Gray Creek Regatta 2026

August 7, 2026

Come to the Gray Creek Regatta held at The Lakeview on the east shore of Kootenay Lake on September 5-6.

We invite you to dust off your boat, uncoil those lines, hoist those sails, and come join the Kootenay Lake Sailing Association on the east shore of Kootenay Lake for some good fun, a Saturday night BBQ, and of course some sailing, at the historic Gray Creek Regatta. 
The regatta is held at The Lakeview Store and Campground, 14729 Highway 3A, Gray Creek, B.C. on Saturday, September 5th and Sunday September 6th.  Registration is $125 per boat and the Saturday night BBQ is $15 per person (bring your own beverage) and will start after 6:00 pm. 
 
The first Gray Creek Regatta was held in the summer of 1922 and in 1923 a distinctive trophy, the Gray Creek Challenge Shield, consisting of deer antlers mounted on a wooden shield, was created by local resident George Oliver, with yearly winners getting their name engraved on a silver plaque mounted on the shield.  The original regatta ran until 1925 and then went into hiatus until 1974 when it was resurrected and has run continuously since, benefiting from the generally reliable thermal winds in Crawford Bay. 
 
Skippers are encouraged to contact the Lakeview Marina and Campground for moorage and camping accommodation if necessary. 
 
Email: kootenaylakeview@gmail.com 
Address:
14729 BC-3A
Gray Creek, B.C.
V0B 1S0 

Notice of Race

Organizing Authority is the Kootenay Lake Sailing Association
Date: September 5-6, 2026

Skippers must sign the KLSA insurance waiver of liability to enter this event. These will be provided at the skippers meeting. The onus is on the skipper to ensure the race committee receives and initials the signed document.

Rules: Current Racing Rules of Sailing ,PHRF BC and prescriptions of Sail Canada.These may be modified at the skippers meeting by the KLSA Race Committee.

Changes to Sailing Instructions: Will be addressed at skippers meeting at 0930 hrs, August 30th on the timers pier at Lakeview Marina

Communications: The race committee (RC) will communicate on channel 69 vhf.

Schedule of Races: The first race is scheduled to start at 1100 hrs on August 30th and no signals to start a race will be made after 1600 hrs
On August 31st the races will begin at 10AM with no signals to start a race to be made after 3PM

Courses: The courses to be sailed will be displayed from the timers position on shore at the east end of the Start-Finish line ( 2 orange marks west of the timers position)
Course marks are numbered 1 to 4, #1 being south of the startéfinish line, marks 2,3 and #4 (an orange fisheries buoy) being consecutively north in Crawford Bay. This numbering maybe changed if a reaching leg is added.
All starts are upwind. All mark roundings are to port (keep the mark on your left as you round it)
The start-finish line is an obstruction and cannot be crossed on courses where mark# 1 is included.

Boats must keep clear of the start area unless it is their fleet in the start sequence.

Penalties and Protests: Penalty turns for all infractions will be 360 degree (one jibe and one tack). Protests must be made within 30 minutes of the final race of the day ending to the Race Committee. Boats over the start line early should go around the west (pin) end of the start line or dip the start line to restart.

A skipper lodging a protest must provide the Protest Committee with a pint of rum which same will consume if the protest is not upheld (or even if it is)

Time Limits: Boats failing to finish within 30 minutes of the first boat to finish a race will be scored DNF

Scoring: Low point scoring system in appendix A of RRS is used.1 throw out score is calculated at races 6 and 7, 2 throw out scores are calculated at 8 or more races.

Disclaimer of Liability and Risk Statement:
Racing Rules of Sailing Part 1, fundamental rule #3 places all responsibility for loss, damage, injury and death on the competitors and clearly explains potential risks and that sailing can be a dangerous sport. By participating in this regatta you are agreeing to this rule and agree that the Kootenay Lake Sailing Association and its directors will not accept any liability for material damage, personal injury or death sustained in conjunction with, prior to or during or after the regatta
All participating boats must carry a minimum of $1 million liability insurance and carry proof of same.

Make sure the boat you sail on has liability insurance.