With support from Saturna Capital as the Title Sponsor, this will be the third time, since its formal beginning in 1990 here in Bellingham, that the PacRim Regatta will be held here in Bellingham. This is truly an event that puts the Bellingham Yacht Club, along with the Bellingham Sister Cites Association on the International Stage. From September 6-13, 2014 we will be hosting racers and ambassadors from around the Pacific Rim again here in Bellingham and you are welcome to attend the Blue Moon Fridays at Five on May 30th where the PacRim Planning Committee will be presenting this exciting opportunity for everyone. And now, a little history…
A single vessel sailing across the Pacific from Russia to North America spawned a regatta that is now 24 years old, and created longstanding international friendships, and brought Cities around the Pacific Rim closer together. And it started all here in Bellingham.
In 1988, Bellingham’s Soviet Union sister city, Nakhodka, sent the 40-foot racing boat KAPITAN PANAEV (”Pan-eye-ev”) to participate in local races and in the Swiftsure Classic. The visit resulted from a six-year negotiation by the sponsor, Bellingham Cold Storage, and a Whatcom County delegation. The boat and crew remained for six weeks.
Unfortunately, the Soviet boat suffered damage in a collision during pre-Swiftsure maneuvering and could not participate in the race. Nonetheless, it was a very successful visit. The crew of seven under Captain Victor Bukhalsky made many good friends and thoroughly enjoyed their time in Bellingham. During an emotional farewell, the Soviet crew unanimously vowed to return, and invited a BYC boat to visit Nakhodka.
In 1989, the reciprocal visit occurred when eight yachtsmen, 12 teenagers, and three counselors went to Nakhodka for three weeks of camping and racing. Then, in 1990, a group of youngsters from Nakhodka came to Washington State, to the Four Winds Camp on Orcas Island. Members of the Bellingham Yacht Club and the Bellingham Sister Cities organization felt that in light of participants from Japan and Russia being in Bellingham, a yacht race was a wonderful idea. This first race, named the International Pacific Rim Invitational Regatta (PRIR), put teams in donated boats for ‘Round the Buoys’ races, and long distance races from Bellingham to Victoria and Victoria to Seattle. Hosted events by members of the Bellingham Yacht Club, Royal Victoria Yacht Club, and Corinthian Yacht Club of Seattle enabled everyone to celebrate the differences in our cultures.
The sending of the Russian team was one of the first cultural exchanges under Gorbachev, and marked unprecedented cooperation between the US and Russia. The Russian training ship PALADA was docked in Seattle for the Goodwill Games, and its crew included the daughter of the skipper of the Russian team. The PRIR teams then escorted PALADA to Bellingham for a formal visit.
The success of this endeavor was so great, it was decided to repeat the event biannually, moving the venue from sister city to sister city. The Pacific Rim Yacht Challenge (PacRim) was formed. Countries represented now also include Australia and New Zealand. During the biannual event, participants travel to the hosting country and are accommodated in home stays.
Typically, the event includes 5 days of racing, and social events specific to each city. Awards are presented, and gifts are exchanged. Everyone participating enjoys the friendships created. The regatta charter allows 20 people (crew and ambassadors) from each country to attend. Including the host organizers and volunteers, several hundred people participate in the event.
About Saturna Capital
Saturna Capital Corporation, manager of the Sextant, Idaho and Amana funds, uses years of investment experience to aid investors in navigating today’s volatile markets. Founded in 1989 by professionals with extensive experience, Saturna has helped individuals and institutions build wealth, earn income and preserve capital.
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