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2003 Race Photo Galleries
2003
Cadillac Van Isle 360
Bigger, Better & Action Packed!!!
See leg by leg
results/stories & photos posted below
The fourth edition of the Cadillac Van Isle 360 will go
down in history as the most action packed one to date. With fierce
competition, broken boats, broken ribs and new records set, the 2003 race
was non stop action and excitement from the first leg to the last.
The incredible start in Nanaimo Harbour set the tone for what was to come,
with 35 boats (including the 102 ft. HMCS Oriole, multihulls and monohulls )
all vying for space on the start line, a brisk breeze and several near
collisions, spectators had their eyes full. Paul Ulibarri,
 a professional
race officer for more than 30 years, said it was one of the most incredible
starts he has every seen. Everyone was pumped!!!!! As the wind built the
action continued with a man overboard, broken bow sprits, and the HMCS
Oriole's ginormous spinnaker totally enveloping the crew onboard Double
Deuce and consequently exploding. All this and more on the first leg which
is supposed to be an easy warm-up.
The action continued on subsequent legs with Time Bandit, a J120 owned by
Bob Brunius from Orcas Island WA., holing Carene, a beautiful 40 foot X
Yacht owned by Bob Lubowicki from Port Madison WA, midships on her port
side, at the start of Leg 7. Brunius immediately DSQ himself from the leg.
At the awards presentation for the leg the next day, Brunius addressed all
270 sailors, gave an impassioned speech and apologized for his aggressive
sailing style. The two Bob's became fast drinking buddies and it is this
sense of camaraderie and support and the willingness to share both defeat
and victory with the fleet that makes the Cadillac Van Isle 360 so unique.
In the end Time Bandit had to settle for a sixth place overall.
The offshore legs from Cape Scott to Victoria were glorious with ideal
sailing conditions, 20 - 25 knots from behind and plenty of sunshine. It was
truly fantastic sailing but was not without its share of incidents. Havoc a
CCSR 33, from Vancouver, had her rudder sheered off and her emergency rudder
damaged. She was towed into the closest port and a crude new rudder
(suitable for any local fish boat) was attached. She managed to catch up
with the fleet for the last leg. A crewmember onboard Cheekee Monkee, Kim
Alfreds buffed F31, was hospitalized with broken ribs and a punctured lung
when the boat stuffed into a wave. Alfreds later stated, "The Cadillac Van
Isle 360 is hard work, it is fun, it is tiring, it is bloody and bruising,
and it is dangerous, it can be very expensive, it is all consuming, and it
is the best race available. You get a life time's worth of sailing wrapped
up into 10 legs over 15 days. There is nothing else like it."
Redshift, the F9A Trimaran, owned by Wayne Gorrie of Nanaimo, and three time
winner of the event, capsized just 10 miles from the Victoria finish line.
The crew who were uninjured, easily accessed their emergency equipment
through a small port on the upturned hull, and radioed for assistance. They
were picked up by American and Canadian Coast Guard within 45 minutes. The
boat was righted the next day by Gorrie and a group of volunteers from
within the fleet and was in good shape, and though the rig was damaged
beyond repair, most sails were retrieved intact. A new rotating rig is on
the way.
Overall results saw Canadian sailors clean up. With the 35 boats split
almost equally between American and Canadian boats, it was 1, 2, 3 in both
Div. 1 and Div. 2 for Canadians. Ross MacDonald's, Dash 34, Vaca Loca, who
always seemed to be in the right place at the right time walked away with
First Place. Little wonder since Vaca Loca was crewed by a team of Olympic
sailors, including MacDonald and Eric Jesperson. Wayne Cross's, J33
Crossfire place second. Crossfire was sailing for the Comox Valley Yacht
Club and rotated more than 16 crewmembers from CVYC over the boat during the
event. Evolution, a Beneteau First 36.7, skippered by Darryl Homan from the
Sydney North Saanich Yacht Club placed third.
In Div. 2, Matt Wagstaffe's "Lordelpus" (Lord - Elp - Us) a 1984 Moorings
Beneteau 43 from Vancouver Rowing Club was the clear winner. That this boat
could do so well in a very competitive fleet is a credit to her skipper's
and crew's ability and tenacity. Matt Wagstaffe stated after winning the
Ucluelet leg, "For Sale - Cruising Sled - Proven winner - only $350,000 US).
Second Place was Ron Jewula's, Ockham's Racer, a Dash 34 sailing out of
Royal Victoria Yacht Club, and in third place was the Santana 35, Il
Pellicano, owned by Gord Shoquist from Nanaimo Yacht Club.
Div 3 saw Cheekee Monkee, Kim Alfreds 'wannabe' F33 cum F31 trimaran
victorious. Cheekee Monkee hails from Bellingham Yacht Club in WA. Kim and
his crew sailed an excellent race and also managed to squeak through with
the overall elapsed time for the race. Redshift managed to hang onto her
second place despite the accident, and Tim Knight's F9A Tri. Flip, Flop and
Fly from Royal Victoria Yacht Club was third. .
The winner of the Yahama Outboard motor for outstanding Seamanship was Dr.
Paul Watson onboard his Santana 35, Ragtime. Ragtime demonstrated excellent
seamanship around the course and was also responsible for the rescue of the
man overboard on the first leg .
The Cadillac Van Isle 360 has received incredible support around the island
this year. News crews from the New VI Television provided "live" daily
updates on the race from both the land and the sea, a Documentary Crew, also
followed and filmed the entire race - watch the race website for updates on
the documentary. The Cadillac Van isle 360 also would not be the same with
out the incredible fanfare that the fleet receive at each host city, who,
with the exception of Victoria, welcome the crews with entertainment, BBQ's,
special prize givings and moorage. Children and parents alike came to the
docks to greet the boats, some bringing handmade goodies. Comox had personal
boat greeters who had hand painted signboards welcoming each boat and Port
Hardy once again had fabulous native entertainment. Many thanks to all the
communities who helped make this event the success that it is.
The Cadillac Van Isle 360 Race Organizers and participants send special
acknowledgements to the Canadian Navy (HMCS Brandon) who escorted the boats
down the west coast and towed Havoc to safety; the Tofino Coast Guard Radio
in Ucluelet, who conducted roll call with each boat down the west coast; the
Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary 38 from Ucluelet who provided safety
escorting into their harbour; the American Coast Guard from Port Angeles,
the Canadian Coast Guard from Victoria and the Sooke Auxiliary Coast Guard
who were involved with the rescue of Redshift and crew.
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