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Van Isle 360 International Yacht Race returns to Nanaimo waters

NANAIMO — Boats big and small are readying to circumnavigate Vancouver Island.

The Van Isle 360 International Yacht Race sees dozens of vessels sail around Vancouver Island, and begins in Nanaimo on Saturday, June 3 with boats arriving as early as Wednesday, May 31 at the W.E. Mills Landing and Marina, off Cameron Island.

Sylvia Motley owns the race with her husband Jeff, she told NanaimoNewsNOW 39 boats, roughly 325 sailors and around 50 support crew will make the trek around the Island over the next two weeks.

“[The boats] going to range from 24 feet up to 52 feet. Most of the races this year are American, 60 per cent of our fleet are American. They’re very keen on this race…so many anchorages, so much wild beauty around the Island which they just really don’t have once you get south of Seattle.”

Start times on Saturday morning will be at 10:20 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 10:40 a.m. as the boats navigate around busy Harbour waters with BC Ferries and seaplanes, along with personal watercraft.

Motley said the start is always a little chaotic with the best viewing along the seawall by the pier.

“The start is always fun, it’s very small and between satellite reef and the pier. There will be a lot of yelling and screaming and hopefully quite a bit of wind so we get out of the harbour quickly.”

After starting in Nanaimo, boats will turn north for the first of nine races around the Island, making stops along the way.

Most races are short day trips, however, boats will go overnight against the clock and each other down the Island’s west coast.

While boats are split into four divisions, they’re all competing for top prize through a unique ranking, the Ocean Racing Council system, which evens the field.

“It’s a very accurate form of handicapping the boats in that it takes into account weights of the boats, measurements, how tall their mast is, how big their sails are,” Motley said. “This makes the competitors very, very close because these ratings are so accurate.”

Usually held at the end of May or the start of June, timing of the race is built around one critical junction point.

“The race is totally dependent timing-wise on the tides through Seymour Narrows [between Vancouver Island and Quadra Island, north of Campbell River]. It’s the only place the boats will motor to get through the narrows and the whole race is based when we can get through at a half decent time.”

Boats will begin arriving back in Nanaimo in the evening or overnight hours of Friday, June 16 into Saturday, June 17 with an awards banquet to follow Saturday night.

It’s the first time in four years the bi-annual event has run, after being cancelled in 2021.

The races are supported by crews from the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Coast Guard.

Join the conversation. Submit your letter to NanaimoNewsNOW and be included on The Water Cooler , our letters to the editor feature.

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Van Isle 360 International Yacht Race

June 3, 2023 @ 10:30 am - june 17, 2023 @ 2:00 pm.

The Van Isle 360 International Yacht Race is a 588 nautical mile circumnavigation of Vancouver Island with a series of point to point legs. 40 boats and 350 people will be participating in this event.

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HOST COMMUNITIES

Without our hosts, there would be no race..

Below is some basic information on the towns, villages, yacht clubs and areas that welcome us each go round. Each one is exceptional in their diversity and hospitality.

Photo credit: Adobe Stock

The Van Isle 360 Yacht Race starts and finishes each year in Nanaimo, the Harbour City and home to the world famous Nanaimo Bar! (That’s a sweet, not a “BAR”) Nanaimo and Region is a perfect example of a classic West Coast community offering natural beauty at every turn and stunning sailing possibilities. Beautiful passages, numerous routes, strong tides and hazards will challenge even the most skilled skipper and crew. The Nanaimo Harbour Authority welcomes the fleet each year to the visiting vessel pier where in preparation for the starting gun, courtesy inspections are conducted by a dedicated group of volunteer’s. A skipper’s meeting and reception on the pier will stoke rivalries and nerves in anticipation of the next mornings starting horn. And once again the Van Isle 360 International Yacht Race, described by one skipper as bloody, bruising, dangerous, all consuming and the best race in the Pacific Northwest is launched.

The K’omoks First Nations who flourished in the Comox area for more than 9000 years meant it when they named it ” the land of plenty “. Comox is a thriving seaside community with a mountainous horizon and the rich farmlands of the Comox Valley. The 500 farms of the valley embrace orchards, nurseries, berry farms, dairy farms, producing incomparable produce. The boats in this year’s race will thoroughly enjoy the breathtaking run up the east coast of south central Vancouver Island with its miles of sandy white beaches to port and mountainous vistas to starboard. For the road crews, a scenic drive up the coastal highway offers plenty of excellent viewing opportunities and photo ops! Don’t forget your folding chair and binoculars!  This shakedown leg will give the competitors an opportunity to utilize all their navigational and sailing skills, as well as see the sun set and perhaps rise before navigating their way over the Comox Bar and into safe anchorage in the Comox Harbour Marina. While this a very short stop, we wish to thank The Comox Bay Sailing Club for their support and enthusiasm over the years.

Campbell River

Campbell River or Wiwek’am lies on the east coast of Vancouver Island at the entrance to the south end of Discovery Passage. Marking the entrance is the 50th parallel (North), where all shipping and Cruise ships taking the inside route of Vancouver Island pass on their journey through Johnstone Strait.

The “Wild” is everywhere around Campbell River and the sights are spectacular with breaching whales in Discovery Passage, soaring eagles above the world famous  Seymour Narrows and sea lions barking on the shoreline.

Campbell River’s Discovery Fishing Pier is Canada’s first saltwater fishing pier.  It extends 150 feet from shore and is 600 feet long offering unobstructed views of the Discovery Passage.   The Pier is the place to be to watch the Van Isle fleet battle out the finish to the second leg of the race.  Current and tides play a huge factor on this leg of the race and depending on winds can wreak havoc with this finish.  Boats have been known to graze the pier in a spectacular close finish, get caught between wind and current and come to a standstill or even more incredible, start moving backwards!  so grab an icecream cone on the Pier and settle down for the show!

The fleet will once again be hosted by the Discovery Harbour Marina.   This Marina is the largest full service Marina in B.C. north of Vancouver and we are very fortunate to make this marina our home for the night.  At the top of the Marina’s ramp is the Riptide Pub where the first awards night and dinner take place…always an entertaining evening!

Sayward/Kelsey Bay/Port Neville

2023 will be our first finish and start off of the Kelsey Bay Pier located in the Town of Sayward. Many thanks to Harbour Authority working with us to provide a touch and go portion of the dock. The competitors will finish off the pier and then head to Port Neville, approximately 7 nautical miles away to anchor up for the night. The pier operated by the Sayward Futures Society will offer spectacular viewing for both the finish and start of legs 3 and 4. Here is a link to the Sayward Society webcams .

Sayward is a small coastal community on Kelsey Bay overlooking Johnstone Strait on the east coast of  North Vancouver Island . Enjoy a leisurely stroll along the pathway winding by Sayward’s estuary and you’ll find a variety of wildlife. Count the species of birds and other wild animals who make their home in this beautiful natural environment. At the end of the old Island Highway, a well-worn trail leads to the locally known “Gentries Pool” where you can lay on white sand, snorkel with the salmon, or swim. The Salmon River is a popular river for exhilarating river rafting. In addition, the lakes and rivers offer a range of canoeing and kayaking routes. You can also enjoy a guided marine wildlife trip up scenic Johnstone Strait to the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve on a quest to locate and observe killer whales, eagles, bears, and other wildlife in their natural habitat. Bird watching is also popular at the Salmon River Wildlife Reserve and fishing and whale watching from the Port of Kelsey Bay wharf.

Telegraph Cove

Small, compact and nestled between ocean and rain forest in the northern Vancouver Island wilderness, Telegraph Cove ( population of about 20 ) seems to have jumped through time.

The boardwalk resort with its preserved historic buildings recalls a rustic past in which the cove harboured a lumber mill and salmon saltery. Simplicity is one of Telegraph Coves’s greatest charms. The cove, a long time favourite stopover amongst the Van Isle 360 participants, is a sanctuary in which to unwind at the end of an action packed day.

Watch out for the bears and cougars…while you are out looking for a meal, they may be looking for one as well!

Port Hardy’s history and culture begins at Bear Cove…the oldest known site of human habitation on Vancouver Island circa 585 BC.  It is also the last bastion of civilization in the remote and wild north end of the Island.  The Kwakiutl, a First Nations band within the large Kwakwaka’wakw nation of northern Vancouver Island inhabited villages in Beaver Harbour and Hardy Bay.  First contact with Europeans occurred in the early 19th century.  The steamship SS Beaver was sent on an exploratory trip by the Hudson Bay Company which established a trading post at Beaver Harbour a dozen years later.

Just 50 families resided in the region by 1950 with boats being the primary means of transportation.  Politicians promised construction of an Island highway but it was not until 1979 that the road from Campbell River was finally paved.  Saluting this victory, residents erected a large carving of a half chewed root vegetable in Carrot Park with a sign that reads, “This carrot, marking the northern end of the Island Highway, is a symbol of government road building promises, dangled in front of north Island settlers since 1897.”  Carrot Park is the setting for the Van Isle 360 Port  Hardy awards presentation.

We are hoping that the tradition of each vessel arriving will be welcomed to the floating docks by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in their formal and ceremonial red serge uniforms.  A magnificent photo opportunity and an honour to the fleet as this uniform is not worn when an officer is on a normal shift but reserved for special occasions.

This is generally an extremely busy stop as not only is it the last stop for provisioning before Ucluelet, but crew members will get changed out for the wild, west coast ride and any and all repairs that need to be addressed are taken on.

Winter Harbour

The wild west coast adventure begins as the fleet casts off in Port Hardy, not only for those sailing by sea, but for their intrepid shore crews…aka…the Roadies!  These hardy souls will travel via a gravel logging road, 75 km from Port Hardy, to support and meet up with the fleet.

Winter Harbour is a sheltered west coast haven from sometimes violent Pacific Ocean weather for sailing ships since the 1800’s and fishing boats over the last 100 years.  This historic fishing village sits on North America’s western most point.  Winter Harbour offers the only stationary fueling facility in Quatsino Sound and gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean in all of its untamed glory.

Our race committee is privileged to be granted approval to stay at the Quatsino Lightstation on Kains Island, a once in a lifetime experience.  Accessed only by boat or helicopter this windswept island is completely exposed to the elements.  The Quatsino Lightstation  was established in 1907 with the foghorn added in 1923.  Captain Cook called Brooks Peninsula the ” Cape of storms” but this area also offers shelter, sandy beaches and a world class wilderness experience to all who venture here.

The population may be small but the hearts of our Winter Harbour hosts are huge.  From family owned and operated Qualicum Rivers Winter Harbour Fishing Lodge and Resort to the  Outpost and all the families and individuals who help to make our stay in Winter Harbour so very memorable…we thank you. We also recognize that we are privileged to sail and explore the  traditional ancestral and unceded lands of Quatsino First Nation.

Ucluelet (Ukee)

Ucluelet means “people of the safe harbour” in the indigenous Nuu-chah-nulth language.  The longest leg of the Van Isle 360, a hopefully downwind sleigh ride of approximately 138 nm, from Winter Harbour to Ucluelet will bring the fleet into this very welcome safe harbour.  The unpretentious, outgoing people who live here call it “Ukee” and so it is also known by the veterans of the race.

The Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue Station 38 Long Beach Ucluelet will be on hand as they have been since the inception of the Van Isle 360 in 1999 to offer assistance in any way possible and to escort the fleet safely into the Ucluelet small craft harbour.  In calm conditions the shoals in the entrance usually present themselves as the rollers from Japan glide peacefully over the submerged reefs. In a blow, the entrance can take years off of the most veteran skipper and navigator as massive walls of green water and white spray crash against the shore. One only needs to look at the stunted vegetation and limb orientation on the trees to sense the awesome power of the mighty Pacific Ocean.

The fleet will be reporting to MCTS Prince Rupert for their overnight roll calls.  We wish to thank the Canadian Coast Guard and the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Esquimalt for their unfailing support to our many sailors.

Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, is a unique blend of old world charm and new world experiences.  Boasting the mildest climate in Canada, Victoria is green and beautiful year round.  Being rated the #1 destination in Canada makes us very fortunate to have this as one of the stops in the Van Isle 360 International Yacht Race.

Victoria has a very proud history.  Established in 1843 as a fort for the Hudson’s Bay Company, Victoria’s British ancestry is readily apparent in the double decker buses, horse drawn carriages, formal gardens and tea rooms.

Royal Victoria Yacht Club with over 120 years of rich history, is the oldest yacht club in Western Canada.  Situated on the protected waters of Cadboro Bay, RVYC will welcome the Van Isle 360 fleet.  We are extremely honoured and pleased to call RVYC the host of the final leg of the race.

Throughout the years, RVYC has conducted many international world championship events.  Since 1930 the club has organized the Swiftsure International Yacht Race, the largest annual offshore racing event in the Pacific Northwest.  As well as organizing and maintaining local racing events, the club has been well represented in world class events.  For more than 60 years the club has fostered an active junior program, teaching the sport of sailing as well as encouraging good sportsmanship.

NYC Racing 

With the exception of a short winter break, Nanaimo Yacht Club offers sailboat racing throughout the year in a wide variety of formats.  There's a season and a style of race for everyone.  We hope you can come out and join us for some fun on the water.

Nanaimo Yacht Club Racing

If speed and competition is high on your agenda, Nanaimo Yacht club holds regular series racing from September through to June.  The summer months are spent visiting the local regattas within a few hours sail and enjoying a friendly chase around the inner harbour on Wednesday evenings.  Competitors are fierce on the course but friendly off the course, willing to share a few drinks in the upstairs bar of the Yacht Club after every race.

The Nanaimo Yacht club has a keen group of sailors who like to get out as much as possible to engage in friendly competition and hone their boat handling skills.  If you don't want race your own boat, or you do not own a boat, no worries, as there are always skippers looking for new crew and no one is ever left standing on the docks when we head out to race.

Just show up at the competitors meeting on race days or contact us at [email protected] for further information. 

Pursuit Racing - Singlehanded or Crewed

On Saturdays (with Sunday as a weather backup) as per the racing calendar, a course is decided upon, depending on weather / sea conditions and forecast.  At 10 am, this course with individual start times, is sent to all participants via text message.   

The slowest rated boat will start at approximately 11 am with faster rated boats to follow depending on their rating.  In theory, all boats should finish at about the same time.  The races generally take about 2-3 hours to complete.  You can compete with a full crew or for an added challenge, join the singlehanded division.

There is no cost to pursuit racing, all you need to do is sign up on the Racing Mailing List to receive notices of upcoming races and contact information.  General enquiries can be made to the Racing Chair at [email protected] .

Series Racing

We are looking forward to resuming round the buoys racing this year.  On Sundays as per the schedule, a skippers meeting is held outside the lower entrance to the Yacht Club at 9 am.  The first race begins at 10:30 am outside of Protection and Newcastle Islands.  Usually 2-3 races are held and finish up about 3 pm.

The bar is opened to complete a great day on the water.  The cost is $10 per race of $75 for the year, which includes other races such as the Jack and Jill, etc.  Prizes are given for the winner of each race and a trophy is awarded for the boat winning the series.

SIN Regatta

In addition to Pursuit and Series racing, sailors in the Nanaimo area have the great SIN (Snake Island Nanaimo) Regatta in July.  This regatta attracts racers from throughout the Pacific Northwest and gives us an opportunity to showcase the Nanaimo waters and hospitality.

Other Options

In addition to all the Sail Racing options discussed above, there are several other opportunities that you can participate in including overnight races to both Gibsons Landing and Silva Bay, where you can race to the destination, take in some excellent restaurants and enjoy teh company of like-minder sailors, then race home the next day.

As you can see, the Nanaimo Yacht Club racing scene has something for everyone.  All it needs is for you to come out and enjoy what we already know; this is truly the best place on earth, especially out on the water!

For all racing skippers and crew planning to participate in any races, you must sign a waiver which is available on our Racing Documents Page on our Members Only Site or you can access one in the Clubhouse at the Racing Notice Board. 

2024 - Racing Calendar

10am RACING - Pursuit Race

10am RACING - Single Handed Championship

NYC Moorage

400 newcastle avenue, nanaimo, bc, canada, v9s 4j1.

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Sailors circumnavigate Vancouver Island in Van Isle 360 International Yacht Race

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Thirty-eight vessels have set out to circumnavigate Vancouver Island as part of the Van Isle 360 International Yacht Race.

The boats, including a handful of sailboats that recently completed Swiftsure, set out Saturday from Nanaimo for the two-week, 1,150-kilometre journey around the Island — the first since 2019, due to COVID.

This will be the 13th edition of the biennial competition, which alternates each year with the Vic-Maui yacht race.

Organizers Jeff and Sylvia Motley of Chemainus were avid sailors when they took over the Van Isle 360, but now put all their energy into making sure the event runs well.

“What goes on in the water is the simple part,” Jeff Motley said. “It’s the logistics on the land that are hard.”

That’s because the boats stop at eight designated ports as they make their way around the Island, he said, giving the hard-working crews time for some fun ashore after a day on the water.

“Every day they get out there and go as fast as they possibly can from one place to the next,” Motley said.

After their days on the water, the sailors will spend time in Comox, Campbell River, Sayward, Telegraph Cove, Port Hardy, Winter Harbour, Ucluelet and Victoria before finishing in Nanaimo on June 17.

Crew members on the boats plus helpers following on land adds up to about 350 people converging at each community along the way, Motley said.

Motley said the mix of the onshore and offshore experience is a big attraction for competitors. “Some people have referred to it as adult Disneyland.”

This year’s field is about 60 per cent Americans and 40 per cent Canadians, and includes Victoria-based skippers Suze Cumming, Ellery Down, Ben Sproule and Colin Nichols.

The boats will stop at the Royal Victoria Yacht Club once they get past the open ocean on the Island’s west coast, with a barbecue planned for June 15, Motley said.

The following day will see an 11 a.m. start off Clover Point for the final push to Nanaimo.

It could be a spectacular sight, he said, because the racers get going downwind, which means colourful spinnaker sails.

For more on the race and the full list of competitors, go to vanisle360.com .

[email protected]

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