LEG TWO - FRENCH CREEK TO COMOX

Evolution & Darby June 12, 2005 - Comox, B.C.- Leg 2 of the Cadillac Van Isle 360 Yacht race started in French Creek with light westerlies of 3 - 4 knots. Dragonfly won the start and immediately banged the left shore - several other boats followed. The rest of the boats headed right with several heading all the way to the Lasqueti Island shore where they parked. Flash, the ID 48, led a small group including the Santa Cruz 52, Mystic, up the middle and were the early leaders. As the wind clocked to the southeast Flash was able to free their sheets and accelerate to the finish leaving most of the competition behind. Dragonfly finally abandoned the Vancouver Island shore and came out to play with Flash. As the wind freshened Dragonfly applied afterbuners and rocketed to the line to finish first. As Flash carried on towards the finish, leaving their competition behind, a red spinnaker was spotted streaking up between Denman and Hornby Islands - Allonsy, a Beneteau 36, had opted for the Lambert Channel route. This payed off big time and Allonsy corrected out over Flash. As predicted the wind built to 25 knots and all boats finished under spinnaker porviding spectacular views for the race committee. A stellar perfomance was turned in by Myrrh who finished well up with the Div. One boats giving her her second bullit. Duncan Gladman in his Mini Transat Komera had a much better ride today as she found the conditions were perfect for her. It was noted by the crew following her that her two man crew "looked like two surfers standing on a board under a cloud of sail". There was less carnage today but Cheekee Monkee broke yet another foil, this time a carbon fiber lifting foil, "More thousands dropped into the ocean today", quipped Kim Alfreds as he walked to his spare parts bin for a replacement. All in all a fabulous racing day with all boats finishing within the time limit. As usual the town of Comox and especially the Comox Valley Yacht Club, put on a fabulous welcome for the Cadillac Van Isle 360 racers. Each boat was met by a host greeter who presented the skippers with a welcome package and a hand crafted poster depicting the boat theme. Later the posters were entered in a contest and the winner was awarded a great Mount Gay Rum basket of goodies. The Comox Valley Yacht Club hosted the sailors at their fantastic new club house complete with BBQ'd oysters, Okanagan Springs beer and great appy's from Save On Foods in Courteney. Today's winners were in Div. 1 - Carl Richardson's- Allons-y; Steve Travis - Flash and the C&C SR33, Havoc, owned by Gunnar Jonson. In Div. 2, Michael Kalahar - Myrrh was first; Stuart Farrel - Tyrst; and Hushwings the CS40 in third. In Div. 3, the F31 Blue Lightning was first, Bad Kitty was second and Dragonfly first. Havoc at Comox Finish Myrrh - Comox Finish