ROUND P.E.I. '82 tests boats and crews
November 1982
by Chris Britain
In the short four-year history of the 'Round P.E.I. race, one basic truth has emerged: sometime during the 72 hours or so of circling the entire province there will be a severe storm.
"People keep forgetting that this is an offshore race," said shore captain Ron White, who has been involved in running the event since its inception in 1979. "Northumerland Strait is notorious for sudden, unpredicted hard blows, while the north side of the island offers rocky lee shores, little in the way of refuge harbours, and almost guaranteed heavy seas just when you are trying to get around East Point at the three-quarters mark in the race."
by Chris Britain
In the short four-year history of the 'Round P.E.I. race, one basic truth has emerged: sometime during the 72 hours or so of circling the entire province there will be a severe storm.
"People keep forgetting that this is an offshore race," said shore captain Ron White, who has been involved in running the event since its inception in 1979. "Northumerland Strait is notorious for sudden, unpredicted hard blows, while the north side of the island offers rocky lee shores, little in the way of refuge harbours, and almost guaranteed heavy seas just when you are trying to get around East Point at the three-quarters mark in the race."
Prepared or not, 13 boats answered the gun on July 26. Nine finished. Goin Krazy, a GK 24 from Halifax, suffered a broken tiller in the big surf after rounding East Point. She limped into Georgetown and withdrew after almost four days of non-stop racing. The Tanzer 28 Legend got into the cauldron of tides and rollers at East Point, her exhausted crew finally accepting a tow and a DNF. A 37-foot Tayana from Summerside, Hawanalea, put into port at Souris for 12 hours with an ill crew member, resumed racing when he recovered, then got becalmed off Wood Islands, a half-day's sail from the finish line. Another DNF.
The only disqualification went to the Alberg 35 Naiad, which on the sixth day of the race had to allow some crew to jump ship, contrary to a rule that states that each boat must finish with the crew it starts with. (Stopovers are permitted, proved the crew reboards, but the mandatory stopover in Souris was dropped after the 1980 race.)
The picture was considerably brighter for certain other yachts in the race. The winner on corrected time for the second year in a row was Doug Ingles of Shediac, New Brunswick, aboard his C&C 29,Chene Flyer. Second on corrected time, same as last year, was the local favorite, Dave Mosher's C&C 34, Windancer, out of the Charlottetown Yacht Club. Treated to a new coat of bottom paint just hours before the race, she was first across the line with an elapsed time of just under 64 hours.
Arriving five hours behind her was the largest yacht in the race, a Mason 43 out of Lunenburg but registered in San Diego, California. That was good for 3rd place on corrected time but caused no end of confusion to the followers of the race because she too was named Windancer.
The last boat to finish, with an elapsed time of almost 105 hours, was also the smallest — a Tanzer 22 named Razzmatazz, sailed by Charlottetown Yacht Club commodore Gordon Garrison. Razzmatazzarrived just in time to attend the post-race "Liar's Night" banquet, where losing skippers try to explain away their slowness.
Other finishers were the C&C 30s Cymru and Arjuna in 4th and 5th place respectively, the Camper and Nicholson 38 Keneskoonech in 6th, followed by the Contessa 32, On Tour, and a Shark from Toronto named Compromise Too.
"There were anxious hours," White said, "when we simply didn't know where a couple of boats had got to after approaching East Point. Radio contact was lost and the spotter planes didn't see them. You stare into the night with waiting friends and relatives and wonder if it's time to pick up the phone and start the search and rescue. It makes you realize that this 350-mile race demands a high level of preparation, especailly when it comes to safety equipment, and organized watchkeeping to control the crew fatigue factor."
The only disqualification went to the Alberg 35 Naiad, which on the sixth day of the race had to allow some crew to jump ship, contrary to a rule that states that each boat must finish with the crew it starts with. (Stopovers are permitted, proved the crew reboards, but the mandatory stopover in Souris was dropped after the 1980 race.)
The picture was considerably brighter for certain other yachts in the race. The winner on corrected time for the second year in a row was Doug Ingles of Shediac, New Brunswick, aboard his C&C 29,Chene Flyer. Second on corrected time, same as last year, was the local favorite, Dave Mosher's C&C 34, Windancer, out of the Charlottetown Yacht Club. Treated to a new coat of bottom paint just hours before the race, she was first across the line with an elapsed time of just under 64 hours.
Arriving five hours behind her was the largest yacht in the race, a Mason 43 out of Lunenburg but registered in San Diego, California. That was good for 3rd place on corrected time but caused no end of confusion to the followers of the race because she too was named Windancer.
The last boat to finish, with an elapsed time of almost 105 hours, was also the smallest — a Tanzer 22 named Razzmatazz, sailed by Charlottetown Yacht Club commodore Gordon Garrison. Razzmatazzarrived just in time to attend the post-race "Liar's Night" banquet, where losing skippers try to explain away their slowness.
Other finishers were the C&C 30s Cymru and Arjuna in 4th and 5th place respectively, the Camper and Nicholson 38 Keneskoonech in 6th, followed by the Contessa 32, On Tour, and a Shark from Toronto named Compromise Too.
"There were anxious hours," White said, "when we simply didn't know where a couple of boats had got to after approaching East Point. Radio contact was lost and the spotter planes didn't see them. You stare into the night with waiting friends and relatives and wonder if it's time to pick up the phone and start the search and rescue. It makes you realize that this 350-mile race demands a high level of preparation, especailly when it comes to safety equipment, and organized watchkeeping to control the crew fatigue factor."
Losers win points for Liar's Night victory
July 1983
by Ron White
It's not clear whether the best competition is on the water or at the traditional "Liar's Night" during the annual 'Round the Island Race which starts at Charlottetown, P.E.I., this month.
The fifth version of this grueling annual event will leave from Charlottetown Yacht Club July 25 and continue, nonstop, clockwise around P.E.I. to finish in Charlottetown. Covering more than 350 miles, this offshore-type race is sailed in the warm waters of Northumberland Strait and the Gulf of St Lawrence, a fog-free area with constantly changing weather, tides and currents.
A race around P.E.I. had long been discussed by oldtimers on the Charlottetown Yacht Club veranda, but was labeled too dangerous because of the lack of accessible ports on the north side of the island. In 1978, after safely cruising around the island, Allan Holman and Paul Nicholson formed a race committee. Interest grew and on August 6, 1970 eight yachts from 26 to 42 feet started 'Round the Island.
All but Holman's Contess 26 sought refuge in Summerside Harbour during a severe squall the first night. Come dawn, none of the exhausted crews was willing to resume the race. Finally arriving in Charlottetown after 79 hours, Holman was surprised to find he was the first and last finisher and challenged other skippers to explain why they had "chickened out". He offered to pay the following year's entry fee for the boat with the best excuse and the traditional "Liar's Night" was born.
The following year nine yachts started, ranging from a J/24 to a Hughes 48. Eight boats finished. The 9th crew experienced navigation difficulties and on arriving in Inverness, Cape Breton, had to ask fishermen where they were. Whiskey Papa, a Hughes 48, was 1st after 58 hours. Holman, in his Contessa 26, finished last again.
Whiskey Papa returned in 1981 to defend her title against 13 other yachts, including Windlop, a J/30 from Newfoundland and winner of Liar's Night 1980. A squall the first night caused two boats to withdraw, including Windlop, which suffered a broken mast. however, their song and tale about the UFO that shot the mast down won them Liar's Night for the second year.
Whiskey Papa was unable to fight off hotshot new entries that year and finished 4th. The crew ofWindancer, a Charlottetown C&C 34, thought they had the race won, finishing in 58 hours, 35 minutes, but Doug Ingles from Shediac, New Brunswick, on the C&C 29 Chene Flyer, beat them by 94 minutes on corrected time.
Holman, sailing as crew on a Northwind 29, crossed the line after four days. At Liar's Night he was awarded a trophy for his three consecutive last-place finishes.
Thirteen yachts started the 1982 race, but a gale forced three to withdraw. Contact with some of the boats was lost for almost three days until they were finally located by aircraft. Windancer crossed the line after 65 hours, but for the second year was edged out on corrected time by Chene Flyer.
'Round the Island race orgainizers hope the event will grow and invite competitors from outside the Maritimes to take part.
by Ron White
It's not clear whether the best competition is on the water or at the traditional "Liar's Night" during the annual 'Round the Island Race which starts at Charlottetown, P.E.I., this month.
The fifth version of this grueling annual event will leave from Charlottetown Yacht Club July 25 and continue, nonstop, clockwise around P.E.I. to finish in Charlottetown. Covering more than 350 miles, this offshore-type race is sailed in the warm waters of Northumberland Strait and the Gulf of St Lawrence, a fog-free area with constantly changing weather, tides and currents.
A race around P.E.I. had long been discussed by oldtimers on the Charlottetown Yacht Club veranda, but was labeled too dangerous because of the lack of accessible ports on the north side of the island. In 1978, after safely cruising around the island, Allan Holman and Paul Nicholson formed a race committee. Interest grew and on August 6, 1970 eight yachts from 26 to 42 feet started 'Round the Island.
All but Holman's Contess 26 sought refuge in Summerside Harbour during a severe squall the first night. Come dawn, none of the exhausted crews was willing to resume the race. Finally arriving in Charlottetown after 79 hours, Holman was surprised to find he was the first and last finisher and challenged other skippers to explain why they had "chickened out". He offered to pay the following year's entry fee for the boat with the best excuse and the traditional "Liar's Night" was born.
The following year nine yachts started, ranging from a J/24 to a Hughes 48. Eight boats finished. The 9th crew experienced navigation difficulties and on arriving in Inverness, Cape Breton, had to ask fishermen where they were. Whiskey Papa, a Hughes 48, was 1st after 58 hours. Holman, in his Contessa 26, finished last again.
Whiskey Papa returned in 1981 to defend her title against 13 other yachts, including Windlop, a J/30 from Newfoundland and winner of Liar's Night 1980. A squall the first night caused two boats to withdraw, including Windlop, which suffered a broken mast. however, their song and tale about the UFO that shot the mast down won them Liar's Night for the second year.
Whiskey Papa was unable to fight off hotshot new entries that year and finished 4th. The crew ofWindancer, a Charlottetown C&C 34, thought they had the race won, finishing in 58 hours, 35 minutes, but Doug Ingles from Shediac, New Brunswick, on the C&C 29 Chene Flyer, beat them by 94 minutes on corrected time.
Holman, sailing as crew on a Northwind 29, crossed the line after four days. At Liar's Night he was awarded a trophy for his three consecutive last-place finishes.
Thirteen yachts started the 1982 race, but a gale forced three to withdraw. Contact with some of the boats was lost for almost three days until they were finally located by aircraft. Windancer crossed the line after 65 hours, but for the second year was edged out on corrected time by Chene Flyer.
'Round the Island race orgainizers hope the event will grow and invite competitors from outside the Maritimes to take part.
Storms missing from fifth and fastest 'Round P.E.I. race
November 1983
by Chris Britain
After two years as 2nd-place bridesmaid, Dave Mosher's C&C 34 Windancer out of Charlottetown finally became the bride, finishing 1st on corrected time in the fastest 'Round P.E.I. race in the event's five-year history.
First across the line and 2nd on corrected time was Challenge, a chartered C&C 35 Challenge Labatt Canada prototype skippered by Doug Inglis of Shediac, New Brunswick. (Inglis was the 1981 and 1982 winner on his own C&C 29 Chene Flyer.)
Elapsed time for the C&C 35 was 47 hours and 35 minutes over the 300-miles-plus clockwise circuit, with Windancer less than two hours behind. The previous best time around had been set in 1980 when the Hughes 48 Whiskey Papa made the trip in just over 58 hours.
Missing from this year's race were the storms that had become a 'Round the Island tradition. The 11 boats started in fine weather, and enjoyed light to moderate winds throughout the race. Two boats did not finish. Goldfinger, a C&C 35 from Shediac, had headfoil problems on the third day and could not carry any foresails. Luna Quest, a Gallant 53, also from Shediac, dropped out on day two for unknown reasons.
Third on corrected time was Arjuna, a Corbin 39 skippered by Gerard MacPhee of Summerside, P.E.I. Her elapsed time was adjusted by four hours because the Caost Guard requested whe make a search following a flare sighting off the island's north shore.
In 4th place on corrected time was Cymru, Mike Pragnell's C&C 30, out of Shediac. Pragnell and his crew have raced in four of the five 'Round P.E.I. races. Next was Melissa Anne, a Viking 33 from Pictou, Nova Scotia, and then another Charlottetown boat, Ray Cooke's Nonsuch 30 Maray.
A flare demonstration put on by the Coast Guard in Pictou, Nova Scvotia, on the third evening of the race gave some of the competitors a few anxious moments until the source was identified and confirmed.
"That, and a few calm periods off eastern P.E.I. were about all we could complain about this year," said shore captain Ron White. He said the race committee is pleased to see the average size of boats in the race creeping up, with all boats this year having inboard engines.
As for the future, the committee is already looking beyond 1984 to 1985, with a letter in hand confirming the intention of the Swan 62, HiYa, from Miami to compete, and possibly bring other American boats along.
"The 'Round the Island start in late July is always set to make it possible for yachts doing the Marblehead-to-Halifax race to do ours as well," White said. "We can offer a well-organized event, with challenging currents and tides but no fog." (P.E.I. waters are almost always fog-free.)
by Chris Britain
After two years as 2nd-place bridesmaid, Dave Mosher's C&C 34 Windancer out of Charlottetown finally became the bride, finishing 1st on corrected time in the fastest 'Round P.E.I. race in the event's five-year history.
First across the line and 2nd on corrected time was Challenge, a chartered C&C 35 Challenge Labatt Canada prototype skippered by Doug Inglis of Shediac, New Brunswick. (Inglis was the 1981 and 1982 winner on his own C&C 29 Chene Flyer.)
Elapsed time for the C&C 35 was 47 hours and 35 minutes over the 300-miles-plus clockwise circuit, with Windancer less than two hours behind. The previous best time around had been set in 1980 when the Hughes 48 Whiskey Papa made the trip in just over 58 hours.
Missing from this year's race were the storms that had become a 'Round the Island tradition. The 11 boats started in fine weather, and enjoyed light to moderate winds throughout the race. Two boats did not finish. Goldfinger, a C&C 35 from Shediac, had headfoil problems on the third day and could not carry any foresails. Luna Quest, a Gallant 53, also from Shediac, dropped out on day two for unknown reasons.
Third on corrected time was Arjuna, a Corbin 39 skippered by Gerard MacPhee of Summerside, P.E.I. Her elapsed time was adjusted by four hours because the Caost Guard requested whe make a search following a flare sighting off the island's north shore.
In 4th place on corrected time was Cymru, Mike Pragnell's C&C 30, out of Shediac. Pragnell and his crew have raced in four of the five 'Round P.E.I. races. Next was Melissa Anne, a Viking 33 from Pictou, Nova Scotia, and then another Charlottetown boat, Ray Cooke's Nonsuch 30 Maray.
A flare demonstration put on by the Coast Guard in Pictou, Nova Scvotia, on the third evening of the race gave some of the competitors a few anxious moments until the source was identified and confirmed.
"That, and a few calm periods off eastern P.E.I. were about all we could complain about this year," said shore captain Ron White. He said the race committee is pleased to see the average size of boats in the race creeping up, with all boats this year having inboard engines.
As for the future, the committee is already looking beyond 1984 to 1985, with a letter in hand confirming the intention of the Swan 62, HiYa, from Miami to compete, and possibly bring other American boats along.
"The 'Round the Island start in late July is always set to make it possible for yachts doing the Marblehead-to-Halifax race to do ours as well," White said. "We can offer a well-organized event, with challenging currents and tides but no fog." (P.E.I. waters are almost always fog-free.)
