Swiftsure 75 will see the running of races over five courses, depending on things such as vessel type, skill and the ambition of the racing crews.
Swiftsure Lightship Classic (256 kilometres)
This is the big one, 256 kilometres from the starting line at Clover Point heading west through and out of Juan de Fuca Strait on to Swiftsure Bank at the lip of the Pacific and back. This year, HMCS Nanaimo will mark Swiftsure Bank. After rounding the ship, the boats will cross over toward Vancouver Island and head east to the finish at Victoria’s Inner Harbour.
Cape Flattery Race (189 kilometres)
This course features two races, one for multi-hull vessels and the other for single hulls. Both are handicapped and split into divisions to make for the best competition. Sailors in the Cape Flattery course are saved the challenge of sailing outside the strait on to the more open Pacific. Cape Flattery racers leave Clover Point and sail west down Juan de Fuca Strait. They shift direction at Neah Bay in Washington state, where they round a marker and head north and back toward Vancouver Island to finish at the Inner Harbour.
Hein Bank Race (218.7 kilometres)
This course was added three years ago and is proving very popular. Its distance almost equals the Lightship Classic, but sailors are saved the challenge of sailing on to the Pacific. Racers start at Clover Point and follow the Cape Flattery route, shifting course at Neah Bay. But instead of making the tricky course correction at Race Rocks to head north back to the Inner Harbour, they carry on toward the San Juan Islands, where they round a marker buoy before heading northwest back to the harbour.
Juan de Fuca Race (146 kilometres)
This race is open to multi-hulls and single-hulled vessels. In this race, racers leave Clover Point and sail west and south toward Washington state. At Clallam Bay on the American side, they round a mark and head back toward Vancouver Island. Near Port Renfrew, they turn to head east to finish up at Victoria Harbour.
Swiftsure Inshore Classic (45 to 75 kilometres)
This is the shortest course and is designed as a day sail to bring sailors back in time for supper. Racers leave Clover Point and head west. Near William Head, they round a marker buoy and head back east and ultimately end up at a finish line in Cadboro Bay near the Royal Victoria Yacht Club. The final course of the race depends on wind and weather conditions, so it will not be known until the morning of the race. This year, it will feature two races, a competitive flying sail and a more relaxed Legends of Swiftsure to give a chance to older, restored or classic boats.
