January 21, 2020
Keeping a good boat in good repair Part 2
With old boats every repair seems to uncover something else needing attention. Removing the top rudder bearing and enlarging the opening for the new bearing revealed an area of wet balsa core.
January 21, 2020
Helly Hansen Sailor of the Month: Tom Ramshaw
Canadian Sailing Team member, Tom Ramshaw, put his training to the test at the 2019 Finn Gold Cup in Melbourne, Australia last month. Competing against some of the best Finn sailors in the world, this event saw various conditions, from being stuck ashore with no wind to record-breaking 40C days with 15 knots.
January 8, 2020
From the Helm of Adamant 1 – Blog 32 – January 2020
Hello and Happy New Year. I’m back with a recap of our three-year journey. I must apologize for being so late with this, but life has a way of messing up even the best laid plans.
November 19, 2019
H/H Sailor of the Month of November is Mark Lammens
On November 13 Sail Canada, the national governing body for the sport of sailing, announced Mark Lammens as the Helly Hansen Sailor of the Month.
November 6, 2019
From the Helm of Adamant 1 – Photos from the Blog 31 – Adamant 1 Crosses Her Wake
In our October 10 issue we featured another blog posting from Adamant 1. Lynn and Pat sent so many great photos, we have reprised the blog so we can share them with you.Below is a few excerpts from the blog post to set the scene.
November 5, 2019
CY’s Katie Nicoll Volunteer of the Year
This week, Katie Nicoll, writer and boat reviewer for Canadian Yachting will be receiving the Ontario Sailing Volunteer of the Year award.
November 4, 2019
Ottawa: “Weather Bomb 1913 – Life and Death on the Great Lakes”
In the dark hours of November 9, 1913, death screamed across the Great Lakes in the guise of a rare white hurricane. The Storm continued to brutalize the region for most of the following week.
October 22, 2019
Helly Hansen Sailor of the Month: Hunter Dejean – Laser Radial
The 2019 ILCA Laser Radial Youth World Championships took place at the Portsmouth Olympic Harbour in Kingston from July 24th to 31st. This high competition event welcomed over 208 sailors from around the world for 6 consecutive days of racing.
October 8, 2019
From the Helm of Adamant 1: Blog 31 – Adamant 1 Crosses Her Wake
We crossed Lake Ontario from Oswego with a minimum of fuss and did a little happy dance when we crossed the border into Canada…that little dotted line on the chart. “Take down the US flag, put up the quarantine flag and lets head for Waupoos Island” shouts the captain (me)!
October 8, 2019
Reflecting on Jean Socrates’ accomplishment
Jeanne Socrates said her vessel was covered in tape and glue from the non-stop repairs she’s had to make since setting sail.
September 25, 2019
The Helly Hansen Sailor of the Month – Michelle Cantin, Coupe Femina
In 2014, Michelle Cantin put her ideas into shape with the start of Coupe Femina. The now annual all women’s event aims to bring females together to take part in a two-day event based in Lévis, Québec.
September 10, 2019
Sarah Douglas – From volunteer to Pan American Gold Medalist
I cross the finish line, heart pumping and barely able to breath from the grueling conditions. I can’t believe that I have just become the 2019 Pan American Champion in the Women’s Dinghy (Laser Radial). I’ve just won the medal race in a windy 25 knots in Paracas, Peru.
August 20, 2019
Helly Hansen Sailor of the Month – August: Richard Clarke
It’s been a busy year for Richard Clarke aboard Wizard, the Volvo Ocean 70 that has just won the Fastnet Challenge Cup, the overall prize for the 2019 Rolex Fastnet Race. The Fastnet Race is considered to be the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s pinnacle 600 mile offshore.
August 7, 2019
From the Helm of Adamant 1: Blog 30 – Hudson River and the Erie Canal
On a sunny and windless day we led Alicia and another sailboat into New York Harbour. There were lots of cargo ships and navy destroyers coming in, but they had their own deep-water channel so our trip was an easy one.
August 7, 2019
The Barnet Sailing Cooperative
The Barnet Sailing Cooperative makes sailing affordable and accessible to Vancouver boaters. With the high cost of owning and maintaining a sailboat the Barnet Sailing Cooperative has developed a model that others may want to consider.
July 24, 2019
Helly Hansen Sailor of the Month – Tayte Stefaniuk
Kieler Woche, also known to many as Kiel Week took place last month from the 22nd – 30th of June in Germany. As a prominent event on the Olympic class circuit, this event also encompasses sailors of all classes welcoming thousands of athletes to compete on an international scale.
July 10, 2019
From the Helm of Adamant 1: Blog 29 – Norfolk to New York
Did we linger in Norfolk to explore? Nope! After being pounded against the dock pilings by wakes from tugs and ferry boats all night we left in the rain before the sun came up.
June 25, 2019
Miss Supertest III – the Best Boat in the World
It’s a feat that has never been repeated, a single boat winning the world’s most prestigious boat racing trophy three years in a row. And it all began 60 years ago this summer.
June 11, 2019
From the Helm of Adamant 1 – Blog 28 – Charleston to Georgetown
Charleston is an amazing city to visit. There is so much to do and enjoy in that beautiful city. You can walk the cobbled streets and gaze at the antebellum houses, visit a plantation or Fort Sumter and for naval enthusiasts there is the Naval and Maritime Museum complete with the USS Yorktown, a WWII era aircraft carrier.
May 8, 2019
John Booth, an unassuming generous, mechanical genius
John Booth, who passed away just a few weeks ago was one of the most amazingly gifted and generous persons that I’ve ever met He was involved in so many different projects and types of work that I’m certain that there are many that I’ve overlooked. Here’s a short list of memorable works.
May 8, 2019
From the Helm of Adamant 1: Blog 27 – Northbound to Charleston SC
We left Vero Beach on Saturday morning with Alicia, a boat from Sweden, following close behind. The first stop was Titusville, then Easter Sunday we made it to Daytona Beach. I had a big ham on board so we invited the crew of Alicia to join us for dinner.
May 8, 2019
Ontario Boat Builders: Aykroyd Brothers
If there is an Ontario builder whose fame rests on the production of a single model of boat, it must be Aykroyd’s. That boat, their 14 ft sailing dinghy, became a beloved icon for countless amateur sailors. In 1943, not long before the shop closed, Aykroyd’s celebrated the launching of its 2,500th 14-footer.
April 24, 2019
Helly Hansen Sailor of the Month – Rossi Milev
In his first event back since winning the 2017 J24 Worlds, Rossi Milev of Port Credit, ON, on Clear Air, won again – this time taking the 2019 Midwinter Championship at Davis Island Yacht Club in Tampa, Florida
April 24, 2019
From the Helm of Adamant 1 – Blog 26: E$cape from Fort Pierce
After a delightful winter in the Bahamas, we decided at the end of March to head for the US. The weather continued to get hotter and the humidity was climbing daily. It was tough to drop the mooring ball, but we were suddenly excited about starting the trek home.
March 28, 2019
History And The Future Come Together At Legendary Lake X
Just like the 1950s outboard horsepower race, a new race is on to bring a revolutionary range of advanced technologies to boating. Canadian Yachting magazine was invited to Mercury Marine’s historic Lake X last February for a first hands-on trial.
March 27, 2019
C-TOW Marine Assistance 35th Anniversary – 35 Years of Peace of Mind Boating with C-TOW Marine Assistance
In 2019, C-TOW celebrates its 35th anniversary of providing 24/7 “Peace of Mind Boating” for Canada’s recreational boaters.
March 27, 2019
From the Helm of Adamant 1 – Blog 25 – An excellent winter in the Abacos
It has been hot in the Abacos this winter. Whoever said this area was cool this time of year must have visited in a bad year. We have no complaints about the weather. Anyone contemplating a vacation destination should give this area a second look.
March 13, 2019
2018 Rolex Sailor of the Year
On March 1, Tom Ramshaw of Stoney Lake Yacht Club was honoured with the most prestigious National sailing award of the year at the Carlu in Toronto, Ontario.
February 27, 2019
From the Helm of Adamant 1 – Blog 24 – February 2019
Vero Beach, aka Velcro Beach, lived up to its reputation again. Our original plan was to be there for four days, which morphed into a week when we heard high winds were coming in. So we had seven days to visit with friends and finish our provisioning. As it turned out we were there for 17 days.
February 13, 2019
Boating History: Grew Boats
Arthur Grew (1885-1952) opened a boathouse on Lake Simcoe at Jackson’s Point in 1907. Here he built canoes, rowboats and sailboats, some of which he hired out and others he would sell.
January 25, 2019
The Ins and Outs of Working on a Superyacht
An estimated 10,000 yachts measuring 100 feet or more are afloat on the world’s oceans. They congregate in places like Monaco, St. Tropez, Fort Lauderdale, Antibes, and Antigua.
January 24, 2019
To Own, or Not to Own? Boating without boat ownership
There’s nothing like owning your own boat – a dream come true for many boating enthusiasts! But along with the joys of boat ownership come the headaches, frustrations, time-consuming repairs and maintenance, and a constant outflow of cash.
January 23, 2019
Boating history: Bastien Boats of Hamilton, ON
Henri L. Bastien (1831-1923) left his hometown near Montreal at the age of 18 and spent several years in the U.S. working as a ship’s carpenter.
January 23, 2019
From the Helm of Adamant 1 – Blog 23 – Back on board. Hooray!
After an autumn in Canada, we arrived back in northern Florida at Adamant 1 on January 3rd and with fingers crossed, we opened the hatch to find no mould, mildew, bugs or critters!
January 23, 2019
M/Y ROCK: Perhaps your next boat?
When Canadian weather throws its endless changes and craziness, perhaps you need M/Y ROCK, the SUV of the seas.
January 9, 2019
Reg Bates takes North South south
Long time GTA broker Reg Bates is joining NSNG and will be dividing his time between downtown Toronto and the Caribbean. Believe it or not, it’s been 17 years since Reg moved to St. Maarten.
December 19, 2018
R2ak Update
Graham Heath and Team Pitoraq look for a new challenge as they prepare for the 2019 Race to Alaska (R2ak) This is the last year of the original R2ak Race
December 19, 2018
Open Bic dinghy…. a new generation
In the early summer I had the opportunity to have coffee with a dear friend from my university years. Though we hadn’t seen each other in many years, the passage of time became irrelevant once our eyes locked and we both felt like we were in our 20’s.
December 19, 2018
Cabot 36 – a plastic classic from Cape Breton
It was the early 1970s and the Cape Breton Development Corporation (DEVCO) was charged with finding new trades for miners who had been made redundant by mine closures.