NYC Racing
With the exception of a short winter break, Nanaimo Yacht Club offers sailboat racing throughout the year in a wide variety of formats. There's a season and a style of race for everyone. We hope you can come out and join us for some fun on the water.
Nanaimo Yacht Club Racing
If speed and competition is high on your agenda, Nanaimo Yacht club holds regular series racing from September through to June. The summer months are spent visiting the local regattas within a few hours sail and enjoying a friendly chase around the inner harbour on Wednesday evenings. Competitors are fierce on the course but friendly off the course, willing to share a few drinks in the upstairs bar of the Yacht Club after every race.
The Nanaimo Yacht club has a keen group of sailors who like to get out as much as possible to engage in friendly competition and hone their boat handling skills. If you don't want race your own boat, or you do not own a boat, no worries, as there are always skippers looking for new crew and no one is ever left standing on the docks when we head out to race.
How Can I Participate?
Just show up at the competitors meeting on race days or contact us at SailRacing@Nanaimoyc.ca for further information. Whether you are a boat owner or crew, you do not need to be a member of the yacht club, and while some prior racing experience is an asset, skippers are usually willing to take newbies out and show them the ropes. Note to newbie crew: wear non-marking shoes, and dress for the weather - it is usually cooler and sometimes wetter on the water than on land.
Pursuit Racing - Singlehanded or Crewed
On Saturdays (with Sunday as a weather backup) as per the racing calendar, a course is decided upon, depending on weather / sea conditions and forecast. Just show up at 10 AM for the skippers meeting to find out the course and your start time.
The slowest rated boat will start at approximately 11 am with faster rated boats to follow depending on their rating. In theory, all boats should finish at about the same time. The races generally take about 2-3 hours to complete. You can compete with a full crew or for an added challenge, sail single or double-handed.
The bar is opened after racing to complete a great day on the water. A trophy is awarded for the boat winning the series.
There is no cost to pursuit racing, all you need to do is sign up on the Racing Mailing List to receive notices of upcoming races and contact information. General enquiries can be made to the Racing Chair at SailRacing@Nanaimoyc.ca.
SIN (Summer in Nanaimo)
In addition to Pursuit racing, sailors in the Nanaimo area have the great SIN (Summer in Nanaimo) Dock Party and Race in June. This event is open to all club members, and includes activities such as Mini 12 Racing, Dinghy racing for Juniors, Poker Run for powerboats, Radio-controlled Laser racing, and a Pursuit Race for keelboats.
Other Options
In addition to all the Sail Racing options discussed above, there are several other opportunities that you can participate in including overnight races to both Gibsons Landing and Silva Bay, where you can race to the destination, take in some excellent restaurants and enjoy the company of like-minder sailors, then race home the next day. There are also a couple of single-handed races for those who like to do it all themselves.
As you can see, the Nanaimo Yacht Club racing scene has something for everyone. All it needs is for you to come out and enjoy what we already know; this is truly the best place on earth, especially out on the water!
For all racing skippers and crew planning to participate in any races, you must sign a waiver which is available on our Racing Documents Page or you can access one in the Clubhouse at the Racing Notice Board.
Racing Calendar
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