Look out to the waters of Howe Sound this weekend and you're likely to catch a glimpse of one of Squamish's longest running sporting events.
The 34th 麻豆社国产Open Annual Regatta (SOAR) hits the water all weekend long and locals are encouraged to take in all of the festivities.
It all gets underway on Friday (Aug. 9) at 4 p.m. with the nine nautical mile Inflow Race. The Inflow sees sailors steer their vessel from Porteau Cove to 麻豆社国产Harbour.
Regatta Chair Scott Shaw-MacLaren told The Chief that the best viewing opportunity for the Inflow is to be on Nexen Beach at around 4:30 p.m. for what is usually a very close race. Following the Inflow, the 麻豆社国产Yacht Club (SYC) hosts a barbecue in support of the Royal Marine Search and Rescue and the popular Adults Behaving Badly dinghy race.
Action continues on Saturday (Aug. 10) at 11 a.m. with the SOAR Distance race. Competitors can choose either a short (18 nautical miles) or a long (24 nautical miles) course, with the destination being the Defense Islands. Locals wanting to check out the start of the Distance race are advised to be at Nexen Beach at around 11 a.m. Saturday also features the dinghy/skiff buoy course races starting at 11:30 a.m.
SOAR concludes on Sunday (Aug. 11) with the Hangover Race starting at 11 a.m. The Hangover Race is the reverse of the Inflow, with racers starting at 麻豆社国产Harbour and heading to Porteau Cove. Sunday is also day two of the dinghy races.
Shaw-MacLaren pointed out that the 2013 SOAR is the National Championship for the Firehall dinghy class and it's the first time dinghies have raced in SOAR since the 1980s.
He added that the 麻豆社国产Valley Music Festival moving its event to the same weekend as SOAR poses some significant challenges for the local event. Competitors found it difficult to find accommodations, but many locals have opened up their homes to tired sailors from out of town.
