Salt Spring Photographer John Cameron
If you look hard you can see the Vancouver area, Robert’s Bank Terminal, and on the far right, Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal.
The crew aboard Westerly, a Santa Cruz 70, looks unconcerned as they enter traffic and approach the hard bump ahead (Second Sister Island).
The seven starts of this year’s race included over 100 boats, light air, grey water, flat light and grey skies. Things may liven up late this afternoon.
The fleet is taking the clockwise route (around Beaver Point, Sansum Narrows, Southey Point and Nose Point).
The winner is determined by a handicap system which attempts to give all boats an equal chance of a winning time. It often comes down to how serious and experienced the crews are, being in the right place at the right time (squeaking though Sansum Narrows before the wind dies and the tide changes can save at least 6 hours), and of course, luck! The boats have until 10:30 Sunday morning to cross the finish line.
Update: 5:30 p.m. near Nose Point (both boats will cross the finish line by 6 p.m., incredible times)
Valkarie, the Transpac 52 (rating -82) and not far behind, Westerly, the Santa Cruz 70 (rating -69)
The second location—provided by a client—allowed both water level images and some almost straight down images (but much closer and better than aerial photos which just don’t work on such a grey day—great on sunny downwind run with spinnaker’s flying)
Race results are normally posted Sunday on the SISC race website.
These folks have lots of time as they watch Prevost and Salt Spring islands go by. They started in Tsawwassen, stopped at Galiano, stopped at Mayne, and will soon be stopping at Pender Island. And then they get to turn around and sail to Long Harbour on Salt Spring Island.
