2014 Regatta of the Year Award

Intercollegiate Sailing

 

The City of Kingston Regatta of the Year Award recognizes a regatta whereupon all aspects of race management have resulted in an overall organizational success; a well-coordinated and orchestrated event with a high level of community involvement, and positive feedback from participants, including sailors, coaches and officials. 

The International Federation of Disabled Sailors (IFDS) hosted its 2014 World Championships at the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron in August 2014. Chairperson Heather Robertson and PRO Rob Williams along with their teams of officials, volunteers and organizers lead the regatta to be named the City of Kingston Regatta of the Year.

Disabled Sailors from all over the world came together to race and take part in events on and off the waters of Halifax over the week. A well-planned regatta resulted in full accessibility for participants and spectators, including technology that allowed offsite spectatorship via video and tracker feeds. The 2014 IFDS Worlds were a great success and left a legacy that will benefit able sail and Paralympic programs in Nova Scotia for many, many years to come. A renewed commitment to hosting major international events, created a platform to better train race officials and volunteers. This commitment has also provided the opportunity to leave an infrastructure legacy that makes RNSYS second to none in hosting sailors with disabilities and any major sailing event.

Enthusiasm for the event was seen provincially, as clubs from all over Nova Scotia donated resources such as coach and official boats. Dalhousie University completed, in time for the event, a new residence that was completely barrier free, and Halifax Transit dedicated bus services to the regatta. RNSYS club members gave up their slips for two weeks during the event and volunteers dedicated countless hours to ensure the regatta went off without a hitch.

An undertaking of this magnitude and the accomplishment of a well run event deserves recognition. From the exceptional shore side support, the fabulous entertainment, and outstanding opening and closing ceremonies made this an event to remember.

Although the wind conditions tested everyone’s patience the on-water support was world class, executing a quality championship in trying conditions.

Of note, the media coverage and efforts made to make this a media friendly event were fantastic, from daily blogs, to live TV coverage and outstanding use of modern technology.

A worthy recipient of this award. – Ken Dool – HPD Sail Canada

What advice would you offer other event organisers?

Start early, as we did.  This event was three years in the planning.  We had time to qualify local jurors and race managers to higher accreditation, time to raise money for planned infrastructure projects and time to build, pave, and manufacture equipment. We had time to build websites and plan for technology to bring the event to spectators not in Halifax during the event.  Lastly we had time to engage the whole community in the event. – Heather Robertson- Chair IFDS Worlds 2014

Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron is the recipient of the 2014 City of Kingston Regatta of the Year Award. Delegates from RNSYS will be attending the Sail Canada Rolex Sailor of the Year Awards on February 6th at the Carlu, Toronto to accept their award. 

For event details visit:  http://www.sailing.ca/index.php?t=calendar.tpl&id=430&cat_id=43&start_date=2015-02-06&end_date=2015-02-06

Related Articles

Video Gallery

Bennington 22 MSB

By Andy Adams

If you’ve already had firsthand experience with a pontoon, you will easily understand the appeal of the Bennington 22 MSB. But if you haven’t, let’s start by reviewing a few of the reasons why pontoon boats have become top sellers in markets across North America.

Pontoon boats began in the early 1950s as basically four steel drums lashed to a frame. They were not unlike the log rafts of ancient cultures and not much more sophisticated at first.

Read More

Destinations

The Best of Two Worlds

By Mathew Channer

Interior British Columbia might not be as famous for recreational boating as Canada’s Great Lakes, yet it is no less a world-class boat­ing destination. The mountains offer their own flavour of marine adventure with their series of long, deep ribbon lakes, and there is perhaps no area that embodies this more uniquely than the iconic Okanagan basin in southern B.C. One could be forgiven for assuming this valley was purpose-built for nautical fun, with a few delightful perks thrown in to make the area entirely irresistible (wine-tasting, anyone?).

Read More

Lifestyle