·

Diane Reid presents an interesting UK Circumnavigation

Diane Reid UK Circumnavigation

 

Jan 11, 2018

Diane is second from left standing

At this year’s Toronto Boat Show then again on March 8 at Ashbridges Bay Yacht Club Toronto sailor/adventurer Diane Reid will present her experience circumnavigating the UK as the skipper of A Plastic Voyage.

The adventure took a crew of women on an ambitious sailing expedition around the UK to raise awareness of ocean plastic and sample the water to see what damage is being done.

The women were mostly inexperienced on boats so it was up to Diane and a small crew to manage the circumnavigation. The weather didn’t fully cooperate, so many of the novices faced challenges – seasickness, panic – that they had never anticipated. Diane managed that plus some unexpected technical issue (an eel in the engine’s intake manifold!) to make the voyage a success.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_xZ77JGDOs&t=1s
Credit: Sky News

Diane At The Helm Diane at the helm

When not on the ocean Diane lives in Toronto and is a member of ABYC. She is a well-known professional skipper, racer and instructor. and is a Royal Yachting Association accredited OceanYachtmaster commercially endorsed, a Sail Canada Instructor in Cruising, Racing, VHF and Navigation and a World Sailing Offshore Personal Survival Instructor.

Diane’s career has spanned over 70,000 miles throughout Lake Ontario, the Atlantic and Southern Ocean, Irish Sea, Bay of Biscay, Caribbean Islands and East coast of the United States. , Diane has taught or raced on a Mini 650, a Clipper 70 or a Volvo 60 and even a Thunderbird 26!

Holly And The Ell this unfortunate eel got sucked into the cooling system

Her students and race teams have varied from single-handed, double-handed to fully crewed teams. When Diane is not on the water, she can often be found volunteering with various committees on Lake Ontario and with Sail Canada endeavouring to drive the sport of sailing to great new levels.

Catch Diane and her terrific presentation at TIBS on January 16 and 18 or in March at ABYC and watch CYOB for updates on her next voyages.

Related Articles

Timeless Tonga – Charter Sailing in a Polynesian Paradise

Timeless Tonga – Charter Sailing in a Polynesian Paradise

When one thinks of Tonga in the South Pacific, the mind conjures up images of a Polynesian paradise – white sand beaches on lush tropical islands, sprinkled like emeralds on a turquoise sea.  Supplement that image with quiet anchorages, warm breezes and crystal-clear waters and it’s understandable why Tonga is considered one of the world’s premiere sailing destinations.

The Royal Vancouver Yacht Club

The Royal Vancouver Yacht Club

In 1791, a 36 foot sailboat from Spain, captained by Don Jose Maria Narvaez anchored off Point Grey and ventured into Burrard Inlet. The sailors noted several native settlements that were eager to trade and came close by in their dugout canoes. One year later, Captain George Vancouver arrived and set about surveying the coastline. After this flurry of activity the area remained undisturbed and it would be 70 years before the beautiful timber would be cut, sawmills built, and larger ships arriving in a steady stream. This, my friends, was the beginning of Gastown and its many drinking establishments. As the main transportation was by water, young men with time on their hands, when they weren’t boozing, built their own sloops.

 

One of my favourite anchorages in all of BC is at Montague Harbour Marina (Bob Nicoll)

One of my favourite anchorages in all of BC is at Montague Harbour Marina (Bob Nicoll)

Located on the sunny south shore of the harbour, the Marina is on pilings over the water, offering annual, winter and guest moorage, a brand new fuel station with zero-ethanol gas and diesel, Wi-Fi and garbage/recycling drop-off is included overnight moorage, an incredibly well-stocked market and general store, ice cream parlour, coffee shop, 15 and 30amp power…

Québec Nautical Stations Help to Make Great Vacations

Québec Nautical Stations Help to Make Great Vacations

The whole idea of a vacation is to get away from it all and with a different language and culture, a visit to Québec is always something special in my opinion. Whether you’re looking for great scenery, fabulous boating or a memorable dining experience, Québec has so much to offer. The new Québec Nautical Stations program is unique in Canada and it can greatly enrich your vacation enjoyment – actually, it was designed to do just that.

Video Gallery

Pursuit S268 Sport CC

By Andy Adams

The Pursuit S 268 Sport centre console is a do-it-all kind of boat with a solid sense of style. Centre console designs have been developed for the southern blue water sport fishing enthusiasts (and this boat would raise fish with the best of them) but the Pursuit S 268 Sport centre console offers far more utility and enjoyment than just fishing.

Read More

Destinations

Bayfield Marine Turns 40 with Big April Events

(l to r) Holly, Adam, Pat, Ron, Shelley

Ron and Pat Reder started out in October 1984 across the road from where they are right now on the Bayfield River in Bayfield ON. The store front was about 10 x 20 and the rest of that side of the building was a stock room, wood finishing room, then behind that was more back stock and the lunchroom. Expanding every few years for the store front, then moving over to this new building five years ago, this year with Adam, Shelley, and Holly are carrying on the business.

Read More

Lifestyle