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Van Isle 360 starts Saturday in Nanaimo

Racing vessels stop in Comox harbour on Sunday before resuming race
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RECEPTION COMMITTEE MEMBER Rick Tae has negotiated that all the Van Isle 360 racing vessels will be together in the private marina (below where the Edgewater once stood).

 

 

 

Rick Munro

Special to the Record

On Sunday, June 9, 40 beautiful sailboats will race into Comox harbour completing the second leg of the 2013 Black Press Van Isle 360 International Yacht Race.

These sail racing machines – some 70 feet in length – are easily seen from the Marina boardwalk, and may be visited on the docks once safely moored. They are a sight to behold under sail and great fun to see up close – and the public is invited!

This international race has been run since 1999 and developed from the crazy idea of a few rabid catamaran sailors to what is clearly one of the most respected and exciting yacht races on the entire west coast of North America.

The race starts on June 8 in Nanaimo and circumnavigates the whole of Vancouver Island over 14 days, stopping at 10 ports in the process. The City fathers along with the residents of each port of call most often organize a reception for the nearly 400 sailors and support crew whose arrival times are somewhat spread through the afternoon; but prize giving and welcoming speeches are usually at 6 p.m.

For many years the reception in the Comox Marina was organized by the Comox Valley Yacht Club, but this year that honour has fallen to the Comox Bay Sailing Club and their team is hard at work in preparation. Commodore Andrew Walther said, “No major problems have been encountered,” and that the most significant item, that of finding moorage for 40 large sailing vessels in an otherwise full marina, has been resolved.

Reception committee member and CBSC activist Rick Tae  has negotiated that all the racing vessels will be together in the private marina – located just  below where the Edgewater once stood and that the gates will be open with visitors welcome.

With more and larger racing boats competing each year the competition becomes keener and the level of community participation and mutual support gets higher. An interesting example of such participation is occurring in the Comox Valley with the arrival of the fleet this year: the private marina is donating the proceeds of the moorage fees to the Children's Hospital Foundation. Private marina owners  appreciate the involvement of the Town of Comox and love to see the school kids checking out the boats.

CBSC Commodore Walther is delighted that the Rotary Club of Strathcona will host a “French Toast” breakfast for the departing sailors, as well as for fans and well-wishers, early in the morning of Monday the 10th.

The Black Press Van Isle 360 International Yacht Race is a world-class event and the Comox Bay Sailing Club is pleased and proud to have a representative in the race (Tripp Tease) and to be the hosts for the fleet when they arrive at the Comox marina. The public is encouraged to see the fleet and to follow its progress on the sailing club’s Facebook page during the entire race.