Vic-Maui Yacht Race on the horizon

by Vic-Maui International Yacht Race on 5 Mar 2014 Preliminary 2014 start dates have been set for the Vic-Maui International Yacht Race. Pre-start festivities in Victoria will commence on Canada Day, July 1st. The first group of boats will start on July 3rd, and the second group of boats will start on July 5th. These dates are preliminary and are subject to change.

Full details are online at Notice to Competitors 1 and at Race Documents.

An amendment to the Notice of Race has been published. Changes affect stability, rating and communications requirements.

Full details are online at NoR Amendment 1 and at Race Documents.

An extensive information update covering frequently asked questions on Ratings and Measurement has been published here. This information includes how to obtain an ORR rating, what's involved in ORR measurement, the 2014 timeline, and a history of ratings systems used by Vic-Maui from 1965 to 2014.

The Victoria to Maui International Yacht Race is hosted by the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club and the Lahaina Yacht Club. First contested in 1965 and sailed every second year since 1968, Vic-Maui is the pinnacle of Pacific Northwest ocean racing. Vic-Maui starts in July off Victoria, British Columbia and finishes near Lahaina, Maui, a distance of approximately 2308 nautical miles.

Vic-Maui challenges navigators to demonstrate their weather routing and navigational skills. Success depends on the navigator’s skill in predicting where the Pacific High pressure zone and trade winds will be, nearly a week into the future.

The adventure includes sailing around the Pacific High and surfing downwind in the trades. The days pass quickly with the fleet surrounded by dolphins and albatross, spectacular sunrises, sunsets and brilliant starlit nights.

Teamwork gets the boats to the finish line near Lahaina, where each arriving boat is greeted with an outstanding Hawaiian welcoming party. Family and friends meet the racers to celebrate the accomplishment with hugs, leis and mai-tais. Many crew stay to spend more time enjoying Maui with their families before heading Event website