Spectator Information
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Fairfield Community Association
For special Swiftsure room rates, please contact our official hotel,The Executive House Hotel
What is Swiftsure?
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 cruising yachts capable of adventure in exposed waters are encouraged to compete and crews to 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 nine different races over four separate courses, including the Rosedale Rock (formally “Sookesure”) and “Classics” races. 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 and at night. 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. 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. In this way, the races are really contests between teams of competing skippers and crews.
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.
