Algerine Passage Race results 2026-05-17
The Algerine was first raced on the Victoria day weekend in 1970. Sunday, May 17th. marked the 50th race to be completed.
Thirteen boats took part in the race with 11 managing to complete. The winds gave us a smorgasbord of challenges. The start found us in a 12 – 15 knot north-west breeze with a healthy chop. With plenty of wind the race belonged to the larger boats. The start was the line between P52 and the bell buoy (P54). P54 was the favoured end by several hundred meters and so everyone was aiming for it to start. No boats got chopped in half but it was close. Being late as usual we watched from behind as Unfinished Business came powering in on starboard at twice the speed of most others. Coming within inches of the bell buoy she turned abruptly onto a port tack to dramatically lead the way into clean air somehow avoiding several others.
Our course took us from the bell buoy to the north end of Vivian Island, through the channel between Vivian and Ahgykson (formerly Harwood) Island and then across Malaspina Straight to finish just south of our south boat harbour.
The wind held for two hours until it slowly died a couple of miles from Vivian. Our windex was spinning 360’s in the slop as was our boat with no steerage. Fortunately another wave of wind built from northwest and veered around to the west and finally to southwest to take us well into Malaspina straight before it too collapsed leaving boats floundering hither and yon, one down by Willingdon and others up by the Texada shore and still others somewhere between. Finally a south-east breeze appeared to take us to the finish and the 50th successful Algerine race was completed.
Congratulations to Unfinished Business from Pender Harbour for line honours and respectable win in corrected time.
Results
