Hey all,

I've been flying around on a Hobie 21 SE up here in Vancouver, Canada and I'm looking for a few other boats that would like to go on a bit of an adventure that I'm planning for June 19th - 26th of 2010. The course would involve a Start/Finish in Victoria, Canada.

We have this Island up here called Vancouver Island which is almost precisely a 1000 kilometer (650 mile) circumnavigation. I'd like to get a few fast cats that would like to join me on a gumball rip around the island for the Summer of 2010. We have a 20' Zodiac that could escort us as we scream through some of the most incredibly scenic and remote sailing areas that the Pacific Northwest has to offer. I've done a fair bit of sailing the area, researching the daily checkpoints, prevailing winds/waves and logistics and its quite doable. Anyone into making this happen with me? I figure it would take a week to do. We'd want to do it as close to the solstice as possible to get the full benefit of the very long 16 1/2 hours of daylight we get at that time.

Here's the course: http://maps.google.ca/?ie=UTF8&ll=49.703168,-125.551758&spn=3.31472,8.4375&t=h&z=8

Maybe this could be the next Worrell 1000 but without the financial implosion.

Please contact me if you're interested.

David Gauci
gauci_d<at>hotmail.com

You planning on landing on any beaches? What's the shoreline like? Dates? I may be interested.

There's pretty much everything up there from endless stretches of white sandy beaches to sheer rock cliffs. The checkpoints are still tentative as I'd like to get the boat out to more of them this summer. The first spot that I'd like to get intimate with is the Seymour Narrows as its a notorious obstacle for us to overcome with its extreme tidal flows. For the most part however, I would expect that each evening, we'd plan the stops in some of the many small fishing ports that can offer us overnight docking. I would also suspect that we all share a single shore support vehicle that could ship our specific supplies to most of the stops. There are however, a few that are so remote (Cape Scott), that we'd have to arrange advanced delivery of supplies as there are no roads that lead there.

One option that I'm considering is holding it off for a year until 2011 as the bi-annual Van Isle 360 race takes place in June. Planned correctly, we can coordinate doing the most remote sailing at a time when there will be 50 or so other offshore boats in the area while we wail down the outside of the Island. Again, this is all still in the planning stages but safety is tantamount as we're really way out there when it comes to securing help if need be. On the good side, we skirt land the entire trip, there are lots of cities to small fishing ports that will offer refuge, accommodations and resources. I'm also in the process of trading out our powerboat to a 20' Zodiac so we'll have that to escort us as well.

So again, this is its preliminary planning stages. It seems to me that people crave extreme adventures these days and this challenge is certainly one that would fall into that category. The weather up here is in the mid 70's - low 80's, the water is cold but clean, there are whales, seals, eagles and some of the most stunning scenery that this world has to offer. Properly planned and provisioned, I could see 4 - 6 boats enjoying a once in a lifetime adventure that we'll carry with is as one of life's highlights.

So...still interested? I could sure use some help planning this.

definately still interested. Why not make some of the remote spots be "unsupported" and bring our own gear and just rough it for a few nights. I've actually done a bit of that. When I had my 21se, I even slept on it at anchor a few times with a tarp under me to keep the waves from swamping me and my sleeping bag.

Lee,

Glad you're still interested. Having looked over the course, there will be a few stops that will be unsupported and I have no problem with that. Still, there's a lot to be said for having a hot meal, a cold beer and a warm bed waiting for you after 10 - 12 hours out there. Again, this is all still up for discussion and its good to get the input. Although I've been racing for 30+ years, I must profess that almost all of my racing has been at the helm of OD keelboats so your input is valuable to me.

Since you mentioned that you used to have a 21SE, may I ask your opinion of the boat as it would apply to this sort of event? I have no problem moving to a newer Hobie or Nacra but part of me thinks the wings could make it a much drier and comfy ride given the extreme distance. I'm also of the mindset that simpler is better in this context. I've been out in the 21 in some particularly ugly weather and I've never once questioned its ability to get me home.

I guess my biggest question is whether you and other distance junkies are prepared to miss a GT300 since I'd like to time this to ride on coat tails of the Van Isle 360 which runs at the same time. Again, planning is in its preliminary stages and subject to alternatives. Truth be known, I'd love to do this in 2010.

Lets continue to discuss and see what we can build this into. I've unofficially dubbed it the Gauci 1000 since my last name in Cantonese means "dogsh*t" and the circumnavigation is almost precisely 1000 kilometers. The Dogsh*t 1000...sounds like the ultimate boat race to me.

Here's a link to my ever changing Google map:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=U...72.000466354ed6a936d25a5&t=h&z=8


David Gauci
[email protected]

I'd have to do the GT300 if it came down to deciding on the 2. They'd burn me at the stake if I missed that race.
I did my first GT300 on a 21se and have to say it was the most comfortable ride in a distance race ever. Keep that boat. I regret getting rid of mine every day. You're right about the wings. They keep you pretty dry and comfy. I'm making some "Aussie 18" wings for my N20 just for the extreme adventure trips. At our Team Chums website, you can see some photos of the GT300 in 2004 when I did it on a 21se. You've peaked my curiosity quite a bit with the idea of this race/adventure. Why don't you go after a sponsor for the event through a media buyer and get it sponsored? Or even find a production company to film it and sell it to Nat Geo or History Channell or one of those channells. Just a thought.
BTW, the name plays well. Keep it tagged to the event.

Lee,

I fully understand your commitment to the GT300 and that in itself bears further consideration with regards to the proposed date. The type of teams that will be attracted to this event will be the same that would be attracted to the GT300 so for me to compete against the GT300 for participants would be futile.

May I ask that you talk this up amongst your peers and see if you can build some interest? Perhaps the solution is that we look at a few weeks after the GT300 that would give teams time to recoup and repair before heading up here. I expect that my main draw would be from Cali as its only a 16 hr drive from San Fran.

I'll keep working on this and will keep you posted. You've given me much to chew on so I'll continue to explore ways that can make this event happen. The more I'm looking at it, the more I'm intrigued (and determined) I'm becoming.

Thanks Lee!

David

Now that sounds like fun. I dont care about the racing but being remote like that makes it an event. Just wish I wasnt so far away.

Hi TX246,

If you're interested, a few of us are planning to do a few legs of the race next July to check out some of the more remote areas. We'll have our chase boat with us and will be taking a look at some of the more remote beaches. Could make a nice little vacation adventure.

David

Hey David,
Not sure my 18HT is the right ride for this adventure, but I'm interested, maybe as crew. And I'm moderately close you, here in Spokane. Keep me posted....

Dave Farmer 509 276 6355

Hi Dave,

Actually, I've been getting a lot of interest for this event from both F18 and F20 teams. I expect that we'll be breaking it dowin into an F18, F20 and an open class for legacy boats like the Hobie 21Se. I'll put you on our mailing list to keep you apprised of developments.

One thing that may be happening as well is a possible get together over on our Island for next summer (2010)just to build interest in the area and to have some fun withother sailors. We're going to host an informal weekend for cats to come park on our sheltered beach and camp on our property for a weekend. We'll host some point to point or around Island events meant more to just have some fun as opposed to hosting a major event. Maybe we could throw in a Poker Run sort of thing...all up for discussion. We're smack dab in the middle of some spectacular cruising grounds. Launch from Lions Bay Marina on the mainland and 30 minutes later, you're at our beach. We'd also be happy to run the RIB back and forth with supplies so you can sail light.

We have ample camping sites and will host nightly bonfires in the evening where we can have a blast. I'm a guitar player so the more the merrier.

We're tentatively thinking the Canada Day/Independence Day long weekend to account for travel time.

Map here: Google Map

[img]http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=8370742&l=e6283e491b&id=872310322[/img]

If anyone is interested in either event, contact me.

Yeah, both sound great to me. My preference is assisted camping, but I can be flexible. Keep us all posted David, your efforts are greatly appreciated!

Dave

Don't know if anyone is still looking at this thread but here are a couple of suggestions:

1) You will never receive CG permits to run a beach cat event around Vancouver Island. I did the Van Isle in 2009 and will be doing it again in 2011. These are some very remote areas, with little to no place to pull on to a beach in case of gear failure or injuries.

2) The currents are far too strong to allow you to sail through Seymour Narrows, you would have to get a tow. This is the case also elsewhere on the course. The wind is not at all predictable during this time of year, meaning you could be swept very far away from where you want to go. For example, on a 65' boat we were nearly swept on the wrong side of Quadra Island on the leg to Campbell River, it can happen.

3) A 20' Rib is the minimum PER BOAT that would be required for support for this distance. You would need a support boat for each boat competing, for safety and gear issues.

I am not trying to shoot down the idea, it is quite intriguing. I am interested in distance/adventure racing in the NW, my wife and I have a Hobie Tiger. I would suggest if you are serious about such an adventure that you contact the Van Isle race organizers, and ask if you can participate in the 2011 event, with your own organization, up to the Campbell River stopover. This would give a good three leg event in which to "test the waters" so to speak, with other boats around in case of problems. If you still wanted to attempt a full rounding of Van Isle, then this would be a good starting point, but like I said, I think you are seriously underestimating CG permitting and support craft.

since when do you need a permit??

Not in Canada but anywhere US Coast Guard may be you need permit. Different in the States, I just learned of the Canadian Coast Guard policies recently. Much easier than in the US.

There are other factors that I think would prevent you from going all the way around Van Island.

Permit for what?
"May I see your papers?" said in a russian accent

Permit for organized sailing event. They are required for ALL organized races in the US.

Without permit can we take part in the race?