Rick Munro
Special to the Record
The Comox Bay Sailing Club is delighted that they will, once again, be represented in one of the West Coast’s most important yacht races - the 2013 Black Press Van Isle 360 International Yacht Race.
The CBSC has been in most of the races since the Van Isle 360 event was initiated in 1999 and once again this year, the club will enter Tripp Tease, a 40-foot, Tripp designed, all-out racing machine that has already established herself as a winner on the West Coast.
In fact the Comox Valley club has an enviable record of success in a wide range of races such as the Swiftsure and the Vic-Maui. But the Van Isle 360 has assumed increasing importance in the racing schedule; in part because the entire fleet stops overnight in the Comox marina. This year the 40 graceful racing machines will arrive on June 9.
However, you don’t have to wait till the 9th to see Tripp Tease – she is moored on the Government docks and may be readily observed from the Marina boardwalk. Even better, Tripp Tease may be seen under sail during weekday practices and on the weekends in the races held by the sailing club.
Skipper and crew are practising particularly diligently this year in order to improve on their last 360 outing, when due to some equipment problems they were unable to complete the race.
Tripp-Tease is owned by Harold Long and will be skippered by Don Gillingham with the entire crew of 10 made up of members from CBSC who are residents of the Comox Valley. Of course the crew family members will follow all the preparations with great interest, but the crew would love to have the folks from the Valley follow along as well. And maybe lend a little vocal support on race day.
The Comox Bay Sailing Club maintains a Facebook site upon which up-to-date news will be posted – follow along. This year's race starts and finishes in Nanaimo, running from June 8 to June 22.