The first-ever GIN regatta will fire up during this year’s 10th Van Isle 360 International Yacht Race.
Vancouver Island’s marathon yachting race will mark its 10th edition with a record number of competitors and the inaugural Gulf Islands Nanaimo (GIN) Regatta, set to sail this June.
Van Isle 360 happens once every two years and has become “the race” to sail in on the west coast of North America, says owner Jeffrey Motley, who’ll see boats as far as California and New Mexico at this year’s event, including one once owned by American’s Cup competitor Dennis Conner.
The race got its start in 1999 with the Ambassador’s Edition, with 14 yachts looping the Island. Between June 6-20, there will be a record 52 boats and around 500 sailors participating in the 10-leg contest which starts and ends in Nanaimo.
Racers will make stops on the Island along the way spanning French Creek to Port Hardy, Ucluelet and Victoria.
“The race is just one of those amazing events that it’s on the bucket list of everybody,” said Motley, who attributes the success to host communities and volunteers.
The event kicks off in the Harbour City with a Salvation Army pancake breakfast at the M.E. Mills Landing pier. The public can see the racers off and follow their journey on Van Isle 360’s online race tracker (http://goo.gl/HnMZ9D).