The History of Lasqueti Island Regatta
The first race around Lasqueti Island organized by Schooner Cove Yacht Club was held in 2013. Prior to this the annual SCYC regatta was known as the Race Around the Rocks, the first trophy for the Race Around the Rocks was awarded in 1986.
In 2013 the racing group in the yacht club wanted to try a longer all-day event rather than the short course inshore Race Around the Rocks event and so the Lasqueti Island RegaCa was born.
Due to generous sponsorship Oom BMW the regaCa became known as the BMW Lasqueti Island Regatta. The Regatta has been held every year since 2013. Even during the COVID years the regatta was known as “Lasqueti Lite” featuring a shorter course and a much-restricted social occasion.
The regatta attracts on average 35+ sailboats from the various clubs of Vancouver Island and the mainland coast. It is recognized by the BC Sailing Keelboat and racing calendar throughout the BC sailing community and Pacific Northwest. The regatta features social events held at the Fairwinds Marina in Schooner Cove, Nanoose Bay. The social event is oſten aCended by 200+ members of the racing crews as well as SCYC members and local residents.
The sailboats participating in the regatta are divided into Divisions based on their PHRF handicap rating and prizes are awarded to winners of each division. The first boat to cross the finish receives “line honors” and is awarded the Fairwinds Trophy.
The regatta offers many vantage points on the Nanoose Peninsula for spectators, Oom the start at Schooner Cove through Oak Leaf and Moorecroſt Parks.
We would like to acknowledge that we are grateful to be here today on the traditional territory of the Snaw Naw’As First Nation sailing the Salish Sea.
2024 BMW Lasqueti Island Regatta
A light wind starting outside Fairwinds Marina very quickly changed to a colourful display of spinnakers as the wind picked up and the race fleet headed out across Ballenas Channel on the first leg of the counterclockwise course around Lasqueti Island.
Favourable winds continued throughout the race, averaging 10-15 knots. On the inbound (return) leg the fleet experienced a heavy rain squall blowing from the west testing the skills of skippers and crew, not to mention the quality of their foul weather clothing.
The winds being constant throughout the day, all boats finishing the 41 nautical mile (nm) course. The first boat finished at 3:45 pm. The last boat crossed the finish line at 7:47pm.
Twenty-five boats and 120+ crew from 9 B.C. yacht clubs came together to tackle one of the most spectacular and challenging courses in the Vancouver Island Racing Series. This year there were five divisions, four mono hull and one multi hull.
Line honours for the first boat across the finish line winning the Fairwinds Trophy, was Lawn Dart, skippered by Bill Allen from Nanaimo Yacht Club (NYC). Bill was also the Division One winner.
The Winner of Division Two was New Beginnings, skippered by Edgar Hulatt of Sidney North Saanich Yacht Club (SNSYC). Synergy, skippered by Elaine Wade of Nanaimo Yacht Club (NYC) placed second, and Blue Shift, skippered by Ron Turner of North Sidney North Saanich Yacht Club (SNSYC), placed third.
The Division Three winner was Pitoraq skippered by Graham Heath from Canadian Forces Sailing Association Esquimalt (CFSA). Black Adder skippered by Ken Holland of Nanaimo Yacht Cub (NYC) placed second, while third place went to Ken Lott of Nanaimo Yacht Club (NYC).
The Division Four (Cruising Division) winner was Tantivity skippered by Terry Waters of Nanaimo Yacht Club (NYC), with Regalo skippered by Wally Clark of Schooner Cove Yacht Club (SCYC), placing second. Pyrat, skippered by Dick Duffly of Schooner Cove Yacht Club (SCYC) placed third.
The Division Three (Multi-hull Division) winner was Mail Order Bride, skippered by Wayne Gorrie (NYC). Second place went to Kestrel, skippered by Ian Watson (SCYC).
Line Honours went to Lawn Dart, skippered by Bill Allen (NYC).
First Place on corrected time went to Pitoraq skippered by Graham Heath (CHSA).
The Best Overall performance by a Schooner Cove Yacht Club member was Regalo, skippered by Wally Clark.
John Collins, Regatta Chair, commented, “Our club was excited to host the 2024 BMW Lasqueti Island Regatta which is a key race in the Vancouver Island Racing Series (VIRS). We were pleased to give the number of multi-hulls attending their own division this year and we welcomed more yacht clubs to this key race. The great winds really tested the skills of all the racers. We wish to thank all the skippers and crew who found the race both a challenge and a fun event. We look forward to welcoming them again next year.
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 35th 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 the Nanoose Bay Cafe, and their staff, for their cooperation and support in the use of their facilities for the weekend.
For a full list of results and information about the regatta, go to https://scyc.ca/bmw-lasqueti-island-regatta/
The 36th Annual BMW Lasqueti Island Regatta will be held May 30th to June 1st, 2025.
Media contact:
John Collins, Regatta Chair
A tremendous thank you to all our sponsors and prize donors. Particularly our Presenting Sponsor, BMW Nanaimo.
View the 2024 Results
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