2020 Vic-Maui cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
by Event Committee, March 25th, 2020
2020 Vic-Maui International Yacht Race cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
March 25, 2020
Vic-Maui has completed a review related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 Vic-Maui. This review was undertaken with input from the skippers of all of the entered boats. Vic-Maui’s trustees and committee chairs have concluded that it is in the best interests of competitors and other stakeholders to cancel the 2020 Vic-Maui International Yacht Race.
The race had been scheduled to start in July 2020. Most remaining training courses and qualifying events leading up to Vic-Maui have already been cancelled. Current public health guidance is for people to practice social distancing and to stay at home for all but essential reasons. Travel restrictions are in place, borders are closed, quarantine requirements are in effect, and the timeline for a return to normalcy is unknown.
The decision to cancel the 2020 Vic-Maui has been taken now rather than later in order to allow competitors, volunteers, families, friends, and supporters to focus on being safe and staying healthy, and to encourage compliance with public health advice during the boat preparation and team development phase prior to the race itself. Without this early cancellation, safety now (public health) and safety later (being fully prepared for offshore sailing) could both be at risk.
Mahalo - thank you - to our 2020 Vic-Maui community - competitors, volunteers, families, friends, and supporters. We recognize and appreciate all your efforts and support. We look forward to planning and sailing a future Vic-Maui together when conditions have improved. In the meantime, be safe and stay healthy.
Questions? Please email rvyc-chair@vicmaui.org.
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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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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
Southern Straits • PNW Offshore • Swiftsure • Van Isle 360
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Featured Sponsor
Shackles & Cotterpins
Featured Yacht Profile
Annie M (2022)
Type: Amel Mango 52Skipper: John McCarthy
Port: Santa Fe, NM
Blog: 1 articles posted
The Annie M crew has a wealth of experience to contribute to the Vic-Maui 2022 race. John McCarthy, the captain of Annie M, is a lifelong sailor with experience racing Snipes and J24s, as well as cruising on a Swan 47 and, of course, an Amel 52, the Annie M. His boat has been beautifully restored and named after his beloved wife of 60 years.
Steve McCarthy brings years of racing and cruising experiences from sailing many seas. He’s also a sailmaker and, since 2004, owner of Hogin Sails located in Alameda, CA. In addition to working with sail lofts from Seattle to Santa Cruz, he has raced on Moore 24s and J24s and cruised on a Swan 47 across Europe. Our sails are in good hands with Steve as a sailor since he was a wee one.
Steve Summers is an instructor at Seattle Sailing Club, an Outward Bound teacher, and a National Outdoor Leadership teacher with experience sailing long voyages requiring an excellent ability to handle a variety of conditions and personalities. He’s also a Wilderness First Responder and a well-respected navigator in the Pacific Northwest. A calm soul called to the wild, Steve seeks adventure, and Vic-Maui is one of the adventures he’s ready to tackle.
Callum Hally is focused on sailing when the opportunity arises. In the past five years, he’s sailed more than 500 hours on a variety of boats such as a Catalina 22, J35c and an Andrew 53 to name a few. Through his previous job with Seattle Sailing Club supporting the customer’s experience, he became passionate about being on the water. He’s an excellent crew member with an insatiable thirst for reading, which makes him a fascinating conversationalist, wise beyond his years.
Bill Busch participated as “old goat’ status for Mackinaw races. He’s had a 1st place PHRf overall, 1st place in j105 class, 1st place j120 class. He’s looking forward to sailing a long ocean passage. He recently completed his International Offshore Safety program at St. Petersburg Florida Yacht Club. Bill is known for his kindness and patience.
Sarah Mackay, a lifelong sailor who learned at a young age the art of not getting seasick and never getting bored. She’s a crew member, communicator and, on occasion, cracker of jokes at which she’s the only one laughing. She has raced on J24s and J30s, crossed the North Sea and cruised throughout Europe on a Swan 47, and explored the Pacific Northwest on an Amel 52 named Annie M.
We are busy preparing the boat (and ourselves) for this epic journey. This year, Annie M will be entered in the Pacific NW Offshore Yacht Race and the Swiftsure Yacht Race leading up to our start date of the Vic-Maui International Yacht Race in early July.
