It is time to introduce Team Turicum for the upcoming Southern Straits, Swiftsure and the Vic Maui 2014!  We have a well rounded crew and are getting into the groove as we work as a team.  In no particular order, here is a quick introduction to each Team member...

Steve Small has been an avid cruiser for the last 30 years.  He began sailing off the coast of Newfoundland with his father when young.  When he moved to Vancouver 25 years ago, he and his wife Leslie have remained ardent sailors ever since.  His career as a professional engineer on large infrastructure projects in Canada and internationally gave him the opportunity to sail Australian waters during a 6-year ex-pat stint Down Under.  Wishing to hone his open-water skills for future adventures, he is very excited to undertake his first Vic-Maui race and become an active part of a team planning and undertaking this major crossing.  Steve currently owns a 37' Hunter Legend, his second boat.’

 

Grant Brandson

Started sailing dinghy as a youth in Bermuda.  Took cruise and learn course in Vancouver in 1992 on “Late Bloomer” up to Desolation Sound.  Sailed Gulf islands and local waters since that time.  Have also experienced sailing in B.V.I., turks and Caicos, and aboard Maxi yacht, ”British Defender” in Australia.  Doing Vic Maui has been a lifelong dream and am looking forward to the challenge and experience.

Ray Parent

I have been sailing for the better part of my 60 years.  I have owned a C&C 30 and now a Catalina 36 MKII since 2005.  I have about 15 years club race experience on a Santana 30/30, Express 37 MKII, and San Juan 27, as well as 8 years at WIRW, and 1 Swiftsure.  My bluewater experience consists of Maui to Port Angeles (2004), Vancouver to San Diego (2009) and Tahiti to Hilo (2010). I have served as Commodore for Point Roberts Yacht Club and am a PADI Advanced Open Water Diver. I believe it is rarely possible to be more content & peaceful than when at the wheel in a fair wind with the sails set & trimmed enjoying my favorite Cohiba.

James Howard

I first learned how to sail 10 years ago after purchasing a Race rigged Kirby 25.  I sailed this Kirby all through the gulf Islands and BC coast.  Sailing mostly single handed for years and then bringing my two boys up sailing out on our playground which we call the Juan De fuca.  Have always been drawn to the sea whether it was with my power boats in the beginning to enjoying scuba diving and certified as a Rescue Diver.  Trained through the MED courses including Marine Fire Fighting.  Currently working on a refit of an Albin Vega which I intend to spend a few years on Sailing Mexico and beyond to the South Pacific to chase the sun.  The Vic Maui will be an amazing experience and great opportunity to get a taste of Blue Water Racing.  Sailing is a passion and a way of life.

Lew Forth

Lew worked as Charter Skipper, delivery skipper and instructor to Yacht Master Offshore level years with Sailcraft  for 6 years and as Training co-ordinator and senior Instructor for Nanaimo Charters & Sailing School for 7 years. He has 50 years of recreational, commercial & marine experience. This includes 5 years in the Royal Canadian Navy, crew boat, small tug and dozer boat operator in the forest industry and skipper/crew of a commercial fish boat.

He has served as a paramedic and trainer with the British Columbia Ambulance Service and as an Industrial First Aid instructor.

He has also skippered a number of yacht deliveries Nanaimo to San Diego, Victoria to San Francisco and Cabo San Lucas.

Lew also has years of racing experience that includes 1 Vic Maui, 19 Southern Straits, 20 Swiftsures, 4 Van Isle 360s and numerous club and VARC. races.

Experience: Over 30,000 nautical miles

 



Lana Krause

I've been sailing for over 25 years, from dinghies to keel boats.
I've cruised in the Gulf Islands and Desolation Sound, the Carribean and Thailand.
Been racing locally for about 15 years, and am excited to be taking my racing skills to another level as crew on Turicum for the 2014 Vic-Maui race.

June Arnett - CEO

Hale’s other(better) half, Turicum’s official Pit Princess and Galley Goddess. 

Growing up in Alberta, far from the ocean, experiencing the three seasons –  snow, mud and bugs – June wisely migrated west toVancouver.  
After meeting Hale and realizing that he and boats were going to be a permanent part of her life, she took up sailing in self-defence.  Best cruising trips have been to Haida G’waii and chartering in the British Virgins, and Swiftsure has always been a favourite race.   After many Vic-Maui races from 1998 on as support and shore crew, and maintaining that a 747 was the only way to go to Hawaii and back, June will be on the delivery crew bringing Turicum home after the race.  She’s looking forward to logging the ocean miles and sharing the experience with her other (better) half.  When she’s not in the pit making sure not to drop the spinnaker pole on the bowman’s head, she’s a high school teacher in Vancouver.

 

And of course, our Skipper!

 Hale

Hale first became involved with boats at the age of 4 when he "borrowed" a 14ft. canoe. Although he was unable to sit down for a week, his passion for boats was undiminished. After spending several years in power boats, Hale was introduced to the world of sail in 1961 and made the transition by crewing on various boats for about 10 years until he got his first sailboat.  The next several years were spent sailing his Thunderbird and crewing on boats of various sizes in several local races before building a new boat and becoming a sailing instructor. 

After sailing Crew’s Control to Alaska in 1992, the racing bug bit and the rest is history.

The next few years saw wins in local races topped off with division wins in Southern Straits, Swiftsure and most of the local distance races in the area. 

In looking for greater racing challenges, the only logical step was the Vic-Maui race which resulted in the purchase of Turicum, a C&C 44.

After spending 3 years getting ready, Hale entered the 1998 Vic-Maui race and was rewarded with a 3^rd place finish in their division.  Over the next 16 years Turicum has competed in 7 Vic-Maui races with a record of one 3^rd place, three 2^nd place and a 1^st place finish in division.  In 2008 Turicum also finished 2^nd overall.