| Language of origin | English language |
| Feature Type: | Rocks (1) - Small mass of rock usually projecting above the water surface. Plural of Rock (1). |
| Status: | Official |
| Name Authority: | BC Geographical Names Office |
| Relative Location: | Off Rocky Point in Strait of Juan de Fuca at extreme S end of Vancouver Island, Metchosin Land District |
| Latitude-Longitude: | 48°18'02"N, 123°32'02"W at the approximate centre of this feature. |
| Datum: | WGS84 |
| NTS Map: | 92B/5 |
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Origin Notes and History:
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Race Rocks (not Race Islands) adopted in the 18th Report of the Geographic Board of Canada, 31 March 1924. Source: BC place name cards, files, correspondence and/or research by BC Chief Geographer/Geographical Names Office. |
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"Race Islands" originated about the time of the founding of Fort Victoria, and was officially by Captain Kellett, when surveying these waters in 1846. Kellett noted: "This dangerous group is appropriately named, for the tide makes a perfect race around it." He distinguished the individual hazards as North Rock, West Race, Great Race, and Rosedale Rock, and they are so-labelled on British Admiralty Chart #1906, 1848 et seq. Source: BC place name cards, files, correspondence and/or research by BC Chief Geographer/Geographical Names Office. |