·

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

Video Gallery

Starcraft SV 16 OB

By Craig Ritchie

Photos by Starcraft Marine

Building great boats has always come down to a mix of art and science, and that’s particularly true when it comes to meeting the biggest challenge of all—creating an appealing yet affordable family runabout. Buyers want a boat that is affordable but not stripped to the bare bones.

Enter Starcraft and its delightful SV 16 OB, an all-new-for-2025 family deck boat that elegantly balances comfort, amenities and affordability.

Read More

Destinations

The Erie Canal – An Extraordinary Waterway

By Mark Stevens

Photos by Sharon Matthews-Stevens

As I shift our chartered canal boat into neutral, I’m soothed by the soundtrack of bird calls, the occasional plaintive horn of a distant train and the hum of our engine.

I reach for the VHF to radio the lockmaster in charge of Erie Canal’s Lock 32 dead ahead. Our boat spins gently in the current like a maple key in a mud puddle.

“This is Onondaga,” I say. “Headed westbound and requesting passage.”

Read More

Lifestyle