Sailors from across Manitoba will head to Gimli this weekend as the annual Hec N’ Back Keelboat Pursuit Race kicks off the 2026 season at the Gimli Yacht Club. The two-day event runs June 12 and 13 on Lake Winnipeg, a huge freshwater lake often called the “inland ocean” for its size and steady winds.
The race is organized by Sail Manitoba together with the volunteer-run Gimli Yacht Club. It is open to keelboat sailors of all experience levels, and it uses a pursuit format, a staggered start that lets slower boats begin first and faster boats later, based on their PHRF ratings. The idea is that all the boats should finish around the same time, which makes for friendly competition and lowers the pressure of a crowded starting line.
Gimli Yacht Club sits on the shores of Lake Winnipeg, which covers about 24,514 square kilometres and stretches 416 kilometres long. That massive open water often produces consistent wind, giving sailors reliable conditions. The club itself has a deep history in the sport. It was founded in July 1969 after the sailing events for the 1967 Pan American Games took place on the lake. Over the years, it has hosted many major events, including the sailing competitions for the 1967 and 1999 Pan American Games, and the 1994 World Boardsailing Championships, which drew more than 240 athletes from 42 countries.
More recently, Gimli Yacht Club became home to the National Training Centre – Prairie Region. Launched in December 2024 by Sail Canada and Sail Manitoba, the centre is a hub for developing high-performance sailors from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. It reflects the club’s ongoing role in building the sport on the Prairies.
The Hec N’ Back race is one of many on the 2026 calendar. For those who want to get on the water this weekend, the club’s racing page notes a “Spares” program that welcomes anyone looking to crew or boats needing extra hands. It is a sign of the club’s push to keep the sport accessible and growing.
Racing gets underway Friday, June 12, and wraps up Saturday. Spectators can watch from the shore or the yacht club grounds at 95 1st Avenue in Gimli, about 80 kilometres north of Winnipeg.
