Winners at Chester Race Week

The 2023 Chester Race Week held its biggest regatta in a decade with racing on August 16-19 in Chester, Nova Scotia. Billed as the largest fixed keel regatta in Eastern Canada, Chester Race Week over 1,200 sailors from Ontario, PEI, Newfoundland, Bermuda and the U.S. descended on the small scenic coastal town.

The first day of the Chester Race Week began light on wind but ended with some dramatic finishes on course. Everyone was excited to get the number of races in that they had hoped for. Despite the slow start and lack of wind, the breeze picked up, resulting in an incredibly successful day of racing. Notable classes include the ever-growing Bluenose Class and an impressive 14 participants in the Pursuit racing.

Day two delivered on both weather and competition. Under epic conditions, crews saw plenty of close finishes and steady wind under largely sunny skies. The stronger wind conditions tested the sailors’ mettle. The fleets saw some lead changes in different classes, including the Dragon “Intrigue” who won Pursuit Division 2, beating out the two leading Roues.

The third day presented torrential downpours and tropical temperatures, but the breeze came in and the wind was steady throughout the day. Despite the challenging weather conditions the wind was consistent and the overall racing was terrific. There are some highly competitive classes looking ahead to the final day, including a current tie for first place between Deviation and Jane in Distance 1.

The fourth and final day of Chester Race Week was headlined with ‘champagne’ sailing conditions under sunny skies and a 10 to 15 knot breeze which picked up to gusts of 20 knots. Two-time Olympian Lisa Ross was victorious in the highly competitive Bluenose fleet, winning on ‘Hot Sauce’.

Event Details – Results – Facebook

Source: Tara Wickwire