Let’s head back to 1970 to see Jim Innes preparing his 42-foot sloop “Long Gone” for the upcoming Victoria-Maui International Yacht Race.
He left July 1 and expected to be at sea for about two weeks.
The veteran pilot, a DC-8 flight instructor for CP Air, built the boat at his Delta farm.
He usually flew the route from Vancouver to Hawaii, a trip that was around five hours.
The race was first held 1965. It now runs every second year, starting in June or July off Victoria, B.C. and finishing near Lahaina, Maui, a distance of approximately 2,308 nautical miles.
Also known as the Vic-Maui International Yacht Race, the 2024 event has been cancelled following this year’s devastating wildfires on Maui. Event organizers are hoping to resume the race in 2026.
