Van Isle 360 - Day 2: Sailing into the top 10

6:30 am - the alarm goes off. 7 am Pancake breakfast at the dock. The wind is blowing at 10 - 15 kts from the Northwest, just like all the different weather models predicted.

We decided to leave the dock early and getting into race mode. These were conditions Turicum (our C&C 44) should thrive in.

8:55 am - the first gun for the start went off. We are in a much better position than the day before and head off north. A few boats decide on the inshore route close to Vancouver Island. We went to the right of the course. It was great sailing. The crew work was fantastic, communications were clear and everybody was focused on sail trim.

We were right in the groove and made good speed. This was champagne sailing: Sunny, a nice breeze and right along with other boats in our division: Night Runner, Cu na mara, Hana Mari, Zulu and others. It was great to be that close to other boats and being able to see the effect of each trim change as we measured boat speed against our competitors.

From driver to plumper: After having helmed for a good hour a little less glorious task was to take care of a blocked waste line. After a good half hour mocking around hoses, chocker vales pieces of hose and hose clamps we had a functioning head again. Half a bottle of bleach to care of the mess after the repairs.

Back on deck, I realized the wind eased a bit and the speed was down somewhat. Still, we were making good progress towards the finish line. We were neck on neck with Havoc and Night Runner. Both boats were lower than Turicum and we were pulling ahead. Then the boats ahead of us launched spinnakers. Among them Amazing Grace and Papillon. We got Zelda on deck, our light weight A-sail. Up she went and away we pulled from Havoc and night runner.

To our disgust the wind went further and further aft, favoring the Havoc and Night Runner who were both lower than us. It was painful to watch as both boats pulled ahead of as and managed to get across the finish line just seconds before us. Nothing we could do at that point.

10 place for Turicum - a vast improvement from day one. The crew was happy and we celebrate with wine and pizza at the back of the boat in Comox Harbour.

A huge thank you to Marilou and Breda of the Amazing Grace team who drove us to Courtney, were we had to pick up the pizza. Without them the day would not have ended as wonderful as it did.

This was a demonstration of great sailing spirit: Amazing Grace, our nemesis on the water but part of the big Van Isle family once we are tied up to the dock! 

See you all on the water tomorrow!