SWIFTSURE FACTS AND STATS Current to Swiftsure Race 2012 Royal Victoria Yacht Club Victoria, British Columbia Canada Printed April 2013 FACTS AND STATS 1998, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 SWIFTSURE COMMITTEE Royal Victoria Yacht Club 3475 Ripon Road Victoria, BC V8R 6H1 Canada (250) 592-9098 [email protected] www.swiftsure.org This guidebook is dedicated to the memory of Chris Caple who was instrumental in its conception and launch. The following individuals are gratefully acknowledged, for their contribution to the preparation of this document: Bill Conconi Chris Caple Lou Worthington Gordie Nickells Jim Swanston Debbie Palinkas Michael Nusbaum Bob Bentham Donna Randall Kelly Young Laurel Beveridge Janet Renouf Stephanie Choo Kendal Alston Moira Pollock Emily Boardman 2 FACTS AND STATS TABLE OF CONTENTS Forward ……………………………………………………………………………………. 5 A Distress Call Answered ……………………………………………………………….. 5 What is Swiftsure? ………………………………………………………………………… 6 Swiftsure Partners, Friends, and Media…………………………………………………... 7 2012 Sponsors …………………………………………………………………………… 7 2012 Media Partners and Photographers……...…………………………………………. 7 Short History of Swiftsure ………………………………………………………………… 8 Swiftsure Timeline – Events Chronology ………………………………………………… 9 HMS Swiftsure …………………………………………………………………………….. 16 Swiftsure Lightship ………………………………………………………………………... 18 Overview of the Races ……………………………………………………………………... 20 Innovations ………………………………………………………………………………. 21 Interesting Participating Yachts …………………………………………………………. 23 Participant Summary and Overview ……………………………………………………… 25 Number of Entries over the Years ………………………………………………………. 25 Number of Participants by Race ………………………………………………………… 27 Number of Race Participants by Division ………………………………………………. 30 Visual Representations of Swiftsure Participants……………………………………….. 39 Safety Afloat ………………………………………………………………………………. 41 Strait of Juan de Fuca Vessel Traffic System …………………………………………... 42 Handicapping and Ratings ……………………………………………………………….. 44 The Volunteer Swiftsure Organization …………………………………………………… 46 2012 Swiftsure Committee ……………………………………………………………… 46 Co-operative Education Students at Swiftsure …………………………………..……… 47 Past Swiftsure Committee Chairs and Race Officers………………..…………………… 48 Swiftsure Support Fleet …………………………………………………………………… 49 Summary of Support Fleet Participants …………………………………………………. 50 Swiftsure – Related Articles ……………………………………………………………….. 57 3 FACTS AND STATS Swiftsure Bon Mots and One-Liners ……………………………………………………… 73 Trophies and Prizes ………………………………………………………………………... 75 Trophies ………….……………………………………………………………………… 75 Prizes …………………..………………………………………………………………… 75 Awards Ceremonies ……………………………………………………………………... 75 Division Winners …………………………………………………………………………... 76 Trophy Dedications /Allocations and Trophy Winners …………………………………... 93 Trophy List ………………………………………….…………………………………… 93 Trophy Winners ……………………………………….………………………………… 94 Race Results ……………………………………………………………………………….. 148 Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………… 148 Fastest/Slowest Summary ……………………………………………………………….. 148 Race Records ………………………………………………………………………………. 150 Swiftsure ………………………………………………………………………………… 150 Cape Flattery ..…………………………………………………………………………… 152 Juan de Fuca. ……………………………………………………………………………. 155 Multihull………………………………………………………………………………….. 158 Additional Information on Winners of the Swiftsure Lightship Classic ………………... 160 HMCS Oriole – The Navy’s Oldest Commissioned Vessel ……………………………….. 163 Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………… 162 Historical Highlights …………………………………………………………………….. 164 HMCS Oriole’s Skippers ………………………………………………………………... 167 Swiftsure Performance …………………………………………………………………... 170 4 FACTS AND STATS “SWIFTSURE” An Elizabethan compound name said to signify "swift pursuer." FORWARD A DISTRESS CALL ANSWERED From the yachtsmen and would-be yachtsmen who follow with interest the Pacific International Yachting Association's annual Swiftsure Lightship Classic, a perennial cry has gone up that it has been difficult to find in one place readily referred to comparative statistics and racing history of this important race. "SWIFTSURE '66 is the first known attempt to present in one volume the detailed information." Dorothy and Bill Ouimette Editors and Publishers of SWIFTSURE '66 (Cover Price: $1.00) In the more than 40 years since the first guide was developed, the Swiftsure International Yacht Race has grown and evolved. Information about the annual event up to 1980 improved greatly with the publication of Swiftsure: The First Fifty Years, by Humphrey Golby and Shirley Hewett. Still, there have now been almost 30 more contests and, with the death of Humphrey Golby, a great loss of both first-hand knowledge and old lore. The volunteers who assembled this improved and updated guide hope that sailors, spectators and the media will find this information useful. The guide does not tell the Swiftsure story; it is a compendium of core information for reference purposes. The Swiftsure Committee always appreciates any suggestions or ideas as to materials, which should be added in the future, as well as corrections to the information presented. Thanks to the people who informed us of mistakes and omissions in our first attempt. We believe we corrected all but, no doubt, there are still errors and omissions and for these we apologize. 5 FACTS AND STATS WHAT IS SWIFTSURE? It is rugged, exacting, colourful, and international in competition. Or a boring "Driftsure," sometimes accompanied by fog and drizzle. Every year, the Swiftsure International Yacht Race is a major community event - the premiere long distance sailing race in the B.C. and US Pacific Northwest area and a festival on shore. It is a race in which yachts, both racing and cruising, and crews capable of adventure in exposed waters are encouraged to compete and test their skills. Swiftsure has drawn boats and sailors from California, Hawaii, New Zealand and even Russia. The nature of the course and the potential variety of sailing conditions provide an exacting review of good seamanship. Swiftsure is now actually five different races over three separate courses, plus an inshore regatta. Therefore, it offers wide appeal to the experienced amateur sailor who takes pride in his or her boat, big or small. The skipper and crew must be willing to test their collective knowledge and sailing experience to maximize their overall performance. The races may look glamorous, especially if there is a downwind spinnaker start, but the Swiftsure International Yacht Race demands a combination of a great deal of hard work, and a bit of luck. One needs endurance but strategy is also a major factor. Yacht racing is not only about going as fast as possible; it also requires much thought about how to take the most advantageous course, given the wind and the tides, and lots of concentration, especially in light airs. The winners in each race are often the skippers who guessed best where to sail in order to pick up the most useful winds. Size is not always the most important factor. In theory, the longer the boat, the faster it can go because of its “waterline”. The biggest boats may often be the first to finish (and are awarded "line honours" trophies to recognize this accomplishment). The overall winners, however, are based on corrected time, after applying a handicap system that takes into account a number of factors including the size and type of sails aboard. Swiftsure has and will continue to evolve, in response to changes in yacht design, technology and the preferences of the sailing community. Backed by area municipalities, businesses, residents and a strong volunteer team, the Swiftsure International Yacht Race will be a Victoria-based festival and celebration of sailing for years to come. Bill Conconi Chair Swiftsure Committee 1994 – 2010 6 FACTS AND STATS SWIFTSURE PARTNERS 2012 GOLD SPONSORS 2012 SILVER SPONSORS UK Sailmakers NW Prince of Whales Globalstar West Marine Raven Marine Smugglers’ Cove Pub Vancouver Island Brewery Vancity Victoria Community Branch BC Yacht Insurance 2012 BRONZE SPONSORS 2012 IN KIND BC Ferries Greater Victoria Harbour Authority WesternOne Rentals & Sales Royal Canadian Navy Strathcona Hotel Provincial Capital Commission Kate Cole Designs Canadian Coast Guard City of Victoria 2012 MEDIA PARTNERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS Times Colonist Brenda Jacques Shaw Communications Jan Anderson Chek News Andrew Madding 48 North Peter Reese Pacific Yachting Magazine Keith Brooks Northwest Yachting Magazine 100.3 The Q & The Zone @ 91.3 7 FACTS AND STATS SHORT HISTORY OF SWIFTSURE The first recorded sailboat racing in the Victoria area was in the late 1850s, between boats of the Royal Navy and the early Colonists. Interest in the sport grew in the following decades, and by 1930, a long distance race from Cadboro Bay around the Lightship on Swiftsure Bank, at the entrance to the Juan de Fuca Strait was proposed, and there were six entrants! By 1960, forty- five boats were entered in this now-classic race. However, in the following year, the Lightship was removed from service, and now sailors round a Navy Vessel temporarily on station at the same location. In 1962, after considerable grumbling by skippers of boats that were too small to go to "the Bank", Royal Victoria Yacht Club introduced a shorter-course race to Clallam Bay, some fifteen miles west of Port Angeles, and called it the Juan de Fuca Race. Like the granddaddy classic, it too started with modest beginnings. In the first year of the Juan de Fuca race, there were but four entries;