Awesome Start to an Awesome Race
Cadillac Van Isle 360 Blasts Off Big Time !!!!!!

The Cadillac Van Isle 360 fleet was blessed with great winds for the start of a great race. 1000's of onlookers on the pier and all along Nanaimo's waterfront were treated to a fantastic view as the 15 to 18 knots filled in blasting the 35 race yachts out of the harbour. Vaca Loca, the Dash 34,skippered by Ross MacDonald, won the start at the pin in and kept on trucking into first place in Division 1. Evolution, the Beneteau First 36.7 owned by Darryl Homan, hit a rock, but suffered minimal damage and carried on to have a great sail.

Once rounding Protection Island, the downwind ride began, with lots of carnage and lots of smiles. The wind quickly built to 20+ knots with gusts to 25. Wayne Gorrie's, Redshift popped her screecher upon rounding breaking her bowsprit and forcing her sail the remainder of the race with jury rigged sails. Diehler also blew her spinnaker shortly after the start, forcing her to sail under white sails alone. She did manage some good photos though, which have been posted on this website.

John Collins, a sailor for 30 years found himself, for the first time in his life, knocked off a boat and into the water. Fortunately he was wearing his PFD and Ragtime, a Santana 35, owned by Dr. Paul Watson, being the closest boat, retreived John from the water. Ragtime was recognized for their efforts by the race committee, given redress and awarded an extra place in the standings.

Dragonfly, Pat MaGarry's Formula 40 Catamaran wa s the first boat over the finish line in French Creek setting a new course record for this leg. Her total elapsed time was 1 hour 31 minutes the previous record owned by Redshift was 2:24:46 set in 1999.

HMCS Oriole, the 102 foot Owens Ketch, was flying down the course with her huge gennaker, when she truely 'blanketed' Double Deuce plastering the enormous sail against Double Deuce's rigging, shredding the sail in the process.

Lordelpus, a reborn Beneteau 43, and a three time veteran of the Cadillac Van Isle 360, scored her first and hugely popular division 2 win. Congratulations to Matt Wagstaff, Sabrina and crew.

In the Multihull Division, Cheekee Monkee scooped the prized "Tour de 360" yellow flag for first place. The Tour de 360 flags are presented to each divisional winner on each leg, who must in turn present to the next day's winner.

Nanaimo was a great host for the start of the Cadillac Van Isle 360, and special thanks are given to the Nanaimo Port Authority, Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce, and the Downtown Nanaimo Partnership. The awards reception and send off festivities were fantastic.<br><br>

The Cadillac Van Isle 360 suffered it's first casualty two days before the start of the race, when Limelight, the J30, owned by Peter Crain hit a rock on the delivery to Nanaimo. The damage forced Limelights withdrawals, but did not break the spirit of the crew, who worked non stop day and night preparing another boat for the race. Cetecea a 48 foot Pacific Pilot, owned by one the crew was conscripted and pressed into service. Maybe not as fast but a whole lot more comfortable for the eight crew sailing around Vancouver Island.

Today's Leg begins at 0900 hrs. off French Creek harbour and the forecast is light and variable winds. For full results and photos see www.vanisle360.com

The Cadillac Van Isle 360 is a 580 nm (nautical mile) point to point race circumnavigating wild and rugged Vancouver Island, B.C. Canada from June 14 to 29, 2003. Sailed in ten legs the course provides inshore, offshore and overnight legs through some of the world's most challenging and beautiful waters.