The Swiftsure is an annual epic race, which starts in Victoria, BC, Canada. Our boat, s/v Flying Circus, does the race to Clallam Bay and back, called the Juan de Fuca Race, about 80 miles. In past years we have finished before sunset, at 11pm, at 2am, at 4:30 am, etc., but this year the wind stopped and we withdrew around 7:49 am.
The wind was high at the start with Flying Circus hoisting a reefed main and a #3 jib (aka J3) before eventually unreefing the main and going between the #2 and #3 headsail.
As we sailed across (West) the Strait of Juan de Fuca the seas built (or we sailed into larger swells that often live in the Strait.) I was primarily on foredeck, which is an energetic task for which I am in marginal condition. It is an athletic sport and thankfully we had two agile guys - Richard and Micah - to do most of the real effort. My time on the rail and sail changes upwind transformed to a great amount of helming downwind, after Sarah and Eric got the course dialed in, as we raced back to Victoria.
The wind shut off as forecast and approaching Race Rocks was challenging. Eric and Bruce maneuvered through with a bias toward the Vancouver Island side rather than the knarly rocks and island to the south, in an area we call The Race. We've been through with 25+ knots (see 2017: • high wind highlight: S... )
In the 2024 Swiftsure Race the wind dropped across the entire course and most boats did not finish. Congrats to the hardy souls who stuck it out all day Sunday.
This sailing video was shot on a GoPro Hero11 Mini by Peter Hallett.
Негізгі бет Спорт SWIFTSURE 2024 Flying Circus Juan de Fuca Race - S2 9.1 - sailboat race sailing nice breeze to none
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