These boats will take off on Saturday, June 1 for a lengthy trip around Vancouver Island. (Spencer Sterritt/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

set sail

Sailing race around Vancouver Island to take off from Nanaimo

May 31, 2019 | 12:39 AM

NANAIMO — A marathon of a different sort is set to take off from Nanaimo.

VanIsle 360, a 15-day yacht race around Vancouver Island, sets sail on Saturday, June 1.

Nearly 40 boats, from pleasure yachts to smaller sail boats, will launch from the Nanaimo Harbour in a staggered fashion at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday.

Skipper Marek Omilian, who’s looking for his first win at the helm of a boat, said watching all the boats take off is a sight to behold.

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“It’s going to be a blast. It’s going to be windy from the northwest, creating a lot of action for the 37 boats.”

With each boat flying various colourful flags, he and organizers said all the boats leaving the harbour will look like a painting.

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