2005 Swiftsure Classic Race Winner Coruba

VICTORIA, British Columbia – The wind gods smiled on the Strait of Juan de Fuca this past weekend, making the 62nd running of the Swiftsure International Yacht Race one of the fastest on record.

Two hundred and thirty-eight racing yachts hit the starting line Saturday off Clover Point at Victoria’s waterfront. Almost 1,000 spectators were on hand to enjoy the sunny hot weather and witness a sailing spectacle that rivals the world’s major offshore regattas.

Race Chairman Bill Conconi said: “Winds at the start were quite light, but within an hour yachts were revelling in 25 to 30 knot westerlies under sunny skies. With this year’s currents in the Strait of Juan de Fuca perfectly aligned with the timing and direction of the race courses, it is no wonder that records were tested.”

More than 60 yachts withdrew from the race, most due to the high winds overpowering either the boat or the crew. No injuries were reported, however, a few vessels reported breaking their masts.

Preliminary results were released on Monday at 4 pm. Rob Fleming’s Coruba, from Seattle, won the 140-mile Swiftsure Lightship Classic Race - one of five races that make up the Swiftsure International Yacht Race event. Fleming finished the race within 30 minutes of the course record, set in 1996 by Roy Disney’s Pyewacket. Coruba earned a "clean sweep" in taking 1st in division, class and race.

According to Fleming, his Swiftsure win is attributed to “a good crew and our kind of breeze. We were able to make good use of the wind and it worked for us.” Victoria sailing legends Dave Richardson and Olympian Jeff Eckhard were part of Coruba’s crew.

This was Coruba’s second win in three years, beating out rivals Icon (2004 Winner), Cassiopeia and Rage who each finished well back in the field. Dick Robbins helped SYC secure the top two spots in the race on Icon with a second place finish. The third place finisher was Cassiopeiafrom Anacortes. With SYC boats Marda Gras and Night Runner completing the race fourth and third in their respective divisions, Seattle Yacht Club should be in good standing for club competition awards.

Last year’s Cape Flattery Race winner, Time Bandit, appears to have done it again by winning the largest of the races with 93 yachts.

Snake Oil (left), and Bluefin headed for the start line

Snake Oil came in a respectable 3rd with Jim Marta at the helm in this very competitive class. The Unlimited Flattery Race was won by Addiction from Anacortes, followed closely by SYC's John Buchan to grab second place in division, class and race on Irene. There was also a great showing by SYC racers in Division H with Bill Watkins' Declaration of Independence, Bill Cuffel's Blue Fin and Gerry Henson's Re-Quest finishing second, third and fourth respectively.

Chris Otorowski, Stacey Wilson, Gino Borland, Dick Bell, Steve Scruggs and Roger Werner aboard Rocket J.Squirrel heading to the mark under #2 jib alone (after tearing up the main before even getting to Race Rocks)

SYC Vice Commodore Chris Otorowski put in a fine performance finishing third in his division aboard his Swan 39, Rocket J. Squirrel and Lee Rogge worked his Cal 40 Spectre to finish in a class where many others in his class did not complete the course.

Now in its second year, the Classics race proved to be very popular, with 29 entrants doubling last year’s fleet. Stanton Keck's Circe finished 8th in it's divsion in this race.

Complete details on Seattle Yacht Club finishes are listed as follows:

Swiftsure Lightship Classic Race Class: 1
-DIVISION A-
Coruba (Nelson/Merek 70)- Rob Fleming, 1 in Div A, 1 in Class 1, 1 in Race, Finish time - Sun 03:14, Corr. Elapsed 19:02:14
Icon - (Perry 65) Dick Robbins, 2 in Div A, 4 in Class 1, 4 in Race, Finish time - Sun 04:13, Corr. Elapsed 20:43:26
-DIVISION B-
Marda Gras (Santa Cruz 52)- Marda Phelps, 4 in Div B, 8 in Class 1, 8 in Race, Finish time - Sun 07:21, Corr. Elapsed 21:18:40
-DIVISION C-
Night Runner (Perry 42)- Doug Fryer, 3 in Div, 13 in Class, 13 in Race, Finish time - Sun 20:51:37, Corr. Elapsed 31:27:46

Cape Flattery Race Class: 3
-DIVISION G-
Snake Oil (Tripp 40)- Jim Marta, 3 in Div, 7 in Class, 8 in Race, Finish time - Sun 03:23:28, Corr. Elapsed 14:49:34
-DIVISION H-
Declaration of Independence (Express 37) - Brian Watkins, 2 in Div, 4 in Class, 5 in Race, Finish time - Sun 03:44:52, Corr. Elapsed 14:33:03
Blue Fin (Thomas 35)- Bill Cuffel, 3 in Div, 6 in Class, 7 in Race, Finish time - Sun 03:53:39, Corr. Elapsed 14:41:50
Re-Quest (Express 37) - Gerry Henson, 4 in Div, 8 in Class, 9 in Race, Finish time - Sun 04:06:36, Corr. Elapsed 14:54:47

Cape Flattery Race Class: 4
-DIVISION K-
Rocket J. Squirrel (Swan 39) - Chris Otorowski, 3 in Div, 5 in Class, 21 in Race, Finish time - Sun 06:25:35, Corr. Elapsed 16:41:02
-DIVISION L-
Spectre (Cal 40) - Lee Rogge, 9 in Div, 26 in Class, 58 in Race, Finish time - Sun 13:52:37, Corr. Elapsed 23:09:28

Unlimited Flattery Race Class: 7
-DIVISION 0-
Irene (1D48) - John Buchan, 2 in Div, 2 in Class, 2 in Race, Finish time - Sun 21:24:01, Corr. Elapsed 11:31:06

Swiftsure Classics Race Class: 8
-DIVISION S-
Circe (S&S Ketch 65) - Stanton Keck, 8 in Div, 8 in Class, 17 in Race, Finish time - Sat 15:51:55, Corr. Elapsed 3:45:04

Source: Swiftsure Committee

COOL FACTS: CORUBA owner/skipper Rob Fleming Celebrates a 2nd Swiftsure Triple Crown Yachts named Coruba have been very, very good to Rob Fleming. In 1988 he and his Hobie 33 named Coruba took the Triple Crown (1st in Division, 1st in Class, and 1st to cross the finish line) in the Cape Flattery Race. In 2005 Rob took the same honor in the Swiftsure Lightship Classic with his 70’ Nelson Marek of the same name.