2007 Cadillac Van Isle 360° International Yacht Race
Leg Descriptions & Schedule of Events
(As of May 15 - 2007)

Download PDF of 2007 General Leg Description

The following is a brief description of each leg of the race including start and finish lines, moorage facilities, shore side activities and other information.

Skippers should refer to the Sailing Instructions included in the Skipper’s Package for exact start and finish lines and other details.

This information is subject to change.

Moorage: The boats will tie at the Cameron Island Marina downtown Nanaimo. Moorage, prior to the start is courtesy of the Nanaimo Port Authority for a maximum of five days. The marina is located beside the Visiting Vessels Pier adjacent to the huge condo tower. Moorage is provided on “R”, “S” and “T” docks. Rafting will be necessary.

The docks are open to the public during daylight hours.

Facilities: All facilities including laundry, washrooms, showers, grocery, liquor store and shopping are in the immediate vicinity.

Accommodations: The Coast Bastion Inn, a Gold Sponsor of the event, is located directly across from the moorage facility.

Registration: June 15 – noon – 2000 hrs. Race Committee Headquarters on the Visiting Vessels Pier

Skippers Meeting: June 15 - 2007 – 1500 hrs. – Coast Bastion Inn - Ballroom

Boat Inspections: June 15 – 2007 – Pre-race safety inspections will be conducted by the Nanaimo Coast Guard Auxiliary

Welcome Reception: June 15 – 1700hrs to 1900 hrs. The Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce is once again “hosting” an informal ‘welcome reception’ on the Visiting Vessels Pier located adjacent to the moorage. This outdoor reception is by invitation only.

Pancake Breakfast: Saturday June 16 0700 – 1100 hrs. A tasty breakfast served on the pier with proceeds to the Salvation Army - Everyone welcome


LEG 1
Date: JUNE 16, 2007
Course: NANAIMO TO FRENCH CREEK
Distance: 22.10 NM

Start: 1030 hrs: The race committee will be on station on the Visiting Vessels Pier in Nanaimo harbour. The start is in the harbour between the pier and the satellite reef marker. Excellent spectator viewing from the Visiting Vessels Pier. Click here for a chart of the Nanaimo harbour.

A running commentary and introduction of boats will be announced on the visiting vessels pier by the Race Director. Boats are asked to participate by sailing close by the pier for an introduction to the spectators during pre-race warm-up.

Special Notes: This is a very busy harbour with float plane and ferry traffic in the vicinity of the start and surrounding area.

Finish Line French Creek: The finish is near the southern most break-water in French Creek between the race committee motor home on shore and an inflatable marker.

Finish Time: The drop dead finish time is 1800 hrs. Depending on wind boats could finish this leg anywhere between 1230hrs and 1800 hrs.

Moorage: is “hosted” courtesy of the French Creek Harbour Authority. The race committee will assist with directing boats to their slips. Boats will be required to raft among the fish boats.

Awards Presentation: An informal awards presentation will be held as soon as the results are calculated. All boats will be presented with a flag bearing the name of the town with the winners receiving different colored flags.

Facilities: Accommodations/Fuel/Showers/shore power/laundry/water/, etc at the head of the dock. Provisions & groceries are available at our race sponsor Save On Foods, located in Parksville a 10 minute drive away. The Boar’s Head Pub and Creekhouse Restaurant are also located at the head of the dock.

Festivities: The manager of the French Creek Resort and Boar’s Head Pub, Russ Mosher, has lined up live entertainment at the pub. Festivities for French Creek Harbour Days will be in full swing during the day. Call the French Creek Resort for more information 250-248-3713.


LEG 2
Date: JUNE 17, 2007
Course: FRENCH CREEK TO COMOX
Distance: 28.55 nm

Pancake Breakfast: There will be a pancake breakfast organized by the Parksville, Qualicum Shriner’s Club immediately prior to the start at the head of the dock in French Creek.

Start: 0900 hrs. The start is off the French Creek Marina breakwater. Excellent spectator viewing from the breakwater.

Finish: As the tides are low across the Comox Bar on a westerly approach to the harbour the finish line will extend across the bar allowing boats to finish on either side. Click here for a chart of Comox Harbour entrance.

Mount Gay Rum Dash: The Mount Gay Rum Dash is a fun race designed to encourage boats to race into the harbour for spectator viewing. The Mount Gay Rum Dash takes place immediately following the official finish of this leg. Boats will race into the harbour across a separate finish line set up by the Comox Valley Yacht Club. Mount Gay Rum will supply prizes to winning boats.

Moorage: Each boat will be greeted and escorted to their slips by the Comox Valley Yacht Club. Boats will need to raft at various marinas around the harbour.

Facilities: Fuel, water, power, marine pump out station, showers, laundry, parking, restaurants, pubs, shops, etc. all available and close. Click here for a map of the marinas and downtown Comox.

Poster Contest: A poster contest will he held in the park. Boat greeters will design posters that welcome each individual yacht to Comox. The welcome posters will then be on display at the awards presentation.

Reception: The Comox Valley Yacht Club will host a small reception at their club, courtesy of race sponsor, Paradise Island Foods.

Awards Presentation: An awards presentation organized by the people of Comox will take place at the pavilion in the shore side park.


LEG 3
Date: JUNE 18, 2007
Course: COMOX TO CAMPBELL RIVER
Distance: 27.14 nm

Start: 0800 hrs. The start is on the east side of the Comox Sand Bar.

Special Notes: This leg is where the tides meet. The tidal stream entering the Strait of Georgia around the SE of Vancouver Island meets the corresponding tide that flows around the NW end of the island between Cape Mudge and Cape Lazo. The tide floods south north of Middlenatch Island and floods north, south of Middlenatch Island. The tide will be against you at some point. Sail fast!

Finish: Boats will finish off the famous Discovery Fishing Pier in Discovery Channel. There is excellent spectator viewing, not to mention fishing, from the Pier.

Moorage: Moorage is being arranged at the Georgia Quay (government dock) south of the Quadra Island Ferry terminal in downtown Campbell River. More details to follow.

Interesting Webcams: You may be able to see some of the boats finishing by viewing the webcam on the pier or the webcam at Georgia Quay, where the boats will be moored.

Awards Reception: A reception and awards presentation is being arranged by the Pier Street Association at the Maritime Heritage Center at the head of the dock. This is a fantastic facility where you can view the famous seine boat featured on the Canadian five dollar bill.

Accommodations: The Coast Discovery Inn and Marina, a gold sponsor of the event, is located in the immediate vicinity and is offering special rates to participants.

Festivities: A number of surprises are being arranged by the Pier Street Association which may include a farmer’s market, with fresh produce and baked goods and a live band.

Facilities: All amenities close at hand.


LEG 4
Date: JUNE 19, 2007
Course: DEEPWATER BAY TO HARDWICKE ISLAND
Distance: 24.50 nm

Start: 09:00 hrs. Skippers check your tide tables if you want to make it to the start on time. The starting area is in Deepwater Bay 10 miles north of Campbell River. The committee boat will be on station in Deepwater Bay on Quadra Island.

Seymour Narrows is the main shipping channel for all traffic heading to or coming from the North. The currents through Seymour Narrows are some of the strongest in the world at times getting up to 16 knots.

Finish: The finish is off Eden Point in Chancellor Channel. The race committee boat will be on station. This is usually a fast leg.

Moorage: Moorage has been sponsored courtesy of Marine Harvest at their Lees Bay salmon farm located approx. 1 nm. from the finish line in Chancellor Channel near Hardwicke Island. Assistance will be available to tie up at the pens. Watch for the anchor lines securing the pens.

Facilities: Other than secure moorage and generous hospitality there are no facilities, washrooms or accommodations here and no shore access. Boats need to be totally self sufficient at this stop. Access to the site is by boat only.

Awards Reception: A fabulous salmon and seafood BBQ will be hosted by the B.C. Salmon Farmers Association on site.


LEG 5
Date: JUNE 20, 2007
Course: HARDWICKE ISLAND TO TELEGRAPH COVE
Distance: 40.30 nm

Start: 07:30 hrs: The start is in the vicinity of the previous finish line. Currents are tricky through this area. This is a long leg which has proven to be difficult to finish with the tide turning against the fleet well before the finish. Good luck!

Finish: The finish is between the entrance to Telegraph Cove and Lewis Point. The Race Committee Motorhome will be on station at Elia Point. Excellent spectator viewing.

Moorage: Moorage is hosted here courtesy of Telegraph Cove Resort & Marina and Dockside 29. Moorage will be extremely tight. Boats will be assigned a spot with assistance from Jim Borrowmen of Stubbs Island Whale Watching.

Accommodations: Telegraph Cove Resort located on the historic side of the cove and Dockside 29 on the new side of the cove. See the above links.

Facilities: Cabins, RV Park, Water/Showers/Laundry are close at hand. Gas is available but no Diesel. There is also the Old Saltery Pub & Restaurant, a confectionery and souvenir shop on the dock.

Awards Reception: A BBQ has been organized by the small business community of “The Cove” immediately following the awards. Excellent food also available at the pub & restaurant.

Special Notes: This leg is voted the most likely not to finish but the scenery is awesome and takes you past Robson Bight the famous killer whale rubbing beach.

For those interested in whales and whale bones Jim Borrowman, of Stubbs Island Whale Watching, is a wealth of knowledge and has a whale interpretation center, nicknamed the “Bones Project” on the boardwalk here.


LEG 6
Date: JUNE 21
Course: TELEGRAPH COVE TO PORT HARDY
Distance: 28.10 nm

Start: 09:00 hrs. The start will be in the same area as the previous finish.

Finish: The finish is right in Hardy Bay off the Government dock in downtown Port Hardy. The race committee motorhome will be on station on the Government Dock. This is an excellent spot to watch “panic” spinnaker takedowns.

Moorage: Moorage is “hosted” at the “Summer Floats” adjacent to the Government Dock, at the foot of Granville St., courtesy of the District of Port Hardy; see this link for a map of the town and other information - www.ph-chamber.bc.ca/map4.html 

Facilities: Fuel is available however there is no shore power on these docks and water is at the head of the dock. Shower facilities are available at the Swimming Complex a short walk away. Laundry and shopping are close by.

Awards Reception: Awards and BBQ at the head of the dock in Carrot Park.

Festivities: The City of Port Hardy, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Kwakiutl First Nations, have once again planned some great entertainment in Carrot Park. June 21 is National Aboriginal Awareness Day and locally The First Annual Kwakwaka'wakw Arts and Culture Festival will be underway.

Special Notes: Stock up on provisions here as Winter Harbour has very limited selection. Next stop for provisioning is Ucluelet.


LEG 7
Date: JUNE 22, 2007
Course: PORT HARDY TO WINTER HARBOUR
Distance: 69.40 nm.

Start: 08:00 hrs. The start line is the same as the previous finish line.
This is the first offshore leg and takes sailors around the top of the island, past Cape Scott to the Open Pacific. Skippers have a choice of crossing the Nahwitti Bar, at the entrance to Goletas Channel, or taking the longer outside route into Queen Charlotte Strait. Nahwitti bar has a reputation for being one of the nastiest bits of water on the coast but it can also be benign.

Finish: The race committee will be on station at the Kains Island lighthouse (Quatsino Light station) and the finish will be a transit from the lighthouse to Robson Rock. This is the preferred entrance to Forward Inlet from the North. Kains Island is only accessible by boat.

Finish Time: Boats have until 1800 hrs on June 23rd to finish this leg.

Moorage: is available at the Outpost Marina, the first docks you come to just north of the flashing light on Greenwood Point, at the going rate. Overflow moorage is available at the Government Dock at Government Rates.

Facilities: The population here is less than 20 people. There is no Shore Power, very limited showers and toilets. Boats need to be totally self-sufficient here. Fuel, water, small grocery/liquor store, laundry and pay phones are all close at hand.
The Outpost RV Park has sites with electricity, showers and toilets available for RV Park patrons only. Contact the Outpost through the link above to make advance reservations which are strongly recommended.250.969.4333

Awards Reception: The awards presentation will take place at the old School House. The folks of Winter Harbour and Holberg (the neighbouring community) are organizing a BBQ, with proceeds going to help the local communities.

Special Notes: Driving to Winter Harbour from Port Hardy is 76 km. via a gravel logging road, through Holberg. The logging roads are active Monday to Friday until 6:00 pm. It is recommended that you wait until after this time to drive in past Holberg. This logging road is sometimes active on weekends. Be prepared to YIELD and BACK UP FAST. For more information on driving in and current road conditions please call Western Forest Product’s Holberg office at 250-288-3362 and carry good spare tires.


LEG 8
Date: JUNE 24-26, 2007
Course: WINTER HARBOUR TO UCLUELET - The Mark Livingstone leg
Distance: 138.10 nm

The Cadillac Van Isle 360 lost a good friend in a tragic accident in March and this leg will be sailed in his memory. Mark Livingstone has been instrumental in ensuring the safety of the fleet on the west coast through his work with MCTS (Tofino Coast Guard Radio) and the Ucluelet Coast Guard Auxiliary. Mark was an honorary member of the Cadillac Van Isle 360 Race Committee and was very involved with the event both on and off the water. Mark was always there at the finish line with the coast guard auxiliary guiding the fleet through the challenging entrance.

Start: 0800 hrs. The start is across the previous day’s finish line. At 138 nm this is the longest leg of the race. Storm force winds are not uncommon in this area at any time of the year.

Finish: The race committee will be on station at the Amphitrite Point lighthouse. The finish will be from the lighthouse to the Red whistle buoy Y42. Good spectator viewing. Depending on conditions the faster boats may finish in daylight hours. It is more likely that this will be a night finish and the entrance to Ucluelet can be challenging especially at night. Coast Guard Auxiliary 38 will be on hand at the finish to provide safety escorts to those who need it. This will be weather dependent and all racers should exercise extreme caution in this area.

Finish Time: Boats have until 1200 hrs on June 26 to finish this leg.

Moorage: Moorage is “hosted” in the municipal marina “boat basin” near the Canadian Princess downtown, courtesy of the District of Ucluelet (refer to the marine facilities link at www.dist.ucluelet.bc.ca/frame.html for more info.) Boats drawing more than ten feet may be required to tie up at the outer float in the same area.

Facilities: Shore power, water, fuel, showers, laundry, shopping all available and close by.

Accommodations: The Tauca Lea Resort & Spa is a sponsor of the event once again. They offer one and two bedroom suites and an excellent restaurant, located on the water a five minute walk from the marina.

Welcome Reception & Awards: A dinner and awards presentation has been organized by the local community at the Community Hall on Tuesday June 26. Time TBA.


LEG 9
Date: JUNE 27- 29, 2007
Course: UCLUELET TO VICTORIA
Distance: 97 nm

Start: 1000 hrs. The start line is in the vicinity of the previous day’s finish. Excellent spectator viewing from Amphitrite Point.

Finish: The finish will be similar to the “Swiftsure” harbour finish inside the Ogden Point Breakwater in Victoria harbour. The race committee will be on station at the Westcan Terminal on Pier A. There is excellent spectator viewing from the Breakwater.

Finish time: Boats have until 1800 hrs on June 28 to finish.

Moorage: The fleet will tie at the causeway floats in downtown Victoria courtesy of Victoria’s newest Cadillac Dealership “Victoria Motor Products” owned by Dave Wheaton. Victoria Motor Products is a member of our title sponsor group the Cadillac Dealers of BC and went the extra mile to welcome the fleet to their home town.

Awards Presentation: An awards presentation will take place at a yet to be determined location close to the moorage facility.

Facilities: Enjoy all the facilities this fantastic City has to offer, everything is available and close.

Special Notes: This is an extremely busy harbour with heavy float plane and ferry traffic. For information and rules on transiting Victoria’s Harbour please refer to this map www.tc.gc.ca/pacific/marine/victoriaharbourtrafficscheme.htm 


LEG 10
Date: JUNE 29 TO JULY 1, 2007
Course: VICTORIA TO NANAIMO
Distance: 60.40 nm

Start: 1500 hrs. The race committee will be on station at the Ogden Point Breakwater and the start will be between the Ogden Point Breakwater and Brotchie Ledge. Refer to the links above for information. This leg starts in the afternoon to take advantage of the tide and to give boats the best opportunity of finishing in daylight hours on Saturday in Nanaimo.

With so many routes through the Gulf Islands to Nanaimo this night sailed leg will have most navigators pulling their hair out. Significant differences in the length of the various routes and tides through the many passes will prove challenging.

Finish: The finish will be off the Visiting Vessels Pier in Nanaimo Harbour. Excellent spectator viewing from the Pier

Finish Time: Boats have until 0800 on July 1 to finish this leg.

Moorage: boats will tie at the Cameron Floats over the Canada Day long weekend, by pre-arrangement only. Refer to race instructions for details.

Awards Party: Sunday July 1, 1100 hrs. An awards presentation has been organized, with assistance from the City of Nanaimo, and other community groups and event sponsors, at the Harbour Front Plaza located between the Library and Port Theater. Further details TBA