National birthdays & sailing—Sailing news from North America & beyond

by David Schmidt, Sail-World USA Editor on 28 Jun 2016 With summer now upon us, this coming weekend marks special days for citizens on both sides of the U.S./Canadian border. On July 1, our friends to the north will celebrate Canada Day (AKA “Canada’s Birthday”…in this case its 149th birthday), while us Yankees will be waving the Stars and Stripes and setting-off fireworks on Monday, July 4, when the U.S. of A celebrates its 240th birthday. While each country has its own customs and unique celebrations, one truth that transcends borders for North American sailors is that days off directly equate to days spent on the water with friends and family, celebrating all that’s right with this world.

With nationalist winds blowing across the European Union after last week’s Brexit vote, and as the entire world braces itself for an “interesting” upcoming American presidential election this November, this long holiday weekend is a perfect time to tune out the talking heads and political hucksters and tune in to wind shifts, spinnaker sets, and perfect starts.

While much of the East Coast-based offshore fleet is either still enjoying Bermuda’s fine hospitality or delivering their fiberglass and carbon-fiber racing steeds back to the U.S. from this lovely island nation, and as the West Coast fleet prepares for the Pacific Cup (which starts on July 11), plenty of American and Canadian sailors are making their final preparations for the “Vic-Maui”. This international event starts on July 7 and takes the fleet of offshore-worthy raceboats from Victoria, situated on Vancouver Island’s southern tip, to Lahaina, situated on Maui’s northwest coast, while offering plenty of bluewater miles in between these two famous islands.

Unlike the more famous Transpac Race, which starts some 1,250 miles (2,000 kilometers) to the south of Victoria in Los Angeles, the “Vic-Maui” is traditionally marked by several days of chilly uphill work before boats patch into the tradewinds and start hoisting their kites. Once this sea change unfurls, however, plenty of Vic-Maui vets return home with face-splitting smiles and tales of fantastic surfing conditions, starry nights, and the kind of magic that only takes place far from landmasses.

While these are exciting times for offshore sailors, there’s plenty of round-the-buoys racing action waiting to happen much closer to shore. For example, the Lake Canyon Yacht Club, in Canyon Lake, Texas, will be hosting a Leukemia Cup Regatta (July 2-3); the Edgartown Yacht Club, in Edgartown, Massachusetts, will be hosting its Independence Series (July 2-3); the Kaneohe Yacht Club, in Kaneohe, Hawaii, will be hosting its Kalakaua Cup (July 3); the Buzzards Bay Yacht Club, in Pocasset, Massachusetts, will be hosting its 4th of July Series (July 2-4), and the Edgewater Yacht Club, in Cleveland, Ohio, will be hosting the Bob Nash Memorial Regatta (July 4).

Undoubtedly, there are myriad other great events unfurling all across Canada and the USA as sailors on both sides of the border prepare to celebrate their countries’ birthdays and their sailing passions, but this list is proof positive that-given a bit of wind, water, and freedom-sailors will always find a way to go racing.

So, whether your weekend plans involve singing “O Canada” or the “Star-Spangled Banner”, hopefully they will also involve some sailing-or better still, some racing-with your family and friends. After all, fall’s arrival is inevitable, bringing with it the strong political winds of the presidential contest that’s shaping up in the States. While there’s still a lot of clock time remaining before the U.S. election ballots are tallied on November 8, odds are excellent that-come November 9-plenty of us will wish that we could simply go sailing.

Fortunately, this weekend at least, we can.

May the four winds blow you safely home,