California Girl, a 1967 Cal 40 owned by Timm and Victoria Lessley of Portland, Ore., is among the 42 interesting entries in this year's (June 4-18) TELUS Van Isle 360 International Yacht Race.
Although she is the oldest boat in the fleet she is definitely not a sleeper, having won the 'Million Mile Trophy' for fastest time in a million miles during the 2006 Pacific Cup (San Francisco to Hawaii) as well as many other recent wins.
California Girl is the 97th Cal 40 built of 140 builds and will be 44 years young at the first gun of the Van Isle 360 in Nanaimo. These 140 Cal boats have each contributed to an unmatched legacy, setting the sailing world afire. Cal Gal was built in 1967 during the heyday when Cal 40’s were in the midst of dominating offshore sailing.
The Cal 40 was one of the first yachts inducted into the Sailing Hall of Fame and the humble 40 has always been known as the 'Roaring 40'.
The Cal 40 was originally sold at a low 'commoner cost of $19,000' and was so light as to be cited as too dangerous to race. After hitting speeds of 25 knots and capturing three Transpac victories in a row – the opinion changed. She was recognized as the pivot point of modern race boat design. There are no known Cal 40’s lost at sea. Her round breaking spade rudder, fibreglass hull and “Fin keel” are the basis of modern yachts.
California Girl is resurrected from a boat graveyard in Muskegon, Michigan. Timm and Victoria located her, and have brought her back from an abandoned dream to a grand performer.
No longer in her prime, and bested by modern designs, Cal Gal, the Cal 40 is "Grandpa’s Sled” and sails with aggressive calmness. She is the grand old lady of the sea. She has no bad habits, and is very potent in her favourite conditions.
In 2003 Cal Gal stormed down the Molokai Channel (Hawaii) at 24.6 knots to the Transpac Finish line under her 2.2 oz spinnaker in 45 knots of wind.
In 2006, Cal Gal won her second Pacific Cup, by 21 hours (200 miles), and set the fastest corrected time for a yacht in 1 million miles of Pacific Cup racing garnering “The Million Mile Trophy.”
California Girl is out in the hunt once more, to play in the spectacular TELUS Van Isle 360, to measure up against friends and once again stretch her legs out, to capture the beauty of the race, and play one more time.
Beautiful, powerful, delicate and determined, the California Girl awaits slipping her earthly bounds and crushing the watery passages that abound the exquisite British Columbia passages. Win, lose or draw, Cal Gal aspires to invoke the words of the famous song, “I Wish They all Could Be California Girls.”
The TELUS Van Isle 360 is a 580 nm race around Vancouver Island which includes a stop in Comox. Run in 10 legs, the event includes inshore, offshore and overnight legs through some of the most stunning and challenging waters on the planet.
For more information, visit www.vanisle360.com.
– TELUS Van Isle 360