Sailors Raise Money to Protect our B.C. Coastlines
Vancouver, British Columbia – In response to the oil spill emergency in English Bay this spring, the Vancouver Rowing Club (VRC), is dedicating the proceeds from this year’s Annual Summer Regatta and Lobster Bash July 10th through 12th to help protect Georgia Strait. The VRC is combining its well attended Summer Regatta with the GSA Charity Regatta, a sailing race started last year by the crew of Maritime Diva who donated all proceeds to the Georgia Strait Alliance (GSA). The Georgia Strait Alliance is a registered non-profit and charity in B.C focused on protecting and restoring our coastlines. For 25 years, it has developed programs such as the Waterfront Initiative for responsible waterfront development, Clean Marine BC for green boating and Tankers & Oil spills to address disasters like the oil spill that happened in English Bay earlier this spring. The GSA is also focused on species protection and does a lot of work around education and awareness of killer whale protection.
The VRC Summer Regatta will feature over 50 sailboats from around B.C. competing in multiple sailing races over two days in July. This is the “away regatta at home” for many sailors in the Vancouver area. The fun begins Friday night with a welcome BBQ on the docks for the crew, and a skippers meeting. After racing Saturday is the infamous Lobster Bash with fresh lobster flown in from the East Coast. Entertainment this year is provided by Ruckus Deluxe (if you’ve ever been to the Dubh Linn Gate in Whistler you know who they are)! Sunday after racing will be another BBQ with an encore performance by Ruckus Deluxe; all crew and families are invited! The crews of the boats are asked, but not required, to fund-raise from families, friends and colleagues for the Georgia Strait Alliance which makes them eligible to win great prizes if they place 1st, 2nd or 3rd.
“Awareness and education about the delicate ecosystems of our coastlines is one of the GSA’s key goals. Last year’s sailing regatta was a perfect way to raise awareness for the GSA while competing against our friends!” says Victoria Jung, a Maritime Diva crew member.
“We are very fortunate to have the beautiful waters of Georgia Strait as our playground. I feel it is essential for our community to give back and do our part to protect this phenomenal resource,” says Shane Alfreds, the VRC Fleet Captain.
The organizing committee is seeking sponsors, donors and sailors to participate and donate to help make the day a huge success. If you are interested in entering the regatta with your sailboat the Notice Of Race and registration will be available soon, please watch https://vrcracing.ca. If you would like to sponsor or donate to the event please contact kate@renewalfunds.com. If you would like to become a member of the Georgia Strait Alliance or donate to protect our coastal waters please contact Christianne Wilhelmson (christianne@georgiastrait.org)
Media contacts:
Georgia Strait Contact:
Kate Storey, Board Member and Maritime Diva Skipper
P: 604-424-9937
E: kate@renewalfunds.com
W: www.maritimediva.com
VRC Contact:
Shane Alfreds, VRC Fleet Officer
P: 604-837-4754
E: fleetcaptain@vrcracing.ca
W. talisman-sailing.com
