Please select your home edition
Edition
sMRT AIS Man Overboard Beacons AUS / NZ

Looking forward to the 2025 Van Isle 360 International Yacht Race

by David Schmidt 4 Jun 02:50 AEST June 3, 2025
Van Isle 360 Race! © Linda Vermeulen / www.beyondtheseastudio.com

There's that famous line in Pink Floyd's "Time" that goes, "And then one day you find ten years have got behind you." As I pack for the first half of the 2025 Van Isle 360 International Yacht Race (May 30 to June 14), which is where I'll be when you're reading these words, I'm realizing that a full eighteen years have slipped astern since the last time that I participated in this amazing race-cum-rally, which circumnavigates Vancouver Island as a series of stage races.

You see, 2007 found me working as a desk editor at SAIL magazine, where I was presented with the opportunity to cover about half of this race as part of my job.

So, I did what any scallywag sailor would do: I read the descriptions of each leg that I'd be sailing, cross referenced these with the entry list, and then begged the race organizers to help set me up with certain rides on certain days. Let's just say that it was no coincidence that I found myself on the two fastest boats in the fleet for the two longest legs, and that here was a reason that I elected to sail down Vancouver's desolate and stunningly beautiful west coast.

The tactic worked well, thanks in huge measure to the race organizers' efforts and to the extraordinary generosity of the fleet that accepted me—plus a photographer—as sight-unseen guests for these legs.

It also worked out well in another way. While my then-fiancé (now wife) is from the Pacific Northwest, this was my first big sailing adventure on these waters, and the experience had a massive impact. Not only did I get to enjoy some ripping good sailing, but I also got to experience small coastal villages, drippy temperate rainforests, tidal-driven whirlpools, and the sight of distant snow-covered mountains.

I knew before I even left Vancouver Island that we would be moving to the Pacific Northwest as soon as possible.

Now, eighteen years and a transcontinental move later, I still find myself writing about sailing, of course, but this trip will be much different than my previous experience. For starters, I'm lucky enough to be sailing aboard Jonathan and Libby McKee's Riptide 44, Dark Star, for the race's first five legs, which start in Nanaimo, on Vancouver Island's southeastern flank, and will take the fleet up the inside passage to Port Hardy, near the island's northern tip.

(Sadly, work obligations dictate that I won't get to sail down Vancouver's west coast this year, but this trip will [more or less] complete my second full (but not continuous) circumnavigation of Vancouver, so I'm certainly not complaining.)

This trip has also taught me a lot about preparing for a big adventure.

In 2007, I just showed up at the dock each day with my sailing jacket, lunch, and a pleased-to-meet-you smile.

This time, our crew started Zoom meetings in January and divided and conquered the preparations and boat work (with the bulk of the latter falling to Jonathan and Dark Star's Seattle-based crewmembers).

While I'm not the world's best cook (I've been known to burn water), I was tasked with sorting out provisions (and—thankfully— a few dinner reservations) for our crew of six. This job initially felt intimidating, but my amazing wife gave me a huge amount of help organizing, preparing grocery lists, shopping, pre-cooking (or pre-assembling) a few meals, and organizing part-two grocery lists for Canada (N.B., some foods can cross borders, others cannot).

This task also gave me much deeper appreciation for all the hard work that goes into organizing a boat for an ocean race or a bluewater passage. For this, I tip my hat to anyone who has ever done this for a race, cruise, or delivery.

Then there's the sailing.

Every year is different, of course, but the inside legs are typically uphill affairs that can be massively influenced by current and tide. This can make for some interesting sailing, especially when huge tide changes, big whirlpools and localized weather conditions are involved.

While it was fun hitchhiking around Vancouver in 2007, the part that I'm looking forward to the most this year is sailing through some of the most beautiful coastal waters imaginable aboard an awesome boat and with a wonderful group of people whom I've known and sailed with for years.

If 2007 was about meeting new friends, this year's adventure will be a great opportunity to spend some concentrated time with longtime friends, and to build the kind of memories that we'll be laughing about eighteen years from now.

May the four winds blow you safely home.

David Schmidt
Sail-World.com North American Editor

Related Articles

Video Interview: Onboard the Excess 14
At the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show 2025 Excess have moved forward their designs with the Excess 13 and 14 cruising catamarans, so seeing the Excess 14 was high on the priority list, as well as talking to some exceptional high performance sailors on board to learn their thoughts. Posted on 3 Jun
The call of the mighty
See the words Admiral's Cup and you immediately think approachable, real, hardcore action See the words Admiral's Cup and you immediately think approachable, real, hardcore action, braving the elements, and glory for the victorious. As an Australian, you have King Louie (the late Lou Abrahams), and the late Sir Jim Hardy as the poster boys. Posted on 1 Jun
Where to purchase adaptive sailing equipment
Seats, hoists, etc for sailors with a disability Several organisations have contributed their knowledge regarding where to purchase adaptive sailing equipment such as seats for dinghies and hoists for wheelchair users to get into boats. Posted on 1 Jun
America's Cup Power Plays
And Growing Sailing Through Learning There's always so much speculation and intrigue in-between each edition of the America's Cup. Everyone wants to know what is happening behind closed doors, inside the teams, and when the Challengers meet with the Defender. Posted on 28 May
Hyde Sails Flying Fifteen Video Tuning Guide
Ben McGrane explains how to get the most out of your B1 mainsail with B1 or 2H jibs Hyde Sails release new detailed video guide for tuning the Flying 15 for use with the B1 mainsail with B1 or 2H jibs. Posted on 22 May
Gladwell's Line: - May 22 - A big month
Kiwi's loss is Italy's gain - our thoughts on the hosting debacle. Kiwi's loss is Italy's gain - our thoughts on the hosting debacle. Paul Whiting's tribute - 45yrs on. Surprise winner of biggest ever two-handed nationals. Chalkie Bland remembered. Posted on 22 May
Puget Sound sailing, Etchells, J/70s, Cup news
Seeking Goldilocks conditions on Puget Sound, Etchells NAs, J/70 U.S. Nationals, AC38 news As the saying goes, 'you don't know unless you go'. While I've mostly heard this phrase applied to climbing, skiing, and mountaineering, four late-winter and springtime races on Puget Sound this year exemplified the fact that this line. Posted on 20 May
The appeal of offshore
Is there still appeal? Have we made it too onerous? Why would someone take it up now? I had been pondering. Yes. Marquee events have no issue attracting entrants. Middle Sea, Transpac, Cape to Rio, Fastnet, and Hobart all spring to mind instantly, but what of the ‘lesser' races? Lots of boats in pens (slips) a lot of the time Posted on 18 May
Banger Racing, Back Racing and No Racing
Racing on the cheap, a return to racing for young Aussies, and ILCA struggles We start with racing on the cheap at the Colander Cup, then focus on a return to racing for the Aussies at the Youth Worlds, moving on to a complete lack of racing at the ILCA Worlds, and then looking at how SailGP should be back out on the water. Posted on 14 May
Night sailing, Transat Paprec, Congressional Cup
Night sailing, encountering light airs in the Transat Paprec, Congressional Cup We bundled up as the last of the rays sunlight dipped below the Olympic Mountains and night quietly fell on Puget Sound. We'd been racing for about twelve hours in the Seattle Yacht Club's Protection Island Race (April 26), and we were getting tired. Posted on 6 May
Hyde Sails 2024 - One DesignVetus-Maxwell 2021 v2 FOOTERX-Yachts X4.3