A weekend full of action on the open seas is scheduled for next weekend and Squamish yacht club fleet captain Shawn Gosnell expects a weekend full of excitement.
The 31st Squamish Open Annual Regatta will begin on Friday (Aug. 6) with an evening inflow race starting at Porteau Cove and finishing in front of Nexen Beach.
Gosnell encouraged people to come out and take it all in.
“I really hope people come out, have a great time and come down to Nexen Beach to watch what we have going on,” he said.
According to Gosnell, Friday’s race is always a crowd pleaser.
“It’s an interesting event to view as a spectator,” he said. “The finish line is nearby the beach and it’s always an exciting way to end a race.”
Gosnell added that it’s hard to predict when the boats will arrive, but between 4:30 and 4:45 p.m. is a good bet.
Ordinarily 20 to 30 boats compete in the inflow race, but Gosnell said he’s expecting around 15 this year since many competitors are concerned about the shallow water and muddy conditions on the course.
Saturday Aug. 7 will see a new addition to the event – the Government dock will be the site of a number of seven-foot dinghies races in an event designed purely to entertain.
Four boats a time will race the small triangular boats that are ordinarily used by the Community Youth Sailing Program. The event is not a true competition but is rather designed to provide a few laughs as grown people fit into tiny boats.
A few hours later will be the long course race, which is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. The race, which could last anywhere from three to five hours, begins at Defense Island and will wind its way back to Nexen Beach.
Sunday will be the final day of the event and it features a 10-mile, one-way race. The race begins at the Squamish Terminals, with the finish line located at Porteau Cove.
Gosnell added that due to the concerns about shallow water and muddy conditions, a group of boats would be departing at around 7:30 a.m. with another group racing at 1 p.m.
For more information and a full schedule of events, visit www.members.shaw.ca/dandacol/SYC/soar2005main.html.
