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EVENT: Opening Day (Sailpast, Luncheon and NFS Race)
May 5, 2019 @ 9:30 am - 2:30 pm
Sail Past Overview and Agenda for Sunday, May 5, 2019
The Sail Past tradition began at the first Yacht Club which was formed at Cowes in England nearly 200 years ago. The membership at Cowes was primarily aristocratic and many were familiar with naval practice and tradition. Cowes Yacht Club subsequently changed its name to Royal Yacht Squadron and certain social graces were added to the traditional naval practices.
The actual “review of the fleet” was introduced as a continuation of the naval habit of having Admirals (and/or Royalty) review the fleet on special occasions. Protocol demanded that a flagship be anchored with the Admiral and staff on the quarterdeck to receive and return the salute. Vessels sailed past, dipping their colours in salute, and with their captain, if hatted (which he…or she, should be), also saluting with the ship’s company standing at attention. The fleet passing in review would be led by the Vice-Admiral and the final vessel in the line would carry the Rear-Admiral.
The Yacht Club tradition is almost identical, except that the salute is received by the Commodore instead of the Admiral. Tradition dictates that all Club members participate in the Sail Past, on their own or on another member’s yacht. Good manners require that a member unable to participate will send his/her regrets to the Commodore.
While sailing past, each yacht should maintain a distance of three boat lengths from the yacht in front. Each yacht will salute when two boat lengths from the Commodore’s yacht until past the yacht. During the salute, the skipper faces the Commodore and returns the salute. All the crew if possible, should stand and face the Commodore but will not themselves salute. Power boats will salute by dipping their ensigns and sailboats by letting fly their jibs. If there is insufficient wind, sailboats should have their engines on.
Please be away from the dock and available to join the Sail Past at 09:30.
All boats should marshal south of the 5 knot buoy.
The Sail Past will begin at 10:00.
We will make a wide circle that will take us in close to Grace Islet.
The fleet will be led by the Fleet Captain Racing who will be on Shingebiss.
The second boat will be Oasis.
All Vessels to Monitor Channel VHF 72 and follow any directions provided by Shingebiss.
An appropriate Salute consists of “dipping” the Canadian flag (holding it so not to flutter), with the Skipper and crew facing starboard with head gear removed.
A sailing vessel may salute by luffing the jib. The salute will be taken both by our Commodore, and, since this is our 50th anniversary, our first commodore, Lawrie Neish, as well.
After the Sail Past, we will all gather on the dock to await the Commodore and our honourary Commodore.
Luncheon will begin at noon.
Fleet Captain Racing, Greg Taylor, racing@saltspringsailing.ca
