The Canadian Dream – Patrick Festing-Smith
July 26, 2018
Whether he’s sailing celebrities around the BVI’s or sailing an Etchell back home at his native Oakville Yacht club, it’s safe to say Patrick Festing-Smith is living the dream. Summers in Ontario, Winters in the BVI’s – wouldn’t we all enjoy a bit of that?
Tessa Virtue, Danny Michel, Ed Robertson (and friends) aboard the Nanuk in 2016
For our new CY People segment we wanted to know the obvious – what’s he been up to?
Well, for the last 18 years, Patrick has spent the majority of his cruising time in the BVIs. He’s had several boats, a few Benneteau’s and now Nanuk his Jeanneau 57. Fun fact – Canadian Icon Ron MacLean has been a partner in all three.
Nanuk has had an interesting year after being one of the twelve boats, in a marina of 200, to survive the devastating hurricane season this past year. Not without some major damage. Mostly cosmetic luckily, but it required a full make-over ultimately making it better than before. Pat can happily say that he was one of the lucky ones. So, where’s Nanuk now? Well she’s headed to Grenada for more charters!
Nanuk
Patrick has his own chartering company Mango Yacht Charters and charters privately, sending cruises out in the BVI’s, Grenada and other hotspots like the Mediterranean and Croatia! He has his skippers license and loves taking people out on Nanuk, but if Nanuk isn’t what his client is looking for he finds them another! After a successful marketing career, chartering ‘fell into his lap” as he attended several Toronto Boat Shows representing his company, and built a loyal clientele base (and hey, it doesn’t hurt to have Ron M as a pal!).
Rocking out with Don Felder 
Race time!
Next summer marks 50 years of sailing for Pat, a passion ignited by his father’s love of boats. Patrick is an honorary member of the Oakville Yacht Squadron; he has a long history with the club and was their youngest commodore back in 1991. He’s a partner racing an Etchells (that was once Hans Fogh’s) down in Oakville, and it’s the teams 3rd year and he says they’re finally starting to get a hang of things. For now, Pat’s just fine hanging out at home in Oakville and enjoying his Etchell this sailing season!
-AM
