ALOHA!

Welcome to the 2012 Vic-Maui Race. Your committees from both the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club and the Lahaina Yacht Club have been preparing this event for your participation since September 2010.

The Victoria to Maui International Yacht Race, first contested in 1968, is the pinnacle of Pacific Northwest ocean racing. Vic-Maui runs every second year, starting in June or July off Victoria, British Columbia and finishing 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 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 day or night each arriving boat is greeted with an outstanding welcoming party. Family and friends meet the racers to celebrate the accomplishment with hugs, leis and mai-tais. The whole fleet attends the awards ceremony and another fantastic Hawaiian gathering. Many crew stay to spend more time enjoying Maui with their families before heading home.

Preparing a yacht and crew for a major ocean race is a significant undertaking. Most successful teams start their boat preparation and safety training more than a year in advance. Establishing a relationship early with an experienced marine insurer who covers offshore sailing is essential. Vic-Maui fosters a spirit of cooperation among competitors, and experienced competitors act as mentors to first time teams.

Race after race, participants report that the Vic-Maui has been their most memorable sailing experience and the adventure of a lifetime. It is our sincere hope that you will be among those at the awards celebration in 2012 who share in the honor and satisfaction of competing in this world-class event.

We wish you fair winds and following seas.

MAHALO