Introducing the 2020 Vic-Maui Fleet: Red Sheilla

by Event Committee, April 12th, 2019

"Red Sheilla” is the first boat to enter the 2020 Vic-Maui!

Red Sheilla previously competed in the 2010, 2012 and 2016 Vic-Maui races. In July 2020, Red Sheilla skipper Jim Innes will sail in his fifth Vic-Maui, following the pioneering course sailed by his father JG (Jim) Innes in 1965.

The first Vic-Maui was sailed in 1965. The race was a dream of Royal Vancouver Yacht Club member JG (Jim) Innes who, at that time, was a Captain for Canadian Pacific Airlines. Jim convinced three other skippers to start with him off Brotchie Ledge in 1965. With Jim in his Lapworth 36' "Long Gone", there was Lol Killam of the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club with the 45' sloop "Velaris", Ron Ramsay of the Royal Victoria Yacht Club with the 45' ketch "Norena of White" and Boo Paskel from Seattle Yacht Club with his 73' ketch "Tatoosh". The 1965 race and weather were typical; Westerlies in the Juan de Fuca Strait, a left turn down the coast to about the latitude of San Francisco, followed by a right turn under the North Pacific High and a gybe with the Northeast trade winds filling spinnakers for the sunny run to Maui. "Long Gone" won the first Vic-Maui with a time of 15 days, 6 hours and 55 minutes. Records have been broken many times since 1965.

The current record holder is "Valkyrie", skippered by Gavin Brackett of the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club, who completed the race in 8 days, 9 hours and 17 minutes in 2016.

Follow Red Sheilla on Facebook (including her blog posts) at: http://www.facebook.com/redsheillasailing. The video here is her 2012 homeward delivery from Lahaina.

In 2019, Red Sheilla’s crew will be racing on different yachts in Southern Straits, Round Salt Spring, Swiftsure and Van Isle 360. This fall, Red Sheilla will be entered in Round The County followed by 2020 Southern Straits, Oregon Offshore and Swiftsure.

In 2020 Vic-Maui will be marking the next 50 years of the race. We invite you to join us!

Vic-Maui on Facebook and Twitter

• Follow Vic-Maui on Facebook
• Follow Vic-Maui on Twitter

We invite you to follow the 2020 Vic-Maui for  Challenge • Adventure • Teamwork.  

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Victoria to Maui International Yacht Race

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 home.

Visit www.vicmaui.org for  Challenge - Adventure - Teamwork!

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Vic-Maui Sponsors

Co-Hosts

Royal Vancouver Yacht Club • Lahaina Yacht Club

Gold

Navis Marine Insurance • Pacific Yachting • Martin Marine  

Silver

CSR Marine • Eggbeater Creative  • First Yacht Services 
• Greater Victoria Harbour Authority • Harken • North Sails 
• Pioneer Inn • Pro-Tech Yacht Services 
• Ralph's Radio • Signature Yachts • Survitec Group  

Supporters

 Vic-Maui Qualifying Races

Southern Straits • Oregon Offshore • Swiftsure • Van Isle 360

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