Races and Regattas

RVYC Standard Annual Race Events Scheduling Protocol

The following tables outline the traditional `fixed` dates for major RVYC regattas, series, and trophy race dates – i.e. dates that are fixed relative to milestone dates such as holidays. Other events are fitted between these events. These dates are used to achieve the best possible wind and weather for major events and maintain continuity (avoid gaps and conflicts). This schedule provides a standard starting point that usually works well. In any given year, the Sailing Committee may approve a different date for particular events.

Event	Scheduling guideline	Notes
Major Annual Regattas
Frozen Assets (dinghy)	First weekend in February
THRASH Regatta (keelboat)	Weekend before Opening Day	(unless conflicting with Easter, in which case scheduling is ad-hoc)
Spring Dinghy Championship	First weekend of May	(Avoid conflict with RVan Opening Day – usually by delaying by one week)
Swiftsure International Yacht Race	US Memorial Day Long Weekend (weekend after Victoria Day long weekend)
Gladwell Junior Team Racing	Second to last weekend in September
Fall Dinghy Championship	Last weekend in September
Thermopylae Regatta (keelboat)	First weekend in October	(should be weekend before Thanksgiving)
Trophy Race Series
Thermopylae Trophy	Second to last Sunday of September	Coincides with the second day of Gladwell Regatta
Whitehouse Trophy Race	Last Sunday of September	Coincides with the second day of Fall Dinghy Regatta
Virtue Cup	Two Sundays after Thanksgiving	i.e. weekend after the first ATB
William Head Race	Sunday between the last two ATBs in March
Lipton Cup	Two Sundays before Opening Day	Sunday before THRASH
Sextant (dormant)	Saturday before May Long Weekend (afternoon and evening race, must include some racing in the dark)	Saturday before Around Saltspring
Special Races
THSA: Rum Race	Boxing Day	THSA event finishing at RVYC
Johnston Reef Race	New Year`s Day
Racing Series
Fall ATB	Starts the first Sunday after both Thermopylae and Thanksgiving	4 race series, alternating weeks, usually ending early December (or late November)
Winter ATB	Starts two weeks after last Fall ATB	Don`t schedule a race between the weekend before Christmas and New Years. 4 or 5 race series ending two weeks before first Spring ATB (Last Fall ATB and first Spring ATB set the schedule for Winter ATB)
Spring ATB	First schedule the last Spring ATB to be the Sunday before Lipton Cup (or the weekend before that if it conflicts with Easter Sunday), and then work back to get 4 alternating Sundays before that	Usually works out to start in late February
Winter LD	Start two weeks after Virtue Cup Trophy Race (which itself is 2 weeks after Thanksgiving)
Mini-12s	Start Saturday after Labour Day	Usually 4 series of 5 racing days plus 1 make-up day each. Avoid scheduling conflicts with Gladwell, Fall and Spring Dinghy Championship Regattas.
Dinghy Frostbite	TBD
Spring, Summer, and Fall One Design Days
Spring One Design	Saturday between the last two ATB in March (the day before William Head race)
Summer One Design	Mid June (schedule between other events)
Fall One Design	First Sunday after Labour Day	Day after Easter Seals
Trophy & Awards Night
Trophy Awards Night & Racing Christmas Party	A Thursday or Friday Night a week before or after the AGM	Scheduled each year by the Fleet Captain