Merry Christmas and all the best in the New Year from the regatta crew at Schooner Cove Yacht Club.

After another successful BMW Lasqueti Island Regatta in 2022, incorporating new facilities at Fairwinds Marina, we are looking forward to hosting another full regatta in 2023.

Please ‘save the date’ and plan to join us for a weekend of racing and camaraderie. 

We will keep you updated via this website, www.scyc.ca/bmw-lasqueti-island-regatta/

Many thanks and best wishes,

John Collins

BMW Lasqueti Island Regatta Chair 2023

* photo courtesy of Wally Chinn

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE… Nanoose Bay, B.C., June 4, 2022

And they were off!  With a spinnaker start for many, the rain could not dampen the excitement! This was definitely a skipper’s race from start to finish.

Moderate SE winds at the start gradually grew to 30 knots up the west side of Lasqueti Island.  Faster boats beat the tide change and managed to finish late afternoon, while others were challenged by the tide and periods of less wind.  After 41 nautical miles (nm), the fastest boats were back at the dock just after 3:00 pm and most boats were back at the dock by 7:00 pm.

Twenty-three boats from 7 B.C. yacht clubs came together to tackle one of the most spectacular and challenging courses in the Vancouver Island Racing Series.  With three divisions starting from outside Fairwinds Marina, 110+ skippers and crew set a course clockwise around Lasqueti Island.

The Overall Winner, taking home the Windsor Plywood Cup, was Jack Rabbit, skippered by Colin Nichols from the Canadian Forces Sailing Association (CFSA).

The Winner of Division One was Dream Chaser, skippered by Greg Keel of Nanaimo Yacht Club.  Jack Rabbit, skippered by Colin Nichols CFSA placed second, with Blue Shift, skippered by Ron Turner, Sidney North Saanich Yacht Club, placing third.

The Division Two winner was Duet, skippered by Bob Skinner from CFSA, with Pitoraq, skippered by Graham Heath, CSFA, placing second and SPUD, skippered by John Collins, from Schooner Cove Yacht Club, placing third.

The Division Three (Cruising Division) winner was Kemre, skippered by James Robinson of Comox, with Katana, skippered by Wade Major, Campbell River Yacht Club, placing second.  Starlight Express, skippered by Tim Rann, Schooner Cove Yacht Club, placed third.

Line Honours went to Jack Rabbit, skippered by Colin Nichols, CFSA.

The best Overall performance by a Schooner Cove Yacht Club member and recipient of the Fairwinds Cup, was Starlight Express, skippered by Tim Rann.

John Collins, this year’s Regatta Chair, commented, “Our club was excited to host the 2022 BMW Lasqueti Island Regatta as our racing community returns to post-COVID activity.  We were also pleased to see a growing Cruising Division for sailors who have broader sailing interests but love the challenge of a race.  We wish to thank all the skippers and crew who braved the elements this year but found the race both exhilarating and fun and plan to return next year.

Tremendous thanks go to our 35 sponsors and prize donors, particularly our Presenting Sponsor, BMW Nanaimo, and our major sponsors Windsor Plywood, which sponsors the Windsor Plywood Cup, and UK Sails.  All our sponsors contributed greatly to the success of the event.

 Thanks also go to our many club volunteers who organized the race events, served hundreds of meals and participated in the planning, promotion and details that go into one of the most successful regattas on Vancouver Island.”

 The 33rd Annual BWM Lasqueti Island Regatta was organized by Schooner Cove Yacht Club, located at Fairwinds Marina, Nanoose Bay, B.C.  The Club would like to thank Fairwinds Marina and Seascape Restaurant, and their staffs, for their cooperation and support in the use of their facilities for the weekend.

 For a full list of results, photographs and information about the regatta, go to https://scyc.ca/bmw-lasqueti-island-regatta/

 The 34th Annual BMW Lasqueti Island Regatta will be held June 2nd to June 4th, 2023.

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Media contacts:

Kathy Swangard, Regatta Communications                           John Collins, Regatta Chair

secretary@scyc.ca                                                                  regatta@scyc.ca