This June marks the 21st running of the Vic-Maui Race. Starting off Brotchie Ledge at the southern end of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, the race covers 2,308 nm of open ocean and finishes off the Hawaiian island of Maui.
The 2008 fleet is expected to be smaller than in previous years and all in one class. Barring last-minute sign-ups, the fleet will consist of 11 boats, all in the racing class. The boats entered are a mix of old and new and include race veterans Black Watch, a C&C 39 skippered by Dan Matthieu; Steve Tuck’s C&C 121, Darby, hailing from Vashon Island, Wash.; and Zulu, a custom 42-1. Other racers include Passepartout, a custom Stevens 47; Seeker, a Pretorian 35; and Turicum, a C&C 44.
New boats include Strum, a custom Riptide 50; Something Wicked, a Beneteau First 40.7; Starlight Express, a Hunter HC50; and Freedom X, a Tarten 10. No boats have entered the newly created cruising class.
The Royal Vancouver Yacht Club and the Lahaina Yacht Club organize the race, which since its inception is held every two years. This year the race’s longtime sponsor IBM will be joined by the Times Colonist newspaper and Rogers Communications (radio station CKWX 1130 AM).
The start is set for June 22, 2008. For more information, visit the race’s Web site at www.vicmaui.org.
