The annual Round Saltspring Race has evolved over 43 years into a whole weekend of celebrations, and has been called “the best regatta on the coast” by participants. Up to 120 boats participate in the Saturday race around the island, from maxi-boats to small club racers. By Friday night the Club docks are alive with activity as boats raft together, flags flying. Because the course offers unique challenges such as tidal currents and variable conditions, it’s a great test of tactics, seamanship, navigation and sailing ability. From year to year, it can be anyone’s race to win. (Above: Silk Questo photo)

Round Saltspring Course – the traditional course around Saltspring Island and the rocky outlying bits is approximately 42 NM in length. The direction of sailing (clockwise, or counter-clockwise) is not determined until the Skippers Meeting on Saturday. Conditions and speed vary from year to year. Over the past years, corrected time for the first place boat has ranged from 6:03:27 to 14:02:57.

UK Team Challenge — Sponsored by UK Sailmakers for the past several years, this competition invites participants to make up teams consisting of any 3 boats from the same yacht club, with no two boats from the same Division. Boats shall register for only one team. The winning team will be calculated by the sum of the corrected finishing position of each team member within their division. Teams sign up for the UK Challenge at the time of picking up Registration Packages. The winning team will receive a prize from UK Sailmakers to benefit their Junior program.