For potential crew on Riptide50 Strum for the RVYC VARC Fraser River Lightship Race on Saturday, September 27, 2025.
https://www.royalvan.com/fraser-lightship
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ABOUT
The Fraser River Lightship Race is a classic fall distance race, traditionally hosted by the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club (RVYC). The Sand Heads Lightship marked the entrance to the Fraser River from 1913 until 1956 when a jetty was built to stabilize the river entrance and a lighthouse built. The Lightship became a racing mark/destination for offshore races. The current race course leaves English Bay, rounds a buoy near where the lightship was stationed, and returns to English Bay.
ABOUT (CLUB)
Royal Vancouver Yacht Club
3811 Point Grey Road
Vancouver BC V6R 1B3
604-224-1344
RoyalVan.com
ABOUT (COURSE)
Start, RVYC Breakwater
MARK1: Point Grey Bell Buoy Q62 (P)
MARK2: Sand Heads green buoy S1 (S)
MARK3: PGBB Q62 (S)
FINISH: NW RVYC Breakwater
ABOUT (NOTICE OF RACE/NOR)
https://rvan.ca/FraserRiver/NOR%20Fraser%20River%202025.pdf
ABOUT (REGISTERED BOATS)
Strum registered Sep10/25
https://theclubspot.com/regatta/QzMEugU1Jh/#entry-list
ABOUT (SAILING INSTRUCTIONS)
https://rvan.ca/Appendix%20S.pdf
ABOUT (SAIL CANADA PRESCRIPTIONS)
https://www.sailing.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Sail-Canada-Prescriptions-to-the-RRS-2025-2028_revfinal-1.pdf
ABOUT (SCHEDULE)
1000h First Signal
1500h or earlier expected finish
2300h Time Limit
30nm course
ABOUT (SKIPPERS COMMENTS)
Although this is one of Strum’s shortest registered races of the year at only 30nm, conditions are typically a reach/reach, which is what Strum does best (because water ballast)!
ABOUT (VARC)
This event is part of the Vancouver Area Racing Council distance series. Strum's skipper is the VARC.bc.ca Division-0 Representative.
https://varc.bc.ca
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CREW
CREW (CALL)
If you, or someone you know, want to race on Strum for this event, select…
GOING, if you can commit,
INTERESTED, if you cannot, or are unavailable regular/Core-Crew, & we will contact you. Preference continues to be given to crew who can help prepare Strum for this event, be available for a practice sail and have a valid Safety At Sea certificate as we are building an offshore race team.
CREW (CORE-CREW)
Strum can be difficult to sail competitively (water ballast/articulating sprit & all), so we like to have crew familiar with the boat. We feel 8 competent regular crew are needed, so we run 8 Core-Crew positions that can commit to ALL events and help prep Strum before & after regattas. Since we are primarily an offshore race boat, a valid Safety At Sea certificate is preferred. Apply within!
CREW (CONFIRMED)**
(Safety At Sea #/SAS)
1. Calvin Goldschmidt (no SAS)
2. Simon Kaulback (20230305)*
3. David Legault (CANBC6202)*
4. Carl Mulherin (CANBC2768)*
5. Anthony Rizk (no SAS)
6. Steve Small (CANBC2790)*
7. Zach Thompson (CANBC2700)*
8. Kris Vogel (no SAS)
9 Randy Vogel (CANBC2497)*
10. TBD (apply w/in)
CORE-CREW UNAVAILABLE
Peter Bodifée (Interested)*
Reto Corfu (family conflict)*
Peter Hennig (can’t do)*
Brad Stanton (TBD)+
Jacob Sweetapple (travelling)*
*Core-Crew
**Subject To Change
Safety At Sea (6/8=75%)
Positions will be assigned onboard. There will be time to try different positions, but in an all hands situation, please fall back on the one assigned.
CREW (FACEBOOK RESPONSES)
GOING (9)
1. Calvin Goldschmidt (no SAS)**
2. Simon Kaulback (20230305)*Y Feb01
3. David Legault (CANBC6202)*Y Feb01
4. Carl Mulherin (core-crew)*Y Feb01
5. Anthony Rizk (SAS?)
6. Steve Small (CANBC2790)*
7. Zach Thompson (core-crew)*Y Feb01
8. Kris Vogel (no SAS)Y Sep09
9. Randy Vogel (core-crew)*Y Feb01
10. Riptide50 Strum (host)
INTERESTED (5)
Alexandra Anglin (SAS)**
Peter Bodifée (CANBC2691)*
Reto Corfu (CANBC2623)*M242?
Peter Hennig (CANBC2762)?*
NO FB RESPONSE (3)
Brad Stanton (unavailable)*
Jacob Sweetapple (travelling)*
Robert Torok (photographer)
Crew not responding to these Facebook /Events will be at risk.
*Core-Crew
**Contact skipper please
Reminder to “friend” Strum core-crew. Crew not responding on Facebook will be at risk.
CREW (RUM/FOOD-SHARE)
No rum donation or food cost.
CREW (SAFETY GEAR REQUIRED)
This event is Near-Shore, and requires crew compliant,
*PFD w/air/whistle/strobe
*Tether (1+2m)
*Wet Weather Gear (WWG)
If requested 48 hours prior to Vancouver departure, skipper can provide WWG (S/M/L/XL?) &/or compliant PFD with tether onboard Strum. Please understand, you cannot race on Strum without these.
Skipper to provide,
Strum PFD/tether, KV (1)
Strum WWG, KV=M (#2)
CREW (SAIL GEAR/BAGS)
WHILE RACING, last names
A-M gear in Port Quarter Berth,
N-Z gear in SB Quarter Berth,
AT ALL TIMES, to be closed & secured. Wet wether gear & PFD/tethers to be hung up in Quarter Berth (QB) or in your bag. Orphaned gear will be moved to same side quarter berth.
PQB, CG/SK/DL/CM (4)
SQB, AR/SS/ZT/KV/RV (5)
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SCHEDULE
Sep20 Sat, Practice sail? (RV)
Sep21 Sun, Practice sail? (RV)
Sep26 Fri, 4-7 crew rig up (RV)
Accomodations for out of town crew.
SCHEDULE (WORK LIST)
BUY
[ ] Ballast switch, BlueSea #4180?
[x] Beer x24 (S Yeti)
[ ] Bubly waters x24 (P Yeti)
[x] Garbage bags (S/L)
[x} Register for FRLS (Sep10/25)
CHECK
[x] Battery AA (flashlight/VHF)
[x] Battery AAA (LED/enlights)
[x] Battery house/start (charging)
[x] Blocks (As/Js/HCR/Main)
[ ] Engine (coolant/oil/run 15m)
[x] Fusion stereo (working)
[x] GPS B&G Zeus2 waypoints)
[x] Pumps ballast/S shower/water
[ ] Pump, shower-drain P?
[x] Running rigging (clean/dry)
[x] Tank, diesel P (100%)
[x] Tank, diesel S (40%/use)
[x] Tank, propane (90%)
[x] Tank, water-black (0%)
[x] Tank, water P (94%)
[x] Tank, water S (70%)
[x] Tank, water-maker A (0%)
[x] Victron battery charger
[ ] Victron MPC 2000w/80a/12v
CLEAN
[ ] Bottom (RM TBD)
[ ] Deck/hull (Mar22)
[x] Interior (bunks/galley/heads)
DO (AFTER SALISH SEA)
[ ] Ballast switch, swap
[x] Bin1+2, green (to lighten ship)
[x] Canvas winter cover (garage)
[x] Cushions off (QB seats)
[x] Cushions on (bow/sofa/nav/QB)
[x] Halyard swap (5)
[x] Harken BM75 blocks on (5)
[ ] Lighten ship (every regatta)
[ ] Main sheet fix
[x] Mast plates in (3), then…
[x] Mast Jack off (garage)
[ ] Post Crew/Marks/NOR/SI
[x] Propane (90%/secure)
[x] Rig bags, extra (garage)
[x] Rum, we have plenty
[x] Safety gear (check/on)
[x] Sails, pickup from loft (0)
[x] Sails on (A023/HCR/J14/SG+S)
[x] Sail, M4 race main (on+cover)
[x] Sail Battens, on board, J1/J2/J4
[x] Sleeping bags, on (8)
DO (RACE DAY)
[ ] Bin, charger/dehu/heat
[ ] Canvas, boom/winch/wheel
[ ] Covers, B&G x6 (Bin)
[ ] Dehumidifier (Bin)
[ ] Division Flag=Numeral TBD
[ ] Div flags are/not to be flown
[ ] Dyson (Bin/DC stays on)
[ ] Heater(s) (Bin)
[ ] Ice x2 (Yeti’s)
[ ] Lighten ship (dehu/heat)
[ ] PDFs/tethers requested (KV/?)
[ ] Propane/LPG (turn on)
[ ] Provisions on (RV)
[ ] Running rigging (rig up)
[x] Sails on, A023/HCR/J14/SG+S
[x] Sails off, A456/J235/M123/TS
[ ] Sails boned, J1/J4/M4
[ ] Sails packed, A0/A2/A3
[ ] Tank, water P (100%/use)
[ ] Tank, water S (0%)
[ ] WWG requested (KV/?)
[ ] Yeti P (Bubly/ice/on dock)
[ ] Yeti S (beer/ice/on dock)
STRUM
[ ] Strum 100% ready for FRLS
SCHEDULE (PRE RACE)
Sep10/25 Strum registered
SCHEDULE (RACE DAY)
Saturday, September 27th
No Carpool
Sail call, A023/HCR/J1/M4/SG/SS
Sails used, TBD
Weather predicted, TBD dC,
TBD% perception
Weather actual,
Wind predicted, TBD kt W?
Wind actual, TBD
0324 Low Tide (4.19’ Atkinson)
0707 Sunrise
0830 Crew on Strum please
3811 Point Grey Road
0830 OFFLOAD (see above)
START SEQUENCE
0845 Strum ETD
0900 Check-In (VHF 67)
Strum/54500/# crew
0950 Check-In ends (VHF 67)?
1000 Warning (Numeral 1 raised)
1001 Prep ((P flag raised)
1004 1 Minute (P flag lowered)
1005 Start (Numeral 1 lowered)
P Start Line, NW RVYC breakwater
S Start Line, Orange inflatable
START: Near RVYC Jericho Marina
MARK1: Point Grey Bell Buoy
Q62 (P)
MARK2: Sand Heads green buoy
S1 (S)
MARK3: PGBB Q62 (S)
FINISH: NW RVYC Breakwater
1057 High Tide (13.04’ Atkinson)
@1300 Lunch on board
>1500 Expected finish
1541 Low Tide (11.15’ Atkinson)
1700 No boat finish=abandon race
1700+ Shall take own GPS finish time
1857 Sunset
2019 High Tide (12.84’ Atkinson)
2300 FRLS official time limit.
Strum returns to RVYC.
Sun 0407 Low Tide (4.35’ Pt A)
FINISH PROCEDURE,
? contact RC (VHF 67)
P Finish, orange mark
S Finish, NW RVYC Breakwater
“Horn” indicates finish.
Finish Report after 1700h
NOR 2024 (ABBREVIATED)
3.1 Official Notice Board
www.royal can.com/bigboat
3.3 RC courtesy broadcast on VHF 67
7. Warning Signal for all divisions, 1000h
10.1 Course Div 0, 1 & 2
Start near RVYC Jericho Marina
Point Grey Bell Buoy Q62 to P
Sand Heads green buoy S1 to SB
Point Grey Bell Buoy Q62 to SB
Finish at NW RVYC breakwater
10.3 RC may move start line
SIS 2024 (ABBREVIATED)
7.1 Time-limit is 2300h Sat Sep28/24.
7.2 Boats finishing after 1700h shall take their own GPS finish time and submit to
cmFjZWNvbW1pdHRlZSB8IHJ2YW4gISBjYQ== with
*Boat name & sail number
*Finish time
*Boat finishing ahead & behind.
7.3 If no boat has finished by 1700h, the race is abandoned. RC will announce on VHF 67.
10.1 A boat that retires shall notify RC ASAP (VHF 67)
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PAST RACE RESULTS
2024 FRLS
Strum was 3rd to finish, behind the Andrews77 Mach-2 (breaking Strum's previous course record, congratulations) & the TP52 The Shadow. Due to no wind, the delayed start was moved near the Point Grey Bell Buoy. After the turn, we saw 20-25 knots TWS & were back in time for lunch.
2023 FRLS
Strum mast was down at Strait Marine for new square-top main sail reinforcements. Strum crew hopped on the new to Vancouver Andrews77 Mach-2 for her PNW debut, in preparation for TransPac25.
2022 FRLS
Strum was first to finish, 8 minutes ahead of the 2nd finisher (2nd corrected), our brother from another mother, the Riptide35 Longboard from WVYC (congratulations). Strum had little concern on the DFL corrected time for the first of many crew building exercises. This was Strum’s first post-pandemic race, fresh from a refit with new Future Fibres EC3 carbon standing rigging, custom Marlow GP running rigging, new Harken mast track/battcars & all new Spinlock ceramic clutches. More upgrades to follow.
Strum was first elapsed,
https://www.royalvan.com/files/Sailwave%20results%20for%202022%20RVYC%20Fraser%20River%20Lightship%20at%20Royal%20Vancouver%20Yacht%20Club.pdf
2015 FRLS
Strum set a NEW COURSE RECORD, finishing at 2:19:58pm with an ELAPSED TIME Time of 3:14:58, beating Dan (Andrews77 Mach-2) Sinclair's Andrew's 70' Renegade 2007 record in similar (but easterly) conditions. What a difference a year makes! Strum skipper was on board for both these records.
2014 FRLS
In contrast to the 2015 course record, the 2014 Fraser River Light Ship race was painfully slow. Strum was 1st to finish and one of only 4 boats to finish this race, just prior to the 11pm time limit. All 4 boats were Division 1 ORC boats. Strum corrected 4th...in class & overall (of 45 boats).
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STRUM
STRUM (RATING PHRF-BC -77)
https://www.bcsailing.bc.ca/PHRF/bc_fleet_list_printable_by_rating.php
STRUM (RATING ORC)
https://data.orc.org/public/WPub.dll/CC/221878
STRUM (SAIL SELECTION)
A023/HCR/J1+4/M4/SG/SS
Off Dock, TBD
Off Cruise, J3RF/M2C/Sock
Off Race, A456/J23/M1-3
Off Storm, SJ/TS
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2024 SAILS USED
1000h First Signal, postponement.
1030h Moved start, quickly abandoned.
1100h Moved start near PGBB
J2/M4 30d AWA S beat to PGBB
PGBB, 1115h S reach to S1
J2/M4 to PGBB bank, 10TWS/40AWA
J2/M4/SSG to S1, 15TWS/60AWA
J4/M4 Reef1 at S1, 20TWS/50AWA
*Broke boom vang Dyneema while reefing as vang clutch closed. Should have opened clutch as pressure too much when sheet eased in 20kt TWS. My bad.
*Hindsight: After PGBB heading to S1, when the J2 was on P halyard/grove (to keep S grove/halyard open for J4 approaching S1), and the SG was on S halyard/aft pad-eye, we could have done a J2 drop/HCR hoist on P halyard/grove, with SSG still up (HCR/SSG is a much faster combo at 60d AWA then the J2/SSG used & sets us up for SG drop/J4 hoist w/S halyard/grove). Then reef main (after opening vang clutch;-). 0.1nm to S1, drop SSG down hatch to free up S halyard for J4 hoist in S groove. This way, P grove/halyard are available for long P beat to PGBB. When bearing off after PGBB bank, we could/should hoist HCR again on windward P grove/halyard for the 0.7nm approach to PGBB, and have our HCR as A4 staysail up for the 5nm run to finish line at RVYC-J breakwater!*
S1, 1200h 20 kt W/40d AWA
J4 up/reef in at rounding/@limits
No A kites used so far (too tight)
J4/M4 w/R1 P beat
40d AWA to PGBB bank (7nm)
60d AWA to PGBB (.7nm/too windy for A0)
*Hindsight, could have peeled to HCR.
PGBB, 1330h 20-25kt W
A4 P bear away 160d AWA P gybe
J4 still up (no HCR needed)
Shake M4 reef out
A4/M4/J4 down on (bungie)
120d AWA S gybe w/traffic
Finish, 1415h 15-20 kt W/90d AWA
J4 up for letter box
A4 P letter box drop
Inventory, A0+3-5/J2+4/HCR/M4/SSG+S
Sails used, A4/J2+4/M4/SG
Did not use, A0/A3/A5/HCR/SSS
2025 FRLS SUMMARY, So could have removed A0+3. HCR/SSS in zone, but legs too short. Important to remember that PredictWind is just that, a prediction. Wind strength (15-20) was right (probably more like 20-25, but our B&G MHU had no wind data), but wind came in closer to noon than 11am predicted, and more W then NW, so no A5 to S1. Beat home to PGBB was as predicted, but stronger (25 TWS max vs 20 predicted) & near our limits w/J4 & M4 w/reef. Crew work & communication was good, but team could benefit from sail change/heavy weather gybe practice. Strum finished 3rd elapsed time after Andrews77 Mach-2 & TP52 The Shadow, with RT35 Longboard & M32 Zulu Warrior behind.
NOTE TO RC
1. First Signal should be 11am. This was historically the start time as typically no wind prior to 10am (as 2024 showed).
2. Start should be at Point Grey Bell Buoy. This would avoid traffic at Jericho Sailing School/recreational sailors, and avoid anchored freighters. Also allow for a consistent Elapsed Time winner.
3. Division 1 should have a separate start. The 4 2024 Div 1 boats ranged from Riptide35 Longboard to Andrews77 Mach-2, which is diverse enough. These 4 boats don’t need to start with 20+ more diverse boats for the typically committee favoured start line. Reto did a great job starting & threading that needle.
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2025 STRUM SCHEDULE
Feb01 Core-Crew declared
Mar29 Patos (VIRS #1)
Apr18 Southern Straits (VARC-D)
Apr26 Halibut Bank (VARC-D)
May03 Strum Dock Party
May10 RVYC Sail-Past
May17 Round Saltspring (VIRS #3)
May24 Swiftsure (VIRS #4/DNC)
M31-J01 Lasqueti (VIRS #5/DNC)
Jun7-8 SIN Regatta (VIRS #6)
Jun14 Round Bowen (VARC-D)
Skipper away (TransPac/cruising)
Sep5-7 Salish Sea Regatta
Sep27 FRLS (VARC-D)*
Nov8-9 Round The County
*This event
VARC=Vancouver Area Racing Circuit
VARC-D=VARC.bc.ca Distance Series (4)
VIRS=Vancouver Island Racing Series (5)
Please apply for each /Event separately
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