Calmer days during the early legs of the Cadillac VanIsle 360.

VANCOUVER, BC — Shortly after the 28 boats participating in this 500-plus-mile, multi-stage circumnavigation of Vancouver Island started Leg Eight on Sunday, headed from Winter Harbour to Ucluelet, a Pacific storm packing 50 knots blew up Quatsino Sound creating some dangerous conditions. According to race organizers, all members of the fleet were safe and accounted for, but 20 boats turned back for Winter Harbour, and three have retired from the event.
Sean Bethune's aptly named Frers 40 Tsunami lost its rig in heavy seas and more than 40 knots of wind. Doug Race's C&C 33 Ballenas escorted Tsunami back to Winter Harbour, and a third boat, Paul and Dave Miller's trimaran 3D opted to run downwind to Port Hardy and haul out. The only boat to sail the leg completely was Micah Vanderheide's Davidson 40 Mad Max, skippered by Sid Halls. Halls and the crew of eight related a harrowing 14 hours underway, during which they battled seas that Vanderhheide described as taller than the vessel's mast (55 feet).
Cheekee Monkee, an F9A trimaran skippered by Kim Alfreds from Bellingham, WA, was the first boat to turn back on Sunday. Out at the front of the fleet, Alfreds thought he'd find less violent weather further out to sea past Brooks Peninsula. When the wind and waves kept increasing rather than moderating, the crew radioed back to the fleet that things were getting worse and that they were turning back for shelter in Winter Harbour. Eventually, 20 boats turned back to spend Sunday night in Winter Harbour.
As a result of the severe weather, race organizers say they won't score Leg Eight as an official leg of the race. Leg Nine to Victoria is scheduled to begin on Thursday. For additional information, log on to www.vanisle360.nisa.com.