Chris Hobbs Sails to Victory Against all Odds

Story by Mathew Channer

Photos by Christian Bonin

Christopher Hobbs was the last person he thought should be competing in the J80 North American Championship (NAs) in September 2024, even if his teammates disagreed. Despite placing 13th and being the top Canadian boat in the J80 World Championship at Rhode Island in 2022, a series of life challenges had kept Hobbs off the water for two years.

The J80 North American Championship is a 9-race regatta in which sailors from Canada and the US compete for overall victory. It’s highly competitive, and Hobbs was considered a top Canadian contender. But six weeks before the event began at the National Yacht Club, Toronto, his J80 sailboat, Lifted, which his teammates were expecting to race on, was still sitting in his driveway with mould on its hull.

And things were about to get worse.

CLICK HERE to read the rest of this article FREE in the digital version of Canadian Boating June 2025

Related Articles

Video Gallery

ENVGO NV1: Back to the Future

By Andy Adams

Up to this point, I feel that most electric boats have not been very exciting. The motors have been mainly small portable models for dinghies. There are some high-horsepower motors available, but they look like regular outboard motors to be used on conventional boats. Until now, there hasn’t been an electric boat that really makes a statement. Enter the ENVGO NV1.

Read More

Destinations

Canada’s Superior: the North Shore

Story and photos by Jennifer M. Smith

We’d been north before on a short two-week cruise. At the time, we were unprepared for the isolation, the lack of cell phone coverage, and the spotty VHF reception. Since then we’ve repowered, installed Starlink, and retired from work. Now, with confidence in our engine and our connectivity and more time to sail, we were Superior-ready.


Read More

Lifestyle