About 40 racing yachts sped out of Ucluelet on Wednesday morning en route to Victoria.
The vessels began filling the local harbour on Sunday night and spent a few days for rest and repairs before heading out on June 14.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 always a joy to see those sailboats come into the harbour,B次元官网网址� Ucluelet mayor Marilyn McEwen told the Westerly B次元官网网址.
The Shadow II crew arrived at UclueletB次元官网网址檚 52 Steps Dock around 11:30 p.m. on Sunday night and was greeted by the districtB次元官网网址檚 harbour master Kevin Cortes.
B次元官网网址淜evin is fantastic,B次元官网网址� the vesselB次元官网网址檚 crew boss Joel Ross told the Westerly B次元官网网址. B次元官网网址淗e met us here around midnight, was cheerful and chipper and ready to answer any questions we had. HeB次元官网网址檚 an unbelievable guy.B次元官网网址�
The Van Isle 360 spans 625 nautical miles consisting of nine legs, the longest one being from Winter Harbour to Ucluelet.
B次元官网网址淭he leg from Winter Harbour to Ukee is the longest leg in the race by 40 miles, so the time needed in Ukee is just to accommodate time for the slower boats to get here for the faster boats to fix everything that broke,B次元官网网址� Ross said. B次元官网网址淪tuff breaks all the timeB次元官网网址eB次元官网网址檙e hard on the gear.B次元官网网址�
Speaking to the Westerly at the dock on Tuesday, Shadow II crewmember Mike Bowman said the stopover in Ucluelet B次元官网网址渉as been amazing.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淯cluelet is a beautiful place to visit and we love itB次元官网网址tB次元官网网址檚 a long run down from Winter Harbour, so itB次元官网网址檚 a great stop before getting around to Victoria,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭he restaurants have all been working really hard to make sure weB次元官网网址檙e fed and taken care ofB次元官网网址ll of the food weB次元官网网址檝e had has been great. We really appreciate the town being ready to take care of us.B次元官网网址�
McEwen noted the Ucluelet leg is dedicated to the memory of Mark Livingstone.
B次元官网网址淗e was instrumental in ensuring the safety of the fleet through his work with the Coast and then Ucluelet Search and Rescue as well,B次元官网网址� she said.
Shadow IIB次元官网网址檚 navigator Ian Lloyd was participating in his seventh VI360 race and said the leg was named after Livingstone in honour of his work on the ocean.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just a small way of giving something back from the racing community,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址�(Livingstone) was a big part of the search and rescue community and a valuable part of the maritime community.B次元官网网址�
Lloyd added that Ucluelet has been an exceptional host community in each one of his races.
B次元官网网址淭he people are so friendly and laid back and welcoming. ItB次元官网网址檚 just a wonderful community and weB次元官网网址檙e pleased to be welcomed each time we come back for this event,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭he whole experience in Ucluelet was really friendly. ItB次元官网网址檚 hard to pick out one highlight. It was all good.B次元官网网址�
The racing yachts werenB次元官网网址檛 the only attraction luring locals and visitors to UclueletB次元官网网址檚 docks as the Royal Canadian NavyB次元官网网址檚 Raven 56 was open for tours in the outer boat basin.
The 100B次元官网网址� Raven 56 is one of eight Orca Class patrol ships based out of Esquimalt and is primarily used for officer training in the navy, though the vessel was in Ucluelet as a support vessel for two navy owned yachts participating in the race.
Lieutenant Commander Ryan deForest said the vessel is primarily used B次元官网网址渇or training naval officers in the art of navigation.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲e primarily operate in the southern Gulf Islands and the San Juan Islands in the U.S. driving around and building experience in the introductory phases of an officerB次元官网网址檚 career,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭he frigats are so much bigger, but this is where you can learn all the basic skills.B次元官网网址�
He said they arrived on June 9.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been a good visit. I really enjoyed hitting some of the restaurants and did a bike ride out to the (Canso Bomber Ruins Trail). ItB次元官网网址檚 super awesome getting a chance to do a bit of a reconnaissance of Ucluelet so I can make plans for a future vacation.B次元官网网址�
This was de ForestB次元官网网址檚 first time participating in the VI360 and he said the experience was B次元官网网址減henomenal.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a huge undertaking, but a really awesome opportunity. The wildlife that people have seen and the challenging conditions have been really amazing,B次元官网网址� he said.
Master Corporal Andre Maillet said he visits the West Coast at least twice a year on vacation and loves spending time in the community.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 pretty much my favourite part of the Island,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 love the West Coast, love the wildlife, the surfing, the nature and the nice chill vibe here in Ukee.B次元官网网址�
The racers are expected to spend a lay day in Victoria on Thursday before departing for the final leg on Friday to reach the finish line in Nanaimo on Saturday.
andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca
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