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Shipyard School Raid 2008 (Going North)

Race Dates: June 28 - July 05

The Shipyard School Raid is an annual 7 or 8 day sailing and rowing race for traditional small boats. The fourth Shipyard School Raid, of summer 2008, is north from the Silva Bay Shipyard School on Gabriola Island, B.C., Canada to Desolation Sound. The course of about 170 km is through the Gulf of Georgia, Malaspina Strait, and into Desolation Sound.

Recent Blog Entries

Richard Lyons - The Passing of a friend and a great Raider

We have lost a great friend. Richard Lyons died suddenly on Sunday, January 20th. He was holidaying in Baja, Mexico with his friend Laura and daughter Ceighlie, where they had spent 3 weeks sailing and camping on the beach.

Richard’s passing has left a large hole in the community of Gabriola and especially Silva Bay. Rich was many things, almost anything you needed on demand. Boatbuilder, sailor, mechanic, musician, chef, promoter of small wooden boats. Raider, friend, and father. He was Quill’s partner in Barefoot Wooden Boats, the instigator, teacher, and encourager of numerous woodworking and boatbuilding projects on Gabriola, and an all around raconteur and whacko. We, and there are lots of us, loved him dearly.

Richard was one of the chief instigators of the Shipyard Raid, a boundless supporter and participant, and the guy who got up every morning and yelled “hhhowww yaaaa feeeellllinnnng!!!!” He and Quill took endless delight in pushing everyone hard; he was also the first to help anyone who needed a hand, or to lead a water balloon barrage.

A short event (around Gabriola mini-raid) for this summer dedicated to Richard is in the planning stages. I will keep everyone informed as to when.

Raid Dates: 4th Annual Shipyard Raid

Monday, November 19th The 2008 Shipyard Raid will start from Silva Bay on Saturday, June 28th. We're not yet sure of the duration this year as we have a new course, straight north toward Desolation Sound. Approximate finish will be July 5th in Heriot Bay on Quadra Island BC.

This is a challenging course with some long legs; being earlier in the year we hope for more wind but it may be Northwesterly. We plan to visit Jedediah, Nelson, the Copelands, Mink, Cortes, and Quadra Island.

2008 Shipyard Raid

Friday, September 17th Next year’s (2008) Shipyard Raid will go north from Silva Bay, probably earlier (July or August) in the year. It may be tougher with some longer legs: about 170 km through the Gulf of Georgia, up Malaspina Strait (mainland side), and into Desolation Sound. Let me know what you think, especially about race dates.

Raid's End: Sailing to Port Townsend

Friday, September 7th The Raid sailed into Port Townsend early yesterday afternoon, leaders Richard and Quill in Barracuda arriving at about 1:00pm and the rest of the fleet close behind. Overall winner was Conjure, second-place Barracuda, Dragonfly third, and close places for the remaining raiders Selkie, Swordfish, Topsy, and Bellavita. Congratulations to the entire fleet on a safe journey (and we hear that the food was outstanding!).

We expect many fine photos and more news for the blog early next week. (As usual, many of the Raid boats from Gabriola will be returning home on their own bottoms).

Watmough Start: No Fog and Light Winds

Thursday, September 6 News this morning from Molly and Steven Brouwer of Lopez Island: We did see the Raid this morning and raced out of Watmough with them. Conjure in the lead easily with Richard and Quill in Barracuda in second. We trailed in third and could not catch them and soon had to head for home. The start across looked safe with little wind and no fog. They had at times lots of wind yesterday. Richard and Quill broke their mast but being resourceful types fixed it to race another day.

We trust we'll have another update on the Raid this evening--and there are more photos of Raid Mothers and Minders in the blog.

Raid Mothers and Minders

Wednesday, September 5th Tatiana, a 35' double-ended Herreshoff sloop, with skipper Rusty has faithfully bought up the rear of all three raids, as well as being towboat for the Silva Bay Shipyard School's entries in the Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival. Home port, Degan Bay, Gabriola Island.

Read more about the Raid's Mothers, Escorts, and Shepards since Raid 05...

The Raid is in Deer Harbor, at the Deer Harbor Wooden Boat Festival

Tuesday, September 4th The Raid arrived in Deer Harbor this morning from Jones Island, a short-2 nm-leg, in light wind. This afternoon is layover to attend the festival and salmon barbeque, then off tomorrow morning to Spence Spit and then Watmough Bight where the Raid has camping for the night. Details about the legs from Sidney Spit to Deer Harbor to follow.

More Photos Have Been Posted to the Blog

Monday, September 3rd Ted's photos of the Sliva Bay start are up in the blog.

Silva Bay to Sidney Spit

Sunday, September 2nd The Raid fleet arrived in Sidney Spit this morning in a close group with only 25 minutes between the first and last boats on the six-mile leg. Two legs have been sailing only. In mixed sailing and rowing conditions the leaders so far are Conjure, Barracuda, and Dragonfly with the rest of the boats right behind them, in a tight bunch. The forecast for Haro Stait is light to moderate South Easterlies changing to light to moderate North Easterlies tomorrow.

Look for more of Silva Bay Shipyard School Wooden Boat Building student Ted (whose team is building an Oughtred Tammie Norrie starting September 24) Davis' great photos on the blog tomorrow.

In the photo from left to right, Barracuda (with the red jib), Topsy (blue hull), Selkie (all red sails), and Bellavita (black sails).

Raid 2007 Start: Sailing Legs!

Friday, August 31st The Raid fleet sailed out of Silva Bay this morning in light rain and wind, with an appreciative crowd to see them off. This afternoon, for Leg 2--Blackberry Point to Conover Cove--the sun is out and the wind is up: the same is predicted for tomorrow. So it appears to be a sailing race at least until Sunday. Photos to follow--and another update on Sunday.

• Raiders

  • 07 Entries

  • 06 Entries

  • 05 Entries

07 Raid Boats

1. #1 Dragonfly

   

   Mary and Bill Neal return from Raid 2006 with Dragonfly, a 20' lug-rigged ketch with double sliding seats that Bill designed and built for Raid 07.

2. #2 Selkie

   

   Chuck Gottfried and Jamie Orr return from Raid 2005 with the beautiful Ness yawl Selkie, an Ian Oughtred design that Chuck built.

3. #3 Topsy

   

   Gabriolans Jan and Scotty are raiding in #3 Topsy, their 16' Woody Wayfarer, hull #616.

4. #4 Swordfish

   

   Silva Bay Shipyard School graduate and Gabriolan Alex Low and crew Matt are raiding in the Mower dory Swordfish that Richard and Quill raced in Raid 06.

5. #5 YÛko

   

   Barrett will race again in YÛko, the Welsford Navigator she built and raced in Raid 2006.

6. #6 Conjure

   

   Dan Pence is back, in--a slightly modified--Conjure, for his third Raid. Welcome back, Dan!

7. #7 Bellavita

   

   Silva Bay Shipyard School graduate and Gabriolan Damien Tokara is raiding in his beautiful Gartside SKYLARK Bellavita, built at the Silva Bay Shipyard School and launched April 07 at the Silva Bay Boat Launch Festival.

8. #8 Barracuda

   

   Richard and Quill, returning from Raids 2005 and 2006, will race in the Mower dory Barracuda, sistership of Swordfish, built at the Silva Bay Shipyard School and launched April 07 at the Silva Bay Boat Launch Festival.