion. He loves the keep the crew safe prevailed competition, the camaraderie, over the desire to perform even sharing the trials and well.