The West Vancouver Yacht Club again requested the assistance of CLI’s Delta Lifeboat as a communications and safety vessel for the 2019 “Southern Straits Yacht Race” held on the Easter Weekend. A large fleet of 85 yachts from Canada and the US raced over 3 courses – short, medium and long, all starting off Dunderave Pier, West Vancouver, at 10:30 on Good Friday morning. The long course yachts would race as far north as Sisters Islands, well beyond the ability of the WVYC monitoring radios. Therefore the Delta Lifeboat was requested to deploy to the Islands to monitor all rounding’s as well as be on hand if any yachts required assistance.
A 3’ moderate NW sea kept everybody on their toes. At 17:30 with yachts already rounding “Sisters” it was decided to anchor in the lee until all vessels had made their turn.
By 22:30 rising wind increased the sea to an uncomfortable 4’. However, station was maintained until 02:30 when it was decided to weigh and proceed to Ballina’s Island to monitor the fleet rounding’s there, before setting course for the finish line at Point Atkinson.
By 09:00 all yachts had rounded and were on their final leg. Delta Lifeboat was relieved of her duty and able to set course for the Fraser River.
The NW wind increased and raised a moderate 5’ sea which meant great care had to be taken on approaches to Sandheads with overall breaking seas that have caused many mishaps over the years to other vessels.
Securing back at the Ladner Station at 16:15 the crew was able to reflect that their role had contributed to another great Southern Straits race and be thankful that it was an event with no accidents.
“BZ” to all the crew who had maintained a continuous watch routine for 31 hours.