VICTORIA, British Columbia - The 23rd annual Victoria-to-Maui International Yacht Race began Thursday, with the four boats in the slower cruising class departing.
As of 8 p.m. HST on Thursday, the only boat through the Strait of Juan de Fuca toward the Pacific Ocean was Ballymack. Skippered by Mike Cormack out of Vancouver, British Columbia, Ballymack was more than 41 nautical miles away from the starting line.
Radiance, skippered by Mark Ward out of Seward, Alaska, had sailed to the mouth of the strait.
Article Photos
Ballymack, early leader of the Victoria-to-Maui International Yacht Race, sails during the opening day of the event.
Andrew Madding photo
The biennial race requires sailing at least 2,294 nautical miles. A nautical mile is slightly more than 6,076 feet - close to 1.15 statute miles. This year's first finishers are expected on approximately July 20.
Yachts in the faster racing class will leave Saturday. That field includes Terremoto, the first to finish in 2010, and Kinetic, which won on corrected time two years ago.
