Canada Summer Games Sailing
Aug 9, 2017
Gimli yc proud heritage encircles the Icelandic traditions
Gimli Yacht Club volunteers and the Canada Games ensured that the officials and athletes were well taken care of during the course of the week. After planning for two years, the wonderful atmosphere and sailing venue couldn’t have been better and their organizing talents paid off and were greatly appreciated. Officials from one coast to the other delivered fair racing in very challenging conditions.
Varying conditions challenged the race officials and the athletes at the 2017 Canada Summer Games in Gimli, Manitoba just this past week. On Sunday, hot temperatures and light breezes greeted the athletes who were sent ashore after a postponement. Winds averaging 5 knots finally allowed the sailors to hit the water by mid-afternoon.
On Monday, after a short delay, winds filled in around 10 knots for the second day of racing. Both North and South courses completed their first races, before being sent to shore with looming thunderstorms.
Tuesday saw the strongest winds of the competition, starting with10-12 knots and building to 20 knots accompanied by large square waves throughout the day.
With a lay day on Wednesday, many of the competitors headed off to Winnipeg to take in the sites.
Team Ontario won 2 gold and 5 silver medals at Canada games
Thursday dawned with another challenging day for competitors and race officials with light winds and a hot day on the water. The Laser, Radial and 2.4M fleets only managed one race with the 29er fleet squeaking in two.
The final day of sailing had the sailors postponed on the water for the morning and then sent ashore to continue to wait for wind! None materialized and at 3:30 the PRO finally had to reluctantly fly the AP flag over A and call it a day.
With 8 races in the Laser fleet, Ontario’s Matti Muru lead throughout the entire week to earn the Gold medal. Hot on his heals was John Owen from British Columbia for the Silver and closely followed by Quebec’s Justin Vittecoq with the Bronze.
The Radials also got off 8 races, comfortably led by Clara Gravely from Ontario with six 1st place finishes to earn the Gold Medal. Lauren Sullivan from Nova Scotia took home Silver. The Bronze Medal went to LéaDesgroseilliers from Quebec.
Saskatchewan’s Joe Gerlinsky took home the Gold Medal, after winning the Silver Medal at the 2013 Canada Games in the 2.4M. Aaron Wong-Sing from Ontario improved upon his 2013 Bronze to earn silver. Siobhan MacDonald also improved upon her 4th place finish in 2013 to win the bronze.
With 11 races, the 29er Male fleet was also tightly contested. Cameron Shaw & Justin Timmins from Nova Scotia won the Gold Medal. Silver went to Galen Richardson & Jake Adair from Ontario, followed closely by Quebec’s Cameron Baird & Alec Baird for the Bronze.
After only 9 races, the racing was very close in the 29er Female fleet. Quebec’s Audrey Staples &Caterina Kunz secured the Gold Medal. Georgia Stein & Chloe Congourdeau from Ontario were close behind with the Silver, followed by Emily Bugeja& Hannah Smith from BC who took Bronze.
Results at: http://www.sailing.ca/canada-games-s15800
