Light winds launch Melges 24 Canadians

Victoria, BC (June 2, 2018) – The 2018 Melges 24 Canadian Championship started this morning with too little wind to race and the AP flag was hoisted in the marina. After some cooler days, the summer is back in Victoria and with the lack of wind the 41 Melges 24 teams from four nations – Australia, United Kingdom, United States and Canada – relaxed in the shadow of the postponement.

However, after two hours the waiting was over, AP flag lowered and the fleet was heading to the race course A near to the Esquimalt Lagoon. The wind was building up to five knots and it was too tight in the starting line to keep it clear resulting to the General Recall. The second attempt to start Race 1 was more balanced and also clear to send them off.

The first race day had wind in the 4-6 knot range from the South; the current was also starting to build into a flood. The local racers from RVicYC dominated in the first race, and lead the fleet to the right side of the course looking for better pressure and current relief. The current can be a big factor when racing in the Pacific Northwest, and a few boats struggled to gauge the lay line to the weather mark, making for some position changes at the mark. The race committee didn’t hesitate to drop a change mark to account for the slight change in wind direction, and keep the racing fair.

The second race saw the weather mark positioned closer to Albert Head, some boats now flirted with the middle and slight left side of the course upwind. The downwind legs of a race are always the most picturesque, and in the Melges 24 fleet are absolutely the most thrilling. The fleet with bright coloured spinnakers looked stunning, set to the backdrop of the Olympic Mountains. Victoria is a very beautiful place to sail and the first day of racing was sure to impress.

With the Canadians ending June 3, many teams are using the event to prepare for the the 2018 Melges 24 World Championship which will be held at the same venue on June 5-9.

Day One Results (Top 5 or 42; 2 races)
1. USA 201, Dale Serbousek, – 5 – 2 – ; 7
2. CAN 151, Fraser McMillan, – 3 – 8 – ; 11
3. CAN 415, Robert Britten, – 1 – 11 – ; 12
4. USA 851, Bruce Ayres, – 13 – 1 – ; 14
5. CAN 222, Kirk Palmer, – 2 – 12 – ; 14

Event details – Results – Photos – Facebook